Friday night we got free tickets to a performance at the New England Conservatory that was described to us as being opera. Based on that, I had low expectations about my ability to enjoy it, but it was free and a good excuse to go into Boston for some Indian food.
What it turned out to be was a sort of musical hybrid, part Baroque chamber music, part opera, part dramatic reading. Interesting to a point but tough to stay focused on.
They were performing The Fairy Queen, a semi-opera from 1692 built around Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer's Night Dream. What it involved was a Baroque ensemble including a harpsichord, 10-12 violins, 2 cellos, a bass, 2 oboes, 2 recorders, a couple timpanis and some horns. There was also this crazy 12+ string guitar-like instrument Along with this was a chorus of perhaps 30 singers and 5 featured vocalists doing most of the heavy lifting. What it did not include were costumes or sets. In addition Robert Pinsky narrated, sort of giving you a sense of what was going on if you were seeing the actual fully dressed performance including basic synopsis of the Shakespeare play.
The music was generally enjoyable, although the opera part (in English) was often unintelligible, particularly the soprano parts. All the trills and other vocal gymnastics renders the words very difficult to decipher. The harpsichord also got tired after a while, generally dominating every song it was in, which was most of them. There were some great violin parts, and some great melodies in general, but over the 2-1/2 hour performance it grew increasingly repetitive and thus boring, and with no real visuals to get absorbed in I found myself sitting there with my eyes closed on the verge of sleep.
So, I wouldn't recommend it, but I don't really regret it. It was certainly a change of pace.
Actually, the most interesting part was a talk that was given an hour before the performance started, basically giving you the historical context around the piece, and giving you a sense of why this was worth hearing.
7 comments:
Reminds me almost of this thing we saw on PBS the other day during a fund-raiser. This Flemish guy that leads this orchestra/bad that plays standards with great energy and encourages people to get up in the aisles & dance. It seems like these traditional performers are really working on new ways to try and revitalize what they see as a dwindling fan base. It's kind of the "Riverdance Phenomenon," and I have mixed feelings about it.
I love stuff like that Mixdorf. it reminds me of when I worked for the University and I taped speakers and events for the archives. A lot of enriching opportunities pop up at the University setting. Wish I lived near a major city to get even more opportunities.
I know that pbs fundraiser show of which you speak. For a while it was on almost non-stop here.
What we saw was not nearly as engrossing as that.
We don't take advantage of Boston as often as we could or should.
Not sure I thought it was all that engrossing. But the hordes of arm-linked, sweater vest-attired 60-somethings in the audience sure did.
By engrossing, mostly what I meant was energetic.
The 'maestro' on the PBS special turned me off from the moment I saw him. He seemed like a pompous, preening ass.
There's something about people like him and the Riverdance dude. Filling what is obviously a void in the lives of people whose interests, otherwise, leave no room for "rock star idol worship."
I suppose it's very possible the guy is genuine enough in his enjoyment of the audience; but my cynical mind can't separate the performance from what seems like the dumbing down of art in order to make a bazillion dollars. There's probably a lot of Irish Dancing purists and classical music purists that would agree with me, but more often than not, "purists" make just about every possible hobby or interest a lot more unfriendly and intimidating. Who am I to deny people something that brings them joy? Any more than who am I to deny 15 year old girls their enjoyment of Mandy Moore, just because nothing about her "art" appeals to me?
Hence, the mixed feelings.
I'm with you brother.
In the same way most music critics make pop/rock music less fun.
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