Harrison Birtwistle’s The Second Mrs Kong

We are presented with a performance of Harrison Birtwistle’s The Second Mrs Kong, an opera that blends mythic archetypes with an unusual central romance. You will hear a complex score that brings together the unlikely figures of the cinematic ape-king and the subject of a Vermeer portrait, reimagining them as lovers in a strange, shifting landscape. The music navigates the underworld, populated by a vast assembly of historical and legendary characters, from Orpheus to Inanna. Listen for the distinct vocal characters Birtwistle assigns to these figures, particularly the contrast between the high, ethereal lines of the Pearl and the darker, more grounded tones of Kong and Anubis. The work is known for its dreamlike structure and its ability to weave multiple timelines into a single narrative thread. In this concert setting, the focus remains firmly on the intricate layers of the orchestration and the precise, often jagged vocal writing that defines Birtwistle’s unique musical language.

Martyn Brabbins leads the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, an ensemble rooted in Glasgow with a long-standing commitment to contemporary British repertoire. They are joined by a large cast of soloists, featuring tenor John Findon and soprano Anna Dennis in the title roles, alongside experienced voices such as John Tomlinson and Roderick Williams. The ensemble is well-regarded for navigating the technical demands of modern scores, while director Victoria Newlyn oversees the spatial and dramatic elements of this staged presentation. Together, they bring a wealth of experience in twentieth and twenty-first-century music to this production.

This performance takes place at Glasgow City Halls and has an approximate running time of 150 minutes. Given the length and the density of the musical material, you may find it helpful to allow for a full evening’s engagement. The production is a concert staging directed by Victoria Newlyn, which places the orchestra and singers on stage together rather than in a traditional pit. There is no specific dress code mentioned for this venue. As a modern operatic work, it offers a substantial introduction to late twentieth-century composition for those interested in complex narrative structures.