Send in the clowns
POSTED at
8:35 AM
07 December 2007
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27 Comments:
Oh, I get it. This is the Neely O'Hara version.
I see it more as the Fellini version....
http://cultureonthecheap.wordpress.com
Cate Blanchett I am sure, has a steadier voice.
One has to wonder what Callas, Sutherland or Sills might have said had they been directed to stagger around drunk and tumble into a bathtub. (And what does it say about Alfredo that he finds this alluring?) That said, whoever she is, I kinda like her fierceness, despite the shrieking. But those clowns? "E strano..." indeed.
Once again, impressive visuals, pretty people who can kind of sort sing the music somewhat in tune and a big set budget. It's funny how this sort of thing is so....well....tired.
There has to be some middle ground somewhere-I'm no fan of productions mounted by recalcitrant conservatives, OR of Regietrash.
Hurrah for innovation, boo for distortion!
I have to say, I don't hate it. The clowns, yes, ridiculous. The rest of it, insofar as this clip is representative, I'm sort of into. The singers are putting some heart into it, for one thing. Um, and I want the phone number of Gastone there, in the glasses.
I actually like it - there's always the debate of having Traviata set in the present, which it was when it was written as both a novel, play and then an opera.
I keep thinking that opera is engrained into the European culture so most of them know all of these stories and the music (until the besiege of American commercialism), so I don't mind if other theatres take it a little further.
This works I think. The fun part is seeing the clowns out of context. I presume it's just another theme party that Violetta was supposed to be a part of, but died, oops. Poor choice for some, maybe - maybe if the last party was set as Studio 54 or even a leather bar, people may appreciate it more. :)
On the one hand, I can see how one might want to read Violetta "Party Girl" Valery as a kind of Lindsay Lohan. Does anyone think she *really* had only one glass of champagne at all the parties she gave? Does anyone think she really went to bed alone, after all she is a courtesan. But exposing the realities of Violetta's life(style) as this production does seems to have the decidedly unfortunate effect of rendering her unsympathetic. I think Verdi wants us to feel Violetta's pain at losing Alfredo. But if she's just some B-list drunk, who cares what happens to her? Turning every opera into a verismo piece has its consequences, not all of them good. And seeing Violetta die all alone at the end? That's just dreadful!
Violetta dies during carnival, so that makes sense. I am all for imaginative productions, after all, Ken Russell is one of my favorite directors, but so much of this is just busy work and seems to go against the spirit of the libretto (where are the "non e escritto cosi" purists when you need them?). Also, I hate it when directors give singers physical stuff that gets in the way of a good vocal production. That final phrase from the Violetta was so uncomfortable, and I am sure it did not help to have her singing on her side with her knees against her chest. Oh well...
"But if she's just some B-list drunk, who cares what happens to her?"
Kinda makes one empathize a bit more with the elder Germont and daughter.
i usually find these modern productions a horror but i liked it, we must face the fact that opera is headed into a new direction. the conditions that produced a callas, a sills, a sutherland or even a kiri no longer exist. the new opera productions demand a different kind of singing actor. who knows what great singing actress or actor the future may bring. the clowns were a nice touch.
I agree with Maury; it's not bad and an interesting interpretation in a Bret Ellis Easton/Less Than Zero sort of way. The drunken stumbling around is too much. Vi may be a courtesan, but Germont is impressed by her upper class bearing in Act 2. She's a smart woman who chooses to live her life as she does as a way to find a measure of independence and equality not available to most women at that time. She may feel good at her parties, but she never loses control. Although it does present the idea that during the intro to Fors'e lui, she might pour herself a few snorts and that leads to the abandon of Sempre Libera. Perhaps we see the cost of the facade she maintains in some quiet desperate drinking when the party's over. Just a thought.
The desperation of "tu m'ami Alfredo" just screams Fatal Attraction, too.
I'll take Decker's "Eurotrash" with Netrebko any time.
Made me dizzy more than anything else.
so la cieca now makes the national news!!
http://www.usatoday.com/life/2007-12-06-NYC-opera_N.htm?csp=34
The cast should sue- the audience should sue- the Verdi estate should sue- and the director should be shot with balls of his/her own crap. The whole thing is an insult to everyone- plain awful - another masterpiece ruined due to a self indulgent wanky director.
It looks a lot more interesting than that LA Opera version that Futral performed in but Fleming wouldn't. I thought the ending was quite effective.
As skeptical as I usually am about these attempts to update opera stories, I can usually forgive and forget most excesses as long as the music is polished and first rate. This didn't have that effect; what kind of angstliche Geschrei was that on "Folie!" at 3:27-3:40?
This might be the first Violetta that has me thinking Alfredo should really listen to his father: dump the skanky, alcoholic co-dependent floozy and get on with his life.
And get a penicillin shot while he's at it.
Oh, dear. Violetta is a mess. Reminds me of me at parties. Refined, classy, elegant Violettas with grace, polish and nobility are so over, apparently.
Coupla thoughts: 1) the Baron? Hellooooo, hott. Yumm.
All in all, the singing sounded pretty good. I liked her middle voice, but the top did turn a bit banshee-esque.
Geheimnessregie commandment #9
Thou shalt not recognize humanity or kindness in characters when it is possible to emphasize more base emotions and motivations.
Never mind that the libretto and stage directions indicate that Violetta does not die alone, get the tenor and baritone off stage so that she can croak (literally and figuratively) in isolated delerium.
In the future all operas will be ten minutes long, just like this. MTV at the opera. Admit it, folks -- this has everything you need for a complete evening at La Trav. Why would anyone want more?
Good performance too. LOVE her dying alone while everyone else is enjoying themselves.
eep I AM the MTV generation, and I hated this. Was the intense drunkness really sexy? I get it if it's in Sempre Libera, but the party scene was painful.
The thing is ... it's a tawdry story. Everyone forgets that, because the gowns are so beautiful and the music too. But it's tawdry. (Was it the first serious grand opera to have no noble or royal main characters? Stiffelio's baritone is a Count.)
I remember when Ainhoa Arteta (a name to conjure with) sang the opening of the current Met Traviata ... not the greatest voice in the world, but when she stood there in the party scene with everyone discussing her past and present, she looked utterly haggard and crushed, and stood in an unflattering light in a limp off-white gown, and I thought: something from the gutter, to which she will soon return. Splendid acting and it made you realize: This is a tawdry story.
Of course, seeing that message conveyed so easily despite gawdy trappings (those dancing cows!) makes one realize how tawdry geheimnisregie is.
(Though I kinda liked this one.)
hey- who can't relate to a bi-polar manic depressive in her manic phase? i sorta relate-good production-nice yowling. 3stars
I hate it.
www.operainamerica.blogspot.com
A most intresting production, from what it looks like.
People, newsflash: Violetta was a prostitute! helloouuuuu....
I mean, that is what the story is about. A-PRO-STI-TUTE. And if you cannot relate to her just because they show her drunk... maybe you should just get a life...
And the clowns standing in the back (she dies during carnival, again, hellooouu) while she is alone in bed, well, it does make her look very pathetic and it was probably very moving seing it life.
ANDY. dearest.
"Refined, classy, elegant Violettas with grace, polish and nobility are so over, apparently"
What on earth are you talking about...
My god you are such a prue.
SHE WAS SELLING HER BODY FOR MONEY. that´s not regie theater. thats the dumas original novel. HELLO!
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