Wehaa:
User Box
Home Classical Review A Misguided Venture
Wednesday, February 6,2008
Share
A Misguided Venture
Classical Review
Theludicrous production of La Traviata that
opened at Skylight Opera last weekend proved that a great Verdi melody
is indestructible. This unbelievably misguided venture only works in
the final scene, when all its incompetence, bad direction and
quarter-baked ideas mercifully recede enough for focus on the bare
essentials of opera: a voice singing great music that communicates
character and emotion.
The Skylight apparently believes that its audience needs “help” in relating to La Traviata, a desperately unwise and incredibly disrespectful point of view. It should have been a red flag when the company realized that La Traviata could not be updated as is, because Germont’s moral objection over his son’s affair with Violetta would never be believed in a contemporary context.
Rather than choosing something else, or choosing to respect the piece, the company headed pell-mell into a version by librettist/director Dimitri Toscas that leaves the score in shreds and entirely tosses out the original libretto, freely rewritten with a story about a pop star and a politician who seems to have no constituency. This mess doesn’t even make sense on its own as a logical play or scenario, never mind that Verdi’s music does not remotely suit a story about a pop diva. Whatever its production, a theater company does not drastically rewrite the script of a Shakespeare or Ibsen play. When Jonathan Larson took the basic story of La bohème and updated it in Rent, he had the artistic integrity to write his own music, and left Puccini alone. The notable reinterpretations of standard opera repertory—however wacky—done by some directors all over the world have a common thread: they leave the libretto and score alone. That taste and judgment eludes the Skylight and Toscas.
Even on its own terms, this is not a good libretto. It is full of awkward language, attempting to mix contemporary vernacular with badly written, stillborn, overwrought sentiments. Giggle-inducing moments abound, such as when Alfredo sings an impassioned Italian melody with the words “She’s back in Vegas.”
As for the performers, I can only offer my sympathies.
The Skylight apparently believes that its audience needs “help” in relating to La Traviata, a desperately unwise and incredibly disrespectful point of view. It should have been a red flag when the company realized that La Traviata could not be updated as is, because Germont’s moral objection over his son’s affair with Violetta would never be believed in a contemporary context.
Rather than choosing something else, or choosing to respect the piece, the company headed pell-mell into a version by librettist/director Dimitri Toscas that leaves the score in shreds and entirely tosses out the original libretto, freely rewritten with a story about a pop star and a politician who seems to have no constituency. This mess doesn’t even make sense on its own as a logical play or scenario, never mind that Verdi’s music does not remotely suit a story about a pop diva. Whatever its production, a theater company does not drastically rewrite the script of a Shakespeare or Ibsen play. When Jonathan Larson took the basic story of La bohème and updated it in Rent, he had the artistic integrity to write his own music, and left Puccini alone. The notable reinterpretations of standard opera repertory—however wacky—done by some directors all over the world have a common thread: they leave the libretto and score alone. That taste and judgment eludes the Skylight and Toscas.
Even on its own terms, this is not a good libretto. It is full of awkward language, attempting to mix contemporary vernacular with badly written, stillborn, overwrought sentiments. Giggle-inducing moments abound, such as when Alfredo sings an impassioned Italian melody with the words “She’s back in Vegas.”
As for the performers, I can only offer my sympathies.
Also in Classical Review:
Elections 2008
Obama seeks greater rein on financial institutions
(AP)
AP - President Barack Obama says he wants Congress to pass legislation giving the government greater regulatory authority over financial institutions like American International Group.
Sources: Pentagon to stop forced tour extension
(AP)
AP - The Army will substantially reduce use of the unpopular practice of holding troops beyond their enlistment dates and will pay $500 to those still forced to stay in the service, defense and congressional officials said Wednesday.
AIG head shares US anger of bonuses but backs them
(AP)
AP - The chief executive officer of failed insurance conglomerate AIG acknowledged Wednesday that the company's multimillion-dollar bonuses were "distasteful" to many and had provoked a firestorm of wrath. "I share that anger," Edward Liddy, chairman and CEO of the American International Group Inc., said in testimony prepared for Congress.
Analysis: White House, Dems backpedaling on AIG
(AP)
AP - For the first time since last fall's election, Democrats and the Obama administration are backpedaling furiously on an issue easily understood by financially strapped taxpayers: $165 million in bonuses paid out at bailed-out AIG.
Pence: Return AIG donations
(Politico)
Politico - House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence is urging politicians from both parties to strongly consider returning campaign contributions from AIG.
..Search Shepherd Express
Top Stories
AIG head shares US anger of bonuses but backs them
(AP)
AP - The chief executive officer of failed insurance conglomerate AIG acknowledged Wednesday that the company's multimillion-dollar bonuses were "distasteful" to many and had provoked a firestorm of wrath. "I share that anger," Edward Liddy, chairman and CEO of the American International Group Inc., said in testimony prepared for Congress.
Obama seeks greater rein on financial institutions
(AP)
AP - President Barack Obama says he wants Congress to pass legislation giving the government greater regulatory authority over financial institutions like American International Group.
Consumer prices rise by largest amount in 7 months
(AP)
AP - Consumer prices rose in February by the largest amount in seven months as gasoline prices surged again and clothing costs jumped the most in nearly two decades.
Crude
