FeuchtBlog

Peter Grimes, by Benjamin Britten, starring Peter Pears, conducted by Britten, made for t.v. ?

This is an opera that has been recorded for DVD at least 5-6 times, and usually gets a 5-star rating. This performance by the composer himself has the highest reviews of all. Yet, both Betsy and I sat entirely bewildered for at least 2 hrs. and 15 minutes. This piece did not appear to have any remarkable creativity at all. It is exactly the sing-songy type speech one would make if one chose to satirize an opera. The story line also was entirely incoherent. It was quite obvious that Britten wished to make strong anti-Christian statements, but did so quite poorly, the story line showing hypocritical Christian leaders condemning Peter Grimes, and not showing sympathy for him. Yet, it was Peter Grimes that was money-grubbing, resulting in driving a child to death at the beginning of the opera and then the end of the opera again. No wonder the “Christian” folk were upset! Britten was a flagrant homosexual, and his lover was Peter Pears, thus, he wrote many pieces supposedly for Peter Pears. Perhaps his utilization of a boy-servant for Peter Grimes was not quite appropriate in such a setting. All in all, this work had no consistency for music, there were no musical episodes that one could call great composed music, the plot was horrible, and if a statement was attempted to be made, it was made quite poorly. This is an opera that I would never waste my time watching again. Don’t waste your time.

Sadko, by Rimsky-Korsakov, performed by Kirov Opera, Valery Gergiev – Dirigent  ????

Sadko used to be quite strong in the Russian repertoire of opera pieces, and one of the most recognized of RK. This production by Gergiev is very well done, with superb conducting, and awesome and expensive staging sets. No expense was spared on the number of performers/singers, ballet dancers, costumes, visual effects, etc. Unfortunately, the opera story is just plain boring, with a ridiculous plot. The music is delightful, but no pieces stand out as extraordinarily remarkable. It is superb R-K with a bad plot. There are other Russian works far more worth watching. This opera is best for those who have exhausted the standard repertoire and wish to explore the lesser known Russian works.

Eine Nacht in Venedig by Johann Strauss, made for tv ???

Johann Strauss, Wiener Blut, made for tv ???

I am reviewing both operettas together, as I watched them together, and they share similarities. I would have given them only one star each, except that the music was truly wonderful, and well sung and performed. The problem with the operettas is their plots, which are almost the same, the main personality being a prince-philanderer who flirts with multiple women, three of whom through disguise or mistaken identity carry on the operetta to its conclusion when the ladies true identity is revealed and the prince gives in. Obviously, one operetta takes place in Venice, and the other in Vienna. I appreciated the film style of the operetta, which is so much better than watching a stage, though one could occasionally tell that the singers are lip-synching. The plots of both operettas tended to identify the sumptuous though trifling lives of aristocratic persons in Wien. Perhaps this is an unintended statement of Strauss in satirizing the ruling class. Whereas Strauss’ Fledermaus is a must-see, these two operettas are worth watching only if you are either an avid fan of opera or if you are intensely bored with absolutely nothing else to watch.

Der Kuhhandel, by Kurt Weill ??

This opera is about the country of Santa Maria that started as a peaceful, happy country, until corruption encouraged the leaders into an arms race with a neighboring country, resulting in oppressive taxation and brutality to its citizens. The staging was not totally minimalistic, and so was endurable for a European produced production, and the singing/acting was well done. The opera was interesting in that if one simply closed their eyes and listened to the music, they would imagine that they were listening to a modern American move-musical, such as a Rogers & Hammerstein musical or the Wizard of Oz, etc. I am sure that Kurt Weill had a major influence on later composition of musicals.

So, why the poor rating? Weill was a Jewish composer that had to flee Germany during the Nazi years, eventually dying at age 50 in NYC. His political leanings tended toward Communism, and this opera represents a very strong leaning toward the same. Yet, it represents highly confused thinking, possible attributing to why the opera never really became popular. The corrupt government is the source of evil. Simple, primitive life is good. The government is hell-bent on destroying your life, while living themselves a life of luxury. Unfortunately, all of these traits were present in virtually all of the socialistic or communistic regimes of the 20th century. When Weill protests capitalism, he also glorifies capitalism by extolling the virtues of owning private property (a cow, which is the peasants means of producing a living). Such muddled thinking is so true of most liberals today, shooting a “capitalist” straw man. Weill seems to protest moral decadence by having the fat government officials relishing in a brothel, yet, had the brothel maidens dancing in the forefront at the end of the opera. Perhaps Weill needs better direction as to a real (I actually mean, only) system of morality.