Royal Festival Hall Hosts Energetic, If Unsubtle, Opera on Billie Jean King and Bobby riggs’ “Battle of the Sexes”
London – Laura Karpman’s new opera, Balls, which premiered at the Royal Festival Hall, delivers a pacey and entertaining, though ofen unsubtle, account of the 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. The production, featuring an Emmy award-winning composer and a cast led by Nikola Printz as King, embraces a deliberately broad emotional palette, foregoing nuance for direct impact.
The opera’s premiere comes as interest in the story of King and Riggs remains high, fueled by recent films and a continuing conversation about gender equality in sports and society. Balls aims to capture the cultural moment surrounding the match, utilizing a score that blends Copland-esque hopefulness with Philip Glass minimalism and Hollywood-ready climaxes. the production also featured a video cameo from King herself, setting the tone for a celebratory and accessible experience. Tenor Nicky Spence played Riggs as a ”comic ringleader,” while Lotte Betts-Dean portrayed King’s secretary and lover with a “smoky-voiced and soulful” performance.
The Guardian’s review notes the opera’s stylistic choices, including amplified voices and short numbers, reflecting Karpman’s background in film and television scoring. Marin Alsop conducted the Philharmonia Orchestra, navigating the shifts between “filmic lushness” and more declamatory passages. The first half of the evening included a performance of Walton’s Façade, featuring Printz, Spence, and Betts-Dean delivering Edith Sitwell’s text with “aplomb.” The production’s focus on entertainment,while effective,occasionally left the orchestra and singers feeling “somewhat underused.”
