mies van der regie
Naughty Feldmarschallin spoiled the most recent Regie quiz by blurting out the answer, so La Cieca will repeat her usual entreaty in advance this time. The point of this quiz is not to see if you can recognize a production you have seen (or have seen reviewed) but rather, working from the images, to try to guess what opera it might be. Now, the next blurter will have commenting privileges suspended, so stop with the blurting.
The solution to the quiz, as well as a new puzzler, after the jump.
That opera last time was Così fan tutte, as directed by Claus Guth for the Salzburg Festival. Here’s a glimpse of what the very attractive cast looked like in action.
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/RdlmYVSIr6g" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
Again with the modern decor, though on a less lavish scale, shows up this time.
It’s set in a furniture store — the Italian equivalent of IKEA, I suppose. There are markings on the floor to indicate rooms and one of them is marked “soggi[orno]“. The girl in blue is presumably a salesgirl and the guy in the maroon shirt is a workman of some sort in the store. He’s not in drag; he’s just wearing an apron in the third picture (like the middle guy in his backup group). In the first picture, where he’s gazing adoringly at her, he’s in regular clothes.
So, what Italian comic opera could reasonably be set in a furniture store? None. So what Italian comic opera could unreasonably (this is regie after all) be set in a furniture store?
And here I come up dry.
It has to be Aida. First picture is Amneris looking on jealously as Aida and Radames sing together, with a cut-rate chorus singing in the background. Second picture is Amneris right before Aida comes in for their Act II duet. Third picture is the triumphal march with Aida off to the side lamenting that Pharaoh has given Radames to Amneris.
Didn’t proof what I wrote! First picture is Aida looking on as Amneris and Radames sing together in Act 1.
On second thought scratch ‘Lulu’ – it has to be Rosenkavalier!
1) Act 2: baron Ochs courts Sophie as Octavian discreetly looks on. Annina and Valzacci can be seen in the background, gathering gossip.
2) Sophie laments her unwanted marriage to Ochs.
3) Act 3: Hi-jinks at the Inn.
When in doubt, Elektra always works.
1. The Recognition Scene. Elektra and Orest foreground, sister Chris behind and servants in background.
2. Elektra listens intently to the offstage murders – “Agamemmnon hoert dich!”
3. General jubilation and chaos as Orest takes over the household.
La Cieca gives a very elegant hint in her introduction…
On second thought it is Sonnambula. In the first frame Amina is talking to the stranger with Elvino looking on. Then the next one is of Amina wandering into the stranger’s room and about to fall asleep. The final frame is after she has been revealed as a sleepwalker and Elvino comes back and to the happiness of all they will get married.
Salome
Manon
1. Je suis encore tout etourdie
2. Adieu notre petite table
3. Obeissons quand leur voix apelle
Or Damn Yankees
Falstaff