Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2015/06/08
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]"Modern" stagings in Europe have gone way beyond anything we usually see in the U.S. Many opera stage directors appear to think that their "concept" is far more important than the composer, the music, the librettist, the story, the singers, the audience, comprehension, or stylistic consistency. Their defenders say that they are injecting new life and current relevance into a tired art form. Their detractors say they are aggrandizing themselves at the expense of the composer, the music... &etc. Read some of the German press (especially) for some of the fun and games. There is even a FaceBook group dedicated to combating these productions. An old friend of mine who's a singer in Germany often quotes it. < https://www.facebook.com/pages/Against-Modern-Opera-Productions/146292958770872 > Me, I like a good modern production if it is faithful to the essence and spirit of the original. I don't mind stretching literalism, because opera was hardly ever completely literal. BUT when a director says, in effect, "I'm a ****ing genius, so I can do ****ing anything I want, and if you don't like it, you're a ****ing mental defective"--well then, I may be inclined to inquire about the Emperor's state of dress. Back to Jay's pictures: If anyplace is a metaphor for how the sensibilities of various eras can coexist and synergize, it is the Palais Garnier. The building was built in the late 19th century, but now combines Neo-Baroque architecture with an auditorium ceiling mural by Marc Chagall (who was essentially a Surrealist, but got away with not calling himself one because he used dreamy elements from Jewish folklore). On Mon, Jun 8, 2015 at 1:46 PM, Jay Burleson <leica at jayburleson.com> wrote: > Douglas, it is from a current production starting this month. > Apparently this version of Aida is heavily modernized and has some > scathing criticism already, including critics leaving halfway through. > > Jay > > > On 6/8/2015 12:45 PM, Douglas Barry wrote: > >> Very atmospheric, Jay. Is that from the 1880 staging conducted by Verdi >> himself? Interesting that they used crucifixes in the costume - cheaper >> than pagan ones, I suppose. >> >> I'll have to make the pilgrimage myself as I grew up to the sounds of my >> father listening to Aida on the record player. >> >> Douglas >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jay Burleson" <leica at >> jayburleson.com> >> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org> >> Sent: Monday, June 08, 2015 2:38 AM >> Subject: [Leica] IMG: High Priestess Costume from the Opera "Aida" >> >> >> Palais Garnier Opera House, Paris, Ile-de-France, France >>> Leica Monochrom, Elmarit-M 1:2.8/21 mm ASPH., iso 2000 >>> >>> High Priestess Costume from the Opera "Aida" >>> https://tinyurl.com/pylejgu >>> >>> Please click on the photo to view it in a larger size. >>> >>> Thanks for looking and all comments welcome! >>> >>> Jay >>> >> > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >