Gods of the Game Review

'Gods of the Game' Review

Venue: Grange Park Opera

Dates: Until 16 October

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OUR VERDICT:

★★★★

Whether you’re for Messi or Ronaldo, Pavarotti or Carreras, don’t miss Grange Park Opera’s world premiere of football opera, Gods of the Game says Richard Davies

Everyone I spoke to about my trip to Grange Park Opera said one of two things: either “I’ve been meaning to go there for years, is it any good?” or “Will it be indoors?” 

So let me start by reassuring on both accounts: yes, it’s definitely worth the visit, especially if you've not been before. As for the venue, nothing quite prepares you for your first sight of the theatre after parking your car in a field.

Modelled on La Scala in Milan, Grange Park Opera is a stupendous, five-storey, 700-seater auditorium, that has been plonked - like something from the movie Fitzcarraldo - besides the orchard of West Horsley Place (the stately home inherited by the late Bamber Gascoigne, for those who remember the pre-Paxman era host of University Challenge.) 

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Cleverly timed as a warm-up to this year’s World Cup in Qatar, Gods of the Game is a football-themed opera - and what a brilliant idea, why has it not been done before? With all its excesses of passion, rivalry, greed and corruption, the beautiful game is perfectly made for operatic treatment.

Who can forget when the two worlds first collided with Football Italia in 1990? Ever since, Nessun Dorma has been the soundtrack for this nation’s hopes and dreams on the football pitch, before we once again lose to the Germans (or now the Italians) on penalties. 

To use that old footballing cliché, this joint production with Sky Arts and Factory Films is ‘a game of two halves’.

The first is set in the murky world of the bidding war to stage the 2030 World Cup, presided over by the powerful, but corrupt Victor Puzzo, played by bass Alan Ewing. Puzzo is also the subject of a penetrating documentary by Martina, the delightful mezzosoprano, Idunnu Münch.

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Inevitably, the decision is "rig(oletto)ed" - on this occasion in favour of a country where handsome tenor Soren (David Webb) captains the national side.

Soren’s rival is the footballing legend and baritone, Viko played by Michel De Souza, born in the favelas and who captains his own national team, alongside childhood friend, soprano Eva (Millie Forrest) who captains the women’s team.

The second half is set a year at the 2030 World Cup finals, with big dramas both on and off pitch.

All the tensions are amplified by the wonderful chorus who treat us to a series of joyously irreverent crowd chants to much-loved operatic tunes from Rigoletto, Marriage of Figaro, Carmina Burana and more - definitely my favourite part of the night!

Comedian Lee Mack also ‘does excellent’ as the Commentator (to be replaced by Lloyd Griffith for the two last shows) and there are even video cameo appearances from that mischievous Sky Football commentary duo, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher.

There's so much to enjoy about this production and I would definitely recommend a visit to the rematches, even if at times, the ambition of the production slightly overreaches itself.

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Apart from the highly enjoyable recycling of opera favourites, I didn’t hear many whistle-able tunes from the original score, which is credited to no less than five composers, although librettist Phil Porter has crafted some very funny lines (my favourite being “It takes more to tip the scales than a pair of Gareth Bales!) The orchestra was also very impressive, even if at times slightly drowning out the vocals.

Audience members are encouraged to wear football shirts and this added a great deal of colourful pleasure to the evening.

Judging by the aged names on the backs of shirts, I don’t think this audience adds much to the coffers of greedy football merchandisers. No surprise really, opera lovers simply have more taste!