Canadian composer James Rolfe lets loose with quirky yet tuneful orchestrations for Morris Panych's playful lyrics, and the performers are strong, versatile, and physically active across the board.
By embracing the opera's multicultural roots, the Montreal creative team of director Renaud Doucet and set designer André Barbe avoid the pitfalls of the dated “Orientalism” of composer Giacomo Puccini’s time.
While Bach's mastery of melody and counterpoint carries over into his liturgical offerings, these can at times pose difficulties for contemporary sensibilities.