Roderick Williams on the Roundhouse stage as Ulysses. PHOTO: TRISTRAM KENTON

Who needs a set and scenery? The stage at the Roundhouse, Chalk Farm, means that one’s imagination has to provide the background. And the Royal Opera / Roundhouse production of Claudio Monteverdi’s The Return of Ulysses, directed by John Fulljames, is strong on illusion, using white balloons for sheep and red scraps of paper for blood.

The orchestra, under the baton of early music specialist Christian Curnyn, adds to the spectacle by very slowly rotating. In this way, every few minutes or so a different instrument demands attention and it is thrilling to hear and see period pieces, such as theorboes, from every angle.

Unfortunately, on the night I was there Christine Rice (Ulysses’ wife, Penelope) was vocally indisposed so she could not sing. But she walked the part with such grace and co-ordination with mezzo Caitlin Hulcup, who sang beautifully from the orchestra pit, that one could scarcely tell that she was miming. It was also pleasant to have glimpses of Hulcup as the pit rotated.

This is the story of the Greek hero Ulysses returning home after 20 years, having aged in the process so that not even his wife recognises him.

Roderick Williams is a convincing and powerful Ulysses showing that, although he may have been physically weakened by his tribulations, his mind is unaffected and his romantic spirit is still capable of love. This contrast between wit and strength is cunningly demonstrated by the stringing of his bow.

His wife’s suitors are challenged to do this in order to win her hand. Each one fails in turn, trying to pull the string down from the top of the bow. But Ulysses knows the trick of bending it to the ground so that it can easily be stringed. Even so, his wife does not recognise him until he describes the curtains she had woven for their bed.

A happy ending!

• The Return of Ulysses is at the Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, NW1, on January 18, 19 and 21. Tickets from the Royal Opera House and the Roundhouse:
ROH, 020 7304 4000, www.roh.org.uk/productions/
Roundhouse, 0300 6789 222, www.roundhouse.org.uk/whats-on/list

Sarah Dawes