13 SEPTEMBER 2008, Page 53

Opera

Lacking colour

Michael Tanner

Saint Frangois d’Assise Royal Albert Hall

As the climax of the Proms centenary of Messiaen, The Netherlands Opera brought his vast opera Saint FranVois d’Assise to a sadly uncrowded Royal Albert Hall. And by Act III there was room for the prommers to lie in the arena as if they were fellow recipients of the stigmata. Given the contemporary taste for the gigantic in music, I find that odd, though Saint FranVois does make exceptional demands on its audience, not to mention its performers.