Opera Directors on DVD/Blu-ray

[sospiro]

Robert Carsen is one of today's most admired and sought-after directors.

He's directing the new Falstaff which I'm seeing so really looking forward to it

Elijah Moshinsky, an Australian director (though born in China), was long an established figure at the Royal Opera House and the Met.

David McVicar, another of today's biggest directing names

[AmericanGesamtkunstwerk]

Does anyone have this?

Looks familiar, it may be the one I saw on YouTube, complete. If it is, it's good.

[Almaviva]

Oops, what did I do? I think instead of replying, I edited your post, AGKW.
Sorry. Anyway, folks, AGKW had quoted Amfortas' post and asked if anybody has this Die Soldaten. Then *I* replied "looks familiar" etc.
So, that was a reply to AGKW, not meant to be edited into his post.

[AmericanGesamtkunstwerk]

Oops, what did I do? I think instead of replying, I edited your post, AGKW.
Sorry. Anyway, folks, AGKW had quoted Amfortas' post and asked if anybody has this Die Soldaten. Then *I* replied "looks familiar" etc.
So, that was a reply to AGKW, not meant to be edited into his post.

I was asking because Kupfer is somewhat of a champion of contemporary opera (wrote a libretto for a Penderecki) and this Soldaten is the only one of his contemporary works available on dvd. clips look really cool with some innovative theatric language. I love Harry Kupfer.

[Amfortas]

I don't think I was the one asking about the Die Soldaten video . . . but anyway, it looks cool!

[rgz]

I've only seen 4 Laurent Pelly productions (the following three plus the current Met Manon):



Based on those four, I'd say his hallmarks include a pervasive sense of wit and cleverness; not exactly minimalist -- tastefully understated sets would be a better way to describe it; clever and innovative solutions to common staging concerns.

[Almaviva]

I don't think I was the one asking about the Die Soldaten video . . . but anyway, it looks cool!

Yes, I've clarified this, I clicked on the edit button instead of the reply button.

[Almaviva]

Amfortas, maybe this thread should be moved to the Educational forum, as part of the Inventory of Opera project (which is kind of stalled but we should resume it in the summer when seasons pause).

[Amfortas]

Amfortas, maybe this thread should be moved to the Educational forum.

Works for me!

[Schigolch]

Robert Wilson (Waco, TX) is your man for hieratic, severe, static stagings.

Alceste:



An empty stage. The ligthning resembling the natural light of the Sun in Trondheim in early July, close to midnight. Dressed in plain robes, the characters move slowly, with preternatural calm. Most of the action is in their hands.

A cube suspended from the ceiling is turning, and turning again, changing size and location. Representing God?.

This kind of staging works better for some operas than for others, but Wilson keep insisting on the same paradigm over and over again. In my view, for the more contemplative an opera is, the best it can fit Wilson's staging.

[Aksel]

An empty stage. The ligthning resembling the natural light of the Sun in Trondheim in early July, close to midnight. Dressed in plain robes, the characters move slowly, with preternatural calm. Most of the action is in their hands.

That is... very specific?

[Schigolch]

Well, I think one can always say "the natural light of the Sun between 60º and 65º degrees of North latitude in early July, close to midnight", but Trondheim was shorter.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Robert Wilson (Waco, TX) is your man for hieratic, severe, static stagings.

Alceste:



An empty stage. The ligthning resembling the natural light of the Sun in Trondheim in early July, close to midnight. Dressed in plain robes, the characters move slowly, with preternatural calm. Most of the action is in their hands.

A cube suspended from the ceiling is turning, and turning again, changing size and location. Representing God?.

This kind of staging works better for some operas than for others, but Wilson keep insisting on the same paradigm over and over again. In my view, for the more contemplative an opera is, the best it can fit Wilson's staging.

My favourite Wilson staging is of Pelléas et Mélisande, which you can see on Medici TV. As you say, his style fits the more contemplative type of opera:

[Schigolch]

I watched this staging live at Teatro Real.

It fits nicely, though after watching several Wilson's stagings you can easily predict what will happen with the next one.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

I watched this staging live at Teatro Real.

It fits nicely, though after watching several Wilson's stagings you can easily predict what will happen with the next one.

Yes, variety is not really in his vocabulary!