World weary

By La Cieca

June 29, 2011

You only thought the “Brokeback” Eugene Onegin was the gayest possible take on the Tchaikovsky “lyric scenes.” Now, along comes La Cieca’s fave director Stefan Herheim‘s extravagant, transgressive, high-camp symbolist (and about a dozen other adjectives) approach to the work, “gay” in the very best sense of gay sensibility. Video after the jump!

For background on how these scenes fit into Herheim’s overall concept, the always insightful Intermezzo is a good place to start.

The letter scene:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewQHjb3_tkg

Last moments of Lensky’s death, followed by the Polonaise:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_BnD9TsrA8

Final scene:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Jb8ix6HSYI

And the whole thing may be watched below. (Note: “Verbinden met videoserver” means “Video loading,” so be patient.)

La Cieca

James Jorden (who wrote under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") was the founder and editor of parterre box. During his 20 year career as an opera critic he wrote for the New York Times, Opera, Gay City News, Opera Now, Musical America and the New York Post. He also raised his voice in punditry on National Public Radio. From time to time he directed opera, including three unsuccessful productions of Don Giovanni. He also contributed a regular column on opera for the New York Observer. James died in October 2023.