Mark-Anthony Turnage and Rachael Hewer have brought E Nesbit's classic tale 'The Railway Children' into the 20th century with a family-friendly opera that is equal parts thrilling and poignant. By transposing the story to the 1980s, they've managed to shake off its musty nostalgia, infusing it with a fresh energy that appeals to a broad audience.
Turnage's score is nothing short of phenomenal, weaving together motoric effects, train noises, and snippets from The Rite of Spring to create a sonic tapestry that's both captivating and visceral. The orchestra, led by conductor Tim Anderson and the Glyndebourne Sinfonia, brings Turnage's energetic compositions to life with aplomb.
The cast is uniformly excellent, with standout performances from Jessica Cale as Bobbie, Matthew McKinney as Peter, and Henna Mun as Phyllis. Cale's soft-grained soprano conveys the nuances of her character's growing sense of responsibility, while McKinney's gangly presence brings a lovable awkwardness to Peter.
The supporting cast is equally impressive, with Rachael Lloyd and Edward Hawkins delivering a powerful on-stage chemistry as Cathy and David, the parents whose whistleblowing activities drive the plot forward. Gavan Ring makes an endearing Mr Perks, while James Cleverton lends authority to the underwritten role of Sir Tommy Crawshaw.
However, it's Turnage who steals the show with his masterful handling of the opera. While 'Festen' remains his magnum opus, 'The Railway Children' is a commendable addition to his canon. It's an effortless adaptation that breathes new life into Nesbit's timeless tale, one that will captivate audiences and leave them humming its infectious melodies long after the curtain falls.
Turnage's score is handsomely realised by the Glyndebourne Sinfonia, with train noises proving a particularly effective metaphor for emotional tension. Vividly scored scenes, such as the averted accident in the tunnel, sound more convincing on stage than they would in a film. Overall, 'The Railway Children' is an exhilarating and moving opera that will delight fans of family drama and music lovers alike.
Turnage's score is nothing short of phenomenal, weaving together motoric effects, train noises, and snippets from The Rite of Spring to create a sonic tapestry that's both captivating and visceral. The orchestra, led by conductor Tim Anderson and the Glyndebourne Sinfonia, brings Turnage's energetic compositions to life with aplomb.
The cast is uniformly excellent, with standout performances from Jessica Cale as Bobbie, Matthew McKinney as Peter, and Henna Mun as Phyllis. Cale's soft-grained soprano conveys the nuances of her character's growing sense of responsibility, while McKinney's gangly presence brings a lovable awkwardness to Peter.
The supporting cast is equally impressive, with Rachael Lloyd and Edward Hawkins delivering a powerful on-stage chemistry as Cathy and David, the parents whose whistleblowing activities drive the plot forward. Gavan Ring makes an endearing Mr Perks, while James Cleverton lends authority to the underwritten role of Sir Tommy Crawshaw.
However, it's Turnage who steals the show with his masterful handling of the opera. While 'Festen' remains his magnum opus, 'The Railway Children' is a commendable addition to his canon. It's an effortless adaptation that breathes new life into Nesbit's timeless tale, one that will captivate audiences and leave them humming its infectious melodies long after the curtain falls.
Turnage's score is handsomely realised by the Glyndebourne Sinfonia, with train noises proving a particularly effective metaphor for emotional tension. Vividly scored scenes, such as the averted accident in the tunnel, sound more convincing on stage than they would in a film. Overall, 'The Railway Children' is an exhilarating and moving opera that will delight fans of family drama and music lovers alike.
Turnage's score is literally perfection!!! I was on the edge of my seat during the scenes where Bobbie, Peter, and Phyllis are all running towards the train 
it gave me chills 
and the way the orchestra made those train noises sound so real... ugh i'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it 
and can we talk about Jessica Cale's performance as Bobbie?!?! she's literally the queen of this production 
Matthew McKinney as Peter is also SO cute 
I loved how he brought that awkwardness to his character 
anyhoo, Mark-Anthony Turnage needs a Nobel in music or something 
seriously though, 'The Railway Children' is an amazing opera that will totally win your heart 
! The composer, Mark-Anthony Turnage, did an amazing job reimagining E Nesbit's classic tale for the 80s 
. His score is like whoa 
, so full of energy and sounds that made me wanna jump outta my seat 
. And the cast? 
, everyone was on point! Jessica Cale's voice is soooo good 
, and Matthew McKinney's awkwardness had me LOL 
... just kidding! It's probably just his genius 
and the music is insane!!! 
and the cast is literally all stars, I'm loving Jessica Cale's character Bobbie, she's got that whole "responsible" vibe going on 
and Matthew McKinney's Peter is just adorbs 
. but what really gets me is how Turnage made this old story feel FRESH 
like it's not stuck in the past at all, which is pretty cool considering it's based on a 1906 book 
trust me, it's going to be EPIC 
. I'm also loving Gavan Ring as Mr Perks, he's just so endearing 
. I also loved how they brought out the parents' chemistry - Rachael Lloyd and Edward Hawkins were electric on stage! 
The opera's energy is infectious, and I found myself humming the tunes long after it ended 
Train noises are the best 
. And can we talk about that score? It's like a train ride in itself - all the way from gentle motoric effects to full-on sonic chaos 
. But let's be real, Turnage is the real MVP here 
It's like a train wreck that you can't look away from, all these different sounds mixed together in this crazy beautiful way. And the cast? Mind blown 
. i love how they adapted the story to make it fresh and exciting again, not just a dusty old tale from the past. turnage's handling of the opera is seriously masterful, he's definitely proved himself to be one talented composer 
The way Mark-Anthony Turnage's score brings the 1980s to life is just genius. I mean, who would've thought train noises could be so emotive? 
The performances are top-notch too - I especially love Jessica Cale as Bobbie, she's just so convincing as the eldest sibling. Anyway, if you haven't seen this opera yet, grab your tickets ASAP!