tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11380345.post6428500221756218775..comments2024-03-17T12:16:42.048-07:00Comments on Civic Center: Benjamin Britten 2: Castleton Festival OperaCivic Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12362422142667230626noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11380345.post-73779398080159998432011-04-03T21:47:11.095-07:002011-04-03T21:47:11.095-07:00Thanks Henry and SF Mike. I will listen more care...Thanks Henry and SF Mike. I will listen more carefully to the score and hope to catch a more worthwhile production some day. The story struck me as a bit too simple and syrupy for my tastes as is, of course, true of many operas. What Henry calls regie I might well call revelatory, but I get the point. Thanks again for taking the time to shed some light.doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04141213752246724392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11380345.post-86745908640223509112011-04-03T21:40:03.346-07:002011-04-03T21:40:03.346-07:00Dear Doug: What Henry Holland said. And of course ...Dear Doug: What Henry Holland said. And of course it's the music. I'm pretty sure Verdi's "Falstaff" was the model, and when the ensemble clicks with enough rehearsal and the right combination of players, "Albert Herring" is a great musical machine. Britten was an brilliant musical parodist, and he has lots of fun with throwaway jokes that pop throughout the score. It's a very rich piece.Civic Centerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12362422142667230626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11380345.post-54962533717439941582011-04-03T18:22:21.026-07:002011-04-03T18:22:21.026-07:00Can you help me understand what you see in it?
Yo...<i>Can you help me understand what you see in it?</i><br /><br />You didn't ask me, but I'll try. :-)<br /><br />There's the obvious: it's got a wonderful libretto by Eric Crozier and Britten's music is fabulous, full of great tunes, toe-tapping rhythms and his usual brilliant orchestration. It's also pretty regie-proof and the cast doesn't need to be able to sing Tristan or Isolde, but to be good singers who can act.<br /><br />Ever had a job you didn't like? Ever wanted to smack a boss upside the head but didn't? Ever had a parent who you loved dearly but who drove you crazy at times? Ever love someone who a) barely knows you exist and b) is madly in love with someone else? Ever feel like breaking out of your routine and doing something uncharacteristic? Ever felt grief at someone dying? Ever gotten drunk? Ever lost your virginity?<br /><br />I imagine you'd answer "Yes" to some of those, so what difference does the time and place of the piece matter, so what if it references things that are no longer around or foreign to Americans like May Queen Festivals? I'm certain that you're able to overlook the fact that you're not a god living in Valhalla or a kept woman in Paris in the 1850's when you listen to <i>Das Rheingold</i> or <i>La Traviata</i>.<br /><br />I hope none of that comes across as harsh -I'm laughing as I type this- but seriously, see if you can find a copy of the libretto and read it, it's a wonderful example of the art of libretto writing. If the music doesn't work for you, oh well, nothing anyone can do about that, right? :-)Henry Hollandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15871451112170286316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11380345.post-75236708445668831622011-04-02T09:34:54.577-07:002011-04-02T09:34:54.577-07:00Hey Mike, I noticed that you've mentioned thin...Hey Mike, I noticed that you've mentioned thinking highly of Albert Herring. I am new to the opera. While I can see it being fun for an audience of Britten's time and seaside location, it baffles me how/if this still translates. Can you help me understand what you see in it? I'd like to appreciate it along with Britten's many other wonderful operas. Thanks!doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04141213752246724392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11380345.post-32209882123190750752011-03-30T17:18:18.355-07:002011-03-30T17:18:18.355-07:00Dear Doug: Thanks a lot. It was a lot of work, but...Dear Doug: Thanks a lot. It was a lot of work, but I really felt the need to stick up for Britten when there seemed to be so many (free ticket) Goldstar newcomers in the audience who had no clue about his music.Civic Centerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12362422142667230626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11380345.post-70010262339743326352011-03-30T17:14:04.026-07:002011-03-30T17:14:04.026-07:00What a compelling and well written review. I happe...What a compelling and well written review. I happen to agree with every word, too. Thanks!!doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04141213752246724392noreply@blogger.com