I encountered these three productions when they were first broadcast on PBS. I was
fascinated by Le nozze di Figaro, a bit annoyed by Cosi fan
Tutte, and completely put off by Don Giovanni (I switched it off in the middle
of the "Champagne Aria," finding the production icky and some of the
singing unbearable.)
Now, with more life experience, more opera experience, more experience with Regietheater (although I am not sure these two really count as regie—feel free to discuss/disagree in the comments section below), and a completely different world outlook, I re-approached these operas with curiosity. The good news is that we can experiment with and form our own opinions on Mr. Sellars' Cosi and Giovanni for free on YT (for now). Thanks to the enterprising Opera Nerd for posting them!
The one you couldn't watch is the most famous.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's the one I know the best (and like the best, so far.)
DeleteI saw Cosí then and I remember I loved the idea of treating it as a non-funny comedy, but disliked the actual production (the choreographic movements, some of the singing). Watching it again is very interesting - after having watched many productions over these years, including Guth's and the one with the giant egg (mercifully, I forgot the authors of such horror) this one looks dramatically solid and quite mainstream (Added bonus of a Don Alfonso that's a Homer Simpson lookalike)
ReplyDeleteI kind of like the egg one. The directors/designers were Karl-Ernst & Ursel Herrmann - it was part of the Salzburg M22 festival back in 2006.
DeleteHave you seen the Berlin Staatsoper production from 2002? That is a very good funny/not funny interpretation of Cosi. And it stars the amazing Dorothea Röschmann.
Thanks for reading, and thanks for your comments!
I definitely need to check these out. I remember the DG from way back (also Sellars' Giulio Cesare from the same period I think). Since then I've seen a lot of Sellars; his various Adams collabs, L'Amour de Loin, Theodora and Hercules come to mind. I'm curious to see how I'll react to his earlier work now.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking specifically of you when exploring these two videos, knowing you follow his current work. (And I appreciate reading your reviews and impressions)
DeleteI'm looking forward to reading your reactions to the Mozarts.
Sellars has also staged what I think is a marvelous St. Matthew Passion (Bach) for the Berlin Philharmonic. It's sort of a staged/concert version now available in the original of a few years ago (with Magdelena Kožená pregnant and Mark Padmore as the Evangelist - very moving) and a new version just done this year-- both are pay per view) I think he's done the St. John, too.