Opera North: Susanna Review | The Lowry | Manchester
- Frances
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Opera North’s standout production of Susanna is a tug of war between sincerity and a double dose of deception. Built to strike a nerve, it comes across as storybook horror that plunges the Lowry audience into a familiar battle of his word against hers.
This powerful reimagining of Hansel’s 1749 oratorio follows the tranquil life of Sussana (Anna Dennis), who, whilst minding her married business, has her life interrupted by two men hoping to take advantage of her whilst her husband is away for work. Despite rejecting the men, she quickly finds that they are more than happy to throw dirt on her name, labelling her as an adulterer for sleeping with another man in town. Helping to bring the community together to plan out her destruction, Susanna is a tale of holding your head up when it is about to be knocked off.
Set and costume designer Zahra Mansouri’s brings a misleadingly serene design that allows the cast to glide on two levels alongside Marcus Jarrell Willis’s choreography. Director Olivia Fichs’s unobstructed storytelling is engrossing told with sign language, subtitles and an integration of dance that runs as an extension of the cast throughout the production. Intensifying the emotive tale in a beautiful and compelling fashion, the show draws you in both visually and lyrically for a chilling message of resilience.
Hansel’s poetic lyrics bring an alluring sensitivity to Susanna’s injustice, spotlighting her strength and integrity with lulling arias that highlight her innocence amongst the chaos. Dennis and James Hall’s (Joacim) incredibly sweet vocals are full of runs, riffs and trills, blending to perfection and sinking you deeper into Hansel’s tale. Dennis delivers a stunning performance, finding herself in court for a heart-wrenching scene of confrontation between her conspirators, Elder (Karl Huml) and Elder (Colin Judson). Conductor Johanna Soller balances the intimate moments of Susanna’s fears and pleas, alongside the chorus whose public accusations against Sussana are sung in fiery unison.
By adding a rotating cast of dancers, performers and opera singers, Opera North and Phoenix Dance Theatre production have reshaped Susanna into an enduring, modern parable. Its fluid choreography and softened natural aesthetics craft the bittersweet tale into a seamless, necessary revival. Despite leaving audiences to reflect on how little has changed since its debut, Susanna is worth the heartache, offering a beautifully gritty opera with magnetic performances.
Tickets are available via the Lowry link