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Evita begins with a traumatised Argentina in mourning. Stunned by the premature death of its charismatic First Lady to cancer, a disconsolate crowd seeks solace in a feverish Requiem.
As their collective memories coalesce into a single saintly image of her face that engulfs the back wall of the small church, the gripping story of her life begins to unroll in flashback.
Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice have moulded the life of this wilful and beautiful young woman (a global icon whose headline-grabbing fame eventually eclipses that of her powerful husband on the world stage) into one of their finest works.
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In the other key male role, Philip Quast inhabits the ruthlessly manipulative Maxwell-like personality of Peron with immense conviction, his accomplished singing and impressive acting combining to create an overwhelming impression of power and unbridled ambition.
