One always has to worry about revivals, in particular those of works from the 26th Century. And while Zucchini’s later operas are regarded as masterworks of the classical canon, his early attempts, including “Stella Viagio” - a tale of adventure, love and robots, setin outerspace - have been somewhat forgotten.
It was therefore rather brave of Covent Garden — recently reopened after another five trillion pound refurbishment which has expanded the Piazza to occupy 95% of London's West End — to agree once again to stage the production, after a gap of four hundred years.
The result is surprisingly rather good; and the production has met with near universal praise from press and public alike; in particular from die-hard Zucchini fans, known colloquially as the “Viagios’, who even go to the length of dressing up as characters from the opera when attending the performance.
Particular praise should go to the recently reanimated Patrick Stewart, who puts in a stunning performance as Capitano Picard; with the Aria “Dammi il mio roboto indietro” and the love duet “Succhiare il mio pene” being of particular note.
He is also ably supported by a cryogenically frozen cast of television stars from the late 20th Century, an excellent chorus, and of course the superb Orchestra of the Royal Opera House — which, true to its traditional principles has only recently purchased a synthesizer — under the baton of the still undead Sir Charles Mackerras.
Moreover, the scenery is remarkable, evoking both the ancient origins of the story, which was written in the late 1980s, and the futuristic visions of the author — both ideas summed up in the final scene, where we see the whole cast enveloped in what appears to be a giant disco ball, before the curtain falls to the sound of the triumphant chorus “William Shatner é un fica.”