There’s a new opera in town – and it includes plate smashing, megaphones and cucumber sandwiches

31 March 2016, 14:26 | Updated: 6 January 2017, 14:45

Gerald Barry’s unlikely opera interpretation of Oscar Wilde’s classic The Importance of Being Earnest might be one of the best operas of recent times. But more importantly it surely breaks a record for toasted tea cake consumption.

Barry’s opera was first performed back in 2011 and it has proved a pretty much instant hit. (The current run at the Barbican is sold out – but you can watch a live stream of the performance on 2nd April.)

One of the (many) reasons it’s been such a hit is Barry’s use of… unorthodox instruments. Here are some of the best.

Wind machines

Also known as a friction idiophone. Anyway, it creates a sound of wind. But that's not what Barry uses it for, that would be far too obvious. He just uses it like any other instrument – for the noise it makes.

Plate smashing

That’s right. At particularly high points of tension, a member of the percussion section dons a pair of protective goggles and has the best time:

It's going to be smashing!

A musical highlight ahead of #Earnest opening night:https://t.co/csTa7nZF25 ^M pic.twitter.com/7ZFnwYnO5J

— The Royal Opera (@TheRoyalOpera) March 29, 2016

Megaphones

These aren’t even really instruments, are they Barry? But that doesn’t stop him…

Contrabassoon (honorary mention)

This is an instrument, but it has a prominent role in the opera and when is that ever a sentence you can say about the contrabassoon. Let's all take a moment to appreciate the contrabassoon.

Hob nailed boots

For angry stomping bits.

A sledge-hammer

Like this:

But with less Mahler.

And a whole LOAD of tea and cakes

You can watch the whole opera, absolutely free, on Saturday 2nd April via the Royal Opera House's YouTube channel. Find out more here.

Pictures: ROH/Stephen Cummiskey