Opéra de Montréal: A Bold Revival of Ambroise Thomas’ ‘Hamlet’

On November 16, Opéra de Montréal (OdeM) presented Ambroise Thomas’s opera Hamlet. This was the first time the company staged this rare work. Conductor Jacques Lacombe was the only member of the production team familiar with it.

The opera was a remarkable discovery filled with musical themes and creative orchestrations. Notably, the saxophone solo in Act II, Scene 2, surprised many due to its modernity, considering the opera was composed in 1868. However, the musical style remained rooted in Italian opera, marked by dramatic pacing and grand arias.

Sarah Dufresne played Ophélie, showcasing her talent as a young coloratura soprano. She previously gained recognition by winning a prize at the Montreal International Musical Competition. Her performance was powerful, especially highlighted during her mad scene in Act IV. Dufresne complemented the seasoned French mezzo-soprano Karine Deshayes, who portrayed Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother.

Elliot Madore, who played Prince Hamlet, showed dramatic intensity but struggled with breath control and pronunciation in French. His efforts did not match Dufresne’s vocal prowess or Deshayes’s experience.

Director Alain Gauthier blended different time periods in the production. The costumes evoked the Shakespearean era, while the set had a contemporary feel, connecting the themes of rash actions and emotional distress to modern issues.

The staging at times slowed the action but maintained engagement through dynamic scenes. The director creatively used elements such as a hollow cube as a tomb for visual storytelling.

Despite some artistic liberties taken with Ophélie’s death scene, the company’s chorus performed excellently, especially shining in ensemble moments. The overall experience left many hopeful for another performance of this opera soon, as it had not been seen in Montreal for a century.

Hamlet by Ambroise Thomas ran on November 16, with additional performances on November 19, 21, and 24. For tickets, visit Opéra de Montréal.