1984 (opera)
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| Title: | 1984 |
| Shape: | Opera in two acts |
| Original language: | English |
| Music: | Lorin Maazel |
| Libretto : | JD McClatchy and Thomas Meehan |
| Literary source: | George Orwell : 1984 |
| Premiere: | May 3, 2005 |
| Place of premiere: | Royal Opera House Covent Garden, London |
| Playing time: | about 3 hours |
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1984 is a literary opera in two acts by Lorin Maazel . The libretto is by JD McClatchy and Thomas Meehan and is based on the novel 1984 by George Orwell . The world premiere took place on May 3, 2005 at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden London. Lorin Maazel conducted himself, Robert Lepage directed .
Place and time of the action
The libretto is a retelling of the 1984 novel - shortened as an opera demands, but also dangerously simplified. What remains is the hinted story of a harmonized, totalitarian society in which the desire for individuality is just as hopeless as the hope for change. As in the original book, the main characters in this dystopia are Winston Smith and his secret lover Julia.
Emergence
The idea of staging Orwell's science fiction as an opera came from August Everding , who commissioned the play from Maazel for the Munich Prinzregententheater . After the death of the general manager of the Bavarian State Theater in 1999, Maazel offered his work to the Royal Opera Covent Garden, which had already been granted access in 2000. However, Maazel had to contribute 600,000 euros to the production costs with the production company he founded for this purpose, called Big Brother.
Lorin Maazel conducted the performance at the Royal Opera House Convent Garden himself. Simon Keenlyside (Winston), Nancy Gustafson (Julia), Richard Margison (O'Brien), Diana Damrau (Gym Instructress / Drunken Woman), Lawrence Brownlee (Syme) performed , Jeremy White (Parsons), Graeme Danby (Charrington), Mary Lloyd Davies (Prole Woman) and Johnnie Fiori (Café Singer).
The opera encompasses a wide variety of musical genres, from the national anthem of Oceania to coffeehouse hits and slutty harmonies, and met with a politely reserved response from the audience. The work was almost torn apart by the specialist audience. The NZZ wrote on May 6, 2005: “The ambivalence that characterizes some of Orwell's characters, the critical examination of the social trends of the post-war period, the bitterness of the end - everything fell under the table. And replaced by music that does not find its tone. Here and there in the history of opera she makes use of it; Hymn, fanfare and autochthones from America can be heard - but the mixture remains coincidental because the background of the personal signature is missing. That there is an overture and an opening chorus, plus lots of arias and duets, that the solo violin climbs up to feelings of emerging love, that the union of man and woman evokes thirds and the violent outbursts of roaring trombones - does it have to be said? "
From May 2nd to 17th, 2008 the opera was performed seven times at La Scala in Milan .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ First cast on 1984theopera.com , accessed July 22, 2016.
- ↑ Peter Hagmann: Hot air quickly evaporates , article in the NZZ from May 6, 2005