Ian McEwan opera For You comes to Mold

May 30 2008 by Michael Green, Flintshire Chronicle

A BRILLIANT composer and compulsive womaniser meets his match in his besotted housekeeper – and tragedy ensues.

That’s the gripping plot of For You, an opera by two of the country’s most creative talents, Michael Berkeley, composer and member of Britain’s musical aristocracy, and award-winning novelist Ian McEwan.

This high-octane pairing forms a new commission by Music Theatre Wales which comes to Clwyd Theatr Cymru in Mold next week.

Berkeley, a popular broadcaster and campaigner for contemporary music, already has two operas under his belt, in addition to major orchestral and chamber works.

He’s been waiting for the chance to collaborate on a third with his old friend Ian McEwan, whose novels include Enduring Love, Atonement (now a BAFTA-winning film), and most recently On Chesil Beach.

The two men worked together 25 years ago on an oratorio, Or Shall We Die?, but it was not until Music Theatre Wales asked Berkeley to write a follow-up to the successful Jane Eyre, that the opportunity to work with McEwan came up again.

The challenge now is finding time to publicise For You, when McEwan is setting off on an extended book tour and Berkeley’s obligations include presenting Radio 3’s Private Passions, acting as Composer-in-Association with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and being a visiting professor in composition at the Welsh College of Music and Drama.

The central character is famous composer Charles Frieth, who is constantly cheating on his wealthy wife Antonia with young female orchestral players.

Their Polish housekeeper, Maria, deludes herself that Charles loves her, even while she’s agreeing to smuggle his conquests into his bedroom. In a final, terrible act, she ‘liberates’ him from his wife because she believes that’s what he wants. When challenged, she tells him she did it ‘For you, my sweet. For you’.

The production will have subtitles so audiences can savour every word of McEwan’s prose.

For You can be seen at Clwyd Theatr Cymru in Mold on Thursday, June 5 at 7.30pm. Ring the box office on 0845 330 3565 or visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk.