Gyˆrgy Kurt·g’s Kafka Fragments, op 24, is a masterpiece, one of the seminal works of the late 20th century.
Year: 2011
The Bartered Bride, New York
In the mid-nineteenth century, every nationality that did not possess a
national state felt a need to prove itself, to square its shoulders and claim
nationhood with all the identifying marks of a nation: a language with a
literature, a tricolor flag, a national anthem extolling the people’s
stalwart character and the country’s landscape (inevitably the loveliest
in the world), a national theater and a national opera to be performed there.
Der zerbrochene Krug / Der Zwerg
Der zerbrochene Krug is a very short opera by Viktor Ullmann, based on a comedy by Kleist, concerning the fall of man.
The Turk in Italy, LA Opera
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/02/opera-review-los-angeles-opera-turk-in-italy.html
Thomas Arne, Bampton Classical Opera
The first performance of Thomas Arne’s masque Alfred took
place at Clivedon House on the Thames near Maidenhead, in August 1740.
Parsifal, ENO
This production retains a special place in my heart: its first outing in
1999 was my first Parsifal in the theatre. Saving up my student
pennies, I made the journey not once but twice from Cambridge to London, was
mightily impressed the first time and a little irritated the second.
Sure, they can sing (opera), but can they act?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/19/AR2011021902540.html
The Met’s ‘Nixon in China’ offers food for thought but ultimately leaves you hungry
http://blog.cnycafemomus.com/2011/02/19/feb-12-met-simulcast-nixon-in-china.aspx
Virginia Arts recalls Civil War
For geography buffs the Rappahannock is a river that flows from Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains to Chesapeake Bay.