I've probably been to more than 100 functions at the Palacio de Bellas Artes over the past 15 years, but last night I witnessed the best performance of them all.
Benjamin Britten's opera 'Death in Venice' which I had seen years ago in New York, had made me a bit bored and antsy. I arrived at the theater prepared for a long night; it's not the kind of work that's easy to love. There are no real 'tunes' or big numbers for the soloists. Much of the libretto takes place in the mind of the protagonist, who ends up dead in a beach chair at the end.
But the production was so inventive and intelligent, the action so carefully calibrated to the score, that it brought this potentially stagnant work to life. The constantly active staging by Jorge Ballina (keep an eye on this guy!), the evocative lighting, flowing choreography and witty costumes all served to illustrate, amplify and adorn the text. And the new stage machinery at Bellas Artes was put to full use, with swift scene
changes popping up, dropping down, or sliding away - seemlessly morphing from one to the next.
'Death in Venice' is a rare event anywhere--a truly unifed work of performing art.
There are a few tickets remaining for this Tuesday (Feb. 7) and Thursday (Feb. 9) at the box office or Ticketmaster.
But the production was so inventive and intelligent, the action so carefully calibrated to the score, that it brought this potentially stagnant work to life. The constantly active staging by Jorge Ballina (keep an eye on this guy!), the evocative lighting, flowing choreography and witty costumes all served to illustrate, amplify and adorn the text. And the new stage machinery at Bellas Artes was put to full use, with swift scene
changes popping up, dropping down, or sliding away - seemlessly morphing from one to the next.'Death in Venice' is a rare event anywhere--a truly unifed work of performing art.
There are a few tickets remaining for this Tuesday (Feb. 7) and Thursday (Feb. 9) at the box office or Ticketmaster.
6 comments:
i'd love to go see it. i love the film anyway. and yes, jorge ballina is already quite famous as a theater stage designer, here and abroad. very clever, really really good. hugo
If I were there, I would go. Have never seen it but of course read the book. I remember the feeling I had when doing that: the idea of being willing to risk all for a few fleeting, carnal moments. And then when, realizing how the cards were dealt, giving in to that and losing oneself in the memory/desire of love as one fades. It was powerful when I was young. Probably would be more so now...
I just returned from this horrible opera. I cannot believe someone could actually like it. No meaning, boring sets, bad acting and singing. I have been to over 50 operas in Italy, US, Asia etc... and this was by far the worst live performance I have seen. Half of the crowd walked out as soon as the end finally graced us and half barely sat and politely applauded. Not sure what people see in this at all and a complete waste of time and money.
You are definitely paid to write this blog if you think Death in Venice Opera in Mexico City is decent. UHG! What a terrible show. Waste of time and money.
I was definitely NOT paid to write about the opera. At the performance I attended (Feb. 5), nobody walked out where I was sitting (upstairs) and the audience applauded heartily at the end.
What a FAB review dahhling.. after all theater is seen through the eyes of each individual person, thank God!
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