Golden hour SJSS
Early Opera Company Giulio Cesare
Tim Mead rehearses Handel’s Giulio Cesare
My professional photography is largely photographing new works on stage - highly reactive, at-speed and flexible shooting. As these pieces are generally premieres there is no way to anticipate what is about to happen, which makes it an exciting and unpredictable ride. I usually shoot technical/dress rehearsals when the lighting team are often focusing lights at the same time as the company are doing a run-through, which means I am frequently seizing the most fleeting of moments. I love this challenge, joyful when a capture works as I hoped it would. I enjoy scampering about the studio stages to make the most of whatever lights are being used, getting closer to the performers, finding odd angles that offer insight on the performance. And I love being in a room with the creators of a piece, seeing it all come together.
However, sabbatical provides the luxury of time - more time to sit with the performers and explore possibilities - so I asked my friend Christian if I could come into his rehearsal to play with my camera. He was conducting Handel’s Giulio Cesare at St John’s Smith Square - a venue I know well as both Early Opera Company and CHROMA perform there regularly. On a sunny day it has a wonderful golden hour as the sun warms the stage through the back window. It also has rather lovely sconce lights which glow beautifully against the wood panelling.
With no memo they happened to dress in a palette that complemented the red curtains, stones and woods of St John’s Smith Square, and their instruments - plus Tim Mead ‘s red hair - which all made my eyes very happy. It was lovely to see Anna Devin, too, who I worked with on Luke Bedford’s creepy but wonderful opera Through His Teeth (Royal Opera House).
Thank you to Christian Curnyn and the artists of the Early Opera Company for kindly allowing me to potter about their rehearsal with my camera that day!
