krj
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response 219 of 221:
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Nov 12 02:04 UTC 2002 |
I've been trying to come up with something to say about the Michigan
Opera Theater production of Verdi's IL TROVATORE without much success.
Singing in the production was mostly good; acting was just fair.
Dramatically this opera is a bit of a mess, probably because
the librettest died midway through, if I remember correctly.
TROVATORE is one of those improbable opera plots which everyone
sneers at: two brothers separated at birth on opposite sides of
a civil war, in love with the same woman. It's interesting that
TROVATORE is lumped in with two of Verdi's strongest dramas,
RIGOLETTO and LA TRAVIATA, all three premiering in a brief
period in the early 1840s.
What makes TROVATORE worthwhile is the music, which is oriented towards
choruses and ensemble pieces, which I love. It's always great to
catch up with one of the mid or late-period Verdi operas which I
have not seen.
Before the show, the director of the company came out to make a pitch
for Proposal K, which was (in part) a plan to get the Detroit suburbs
to kick in some millage money for the Detroit cultural institutions.
"Arts, Parks and Kids" it was called. I didn't hear if it passed.
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Coming up this weekend: Janacek's THE CUNNING LITTLE VIXEN, presented
by UM School of Music. I think it's at Power Center, but I'm not sure.
Sung in Czech with projected English titles.
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