The Adventures of Pinocchio

Jonathan Dove's new opera—presented here in a 2008 mounting at London's Sadler's Wells Theatre—is not the familiar Disneyfied version of Carlo Collodi's titular 19th-century tale about a puppet who yearns to become a real boy. Rather, Alasdair Middleton's libretto returns to the far sterner original as it tells the story of Geppetto's (Jonathan Summers) discovery of the magical log from which he carves his “son” Pinocchio (Victoria Simmonds), after which the puppet embarks on a dangerous journey (full of various encounters with humans, animals, and the Blue Fairy), before eventually reuniting with his father and undergoing a final transformation. Dove's score is distinctly modern but not overly harsh (often sounding like a lesser Benjamin Britten with a touch of John Cage's minimalism), but while he deftly mimics natural noises (such as the cricket's chirping), the music itself is fairly unmelodic and rarely seems inspired. On the other hand, the principal singing and orchestral work (on the part of the Orchestra & Chorus of Opera North, under the baton of David Parry) are both strong, while the staging—although not exactly lavish—is imaginative and colorful. Still, at two-and-a-half hours The Adventures of Pinocchio will test the patience of many viewers, making it questionable whether it will fulfill the creators' ambition to please both adults and youngsters in the manner of Humperdinck's perennial classic opera Hansel und Gretel. Presented in DTS 5.1 and LCPM stereo on DVD and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and stereo on Blu-ray, extras include an illustrated synopsis, cast gallery, and brief remarks by Dove, Middleton, Parry, and stage director Martin Duncan. A strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)