I’m the Sheik of a Regie
OpinionatedNeophyte was certainly heading in the right direction when he (she?) guessed our previous Regie quiz suggested Médée. That Greek sorceress was indeed in attendance, but maestro Cherubini had nothing to do with it, because the opera in question was Mayr’s Medea in Corinto. The director was Hans Neuenfels, at the Bayerische Staatsoper.
And that production went something like this:
Now, a little more exotica:
Come on, there’s Don Giovanni smeard all over it.
1. Act one finale, last segment
2. Vedrai, carino
3. More difficult, I think “Ho capito, signor si”
She looks Cleopatraish. Antony and Cleo? Caesar and Cleo?
Cosi Fan Tutte ???
Clearly, this is the Corrine Serreau production of Britten’s Albert Herring:
Photo One: Sid and Nancy dance at the May Festival dance
Photo Two: After his night of debauchery, Albert tries to deal with his hangover
Photo Three: Albert Act 3 declaration to domineering mother “That’ll do, Mum”
The Skovhus picture is a hint: Der Barbier von Bagdad? It could also be Abu Hassan.
Middle Eastern Theme, Contemporary Relevance: Clearly I Lombardi alla Prima Crociata/Jérusalem.
1. Sadaam’s Harem in Baghdad. The eunuchs are up to their usual cutups. Split chorus– Eunuchs: “Who needs balls to have a ball?” Old Biddies: “Those surgeons are losing their touch.”
2. Her lover, barely conscious, moans and moans. Griselda, ever patient, sweetly sings her famous lament: “Wait till you’ve been screwed by a eunuch!”
3. As Old Biddies gloat, the fully recovered lover goes ballistic: “You let them do WHAT??!!! And WHAT??!!! At this point, Verdi’s coloratura for Bass Countertenor recalls the dizzying achievements of the Castrati greats.
Verdi and his usual far-too-heavy Irony.
This is obviously Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino,” set either during “Desert Storm” or in Afghanistan.
1) Camp scene, just before or after “Viva la guerra.”
2) Alvaro’s wounds are tended.
3) Leonora and her father in Act I, scene i.
Ballo in Maschera. Just a different type of maschera.
Something tells me it’s Vec Makropulos, don’t ask why…
On the other hand it may well be Thais.
On second thought, maybe it’s the Consul. Don’t know what the sexing in the first photo has to do with it, but the desk just screams bureaucrat.