The Dead City

“Die Tote Stadt” (“The Dead City”), an opera by Erich Korngold (1897-1957), is back from the dead. Premiered to great acclaim in Vienna in 1920, it dissappeared after the Anschluss in 1931, since it’s the work of a Jewish composer. The exiled Korngold became a legendary Hollywood film composer. In the past year “Die Todt Stadt” has been revived by the Teatro alla Scala in Milan and the Bavarian State Opera in Munich.

More:

“How a Forgotten Opera Made a Big Comeback,” Joshua Barone, New York Times

“Erich Wolfgang Korngold, the Opera Composer Who Went Hollywood,” Alex Ross, The New Yorker

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Akhnaten, the Opera

The 1984 Phillip Glass opera Akhnaten is set around 1350 B.C.E. in the Egyptian cities of Thebes and  Akhetaten. In New York, the Metropolitan Opera staged performances in 2019. This Vox video shows how.

Related:

“Akhnaten’ Puts You on Philip Glass Time,” Anthony Tommasini, New York Times

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Eccomi in lieta vesta

“Eccomi in lieta vesta” (also known as “Oh quante volte ti chiedo”), written by Vincenzo Bellini with lyrics by Felice Romani, performed by Vuvu Mpofu, accompanied by Ben-San Lau, 2019. From the 1830 opera I Capuleti e i Montecchi. Translation here.

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The Thieving Magpie

“The Thieving Magpie,” a short film by Fabrice Mathieu. Music from the opera “La Gazza Ladra” by Rossini.

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Mon coeur s’ouvre a ta voix

“Mon coeur s’ouvre a ta voix” (“My heart opens to your voice”), from “Samson et Dalila” by Camille Saint-Saëns. Performed by Shirley Verrett and Jon Vickers, Covent Garden, 1981.

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Luciano Pavarotti & James Brown

James Brown performed with Luciano Pavarotti on May 28, 2002 at a concert in the latter’s home town, Modena, Italy. The Godfather of Soul was 69 and Maestro Pavarotti was 67.

Each year from 1992 to 2003 the operatic tenor held “Pavarotti & Friends” concerts with guest performers from all musical genres to raise funds for people in need due to disaster or conflict, and this one benefited the people of war-torn Angola. Other guest performers included Andrea Bocelli, Grace Jones, Gino Paoli, Lou Reed, Sting, and Zucchero.

“It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” was written by Betty Jean Newsome and originally recorded by Mr. Brown in 1966.

Drama at La Scala

Daniel Barenboim got an ovation even before he conducted Wagner’s Die Walküre at Milan’s La Scala last Tuesday. It was after he addressed Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, who was in the royal box:

“In the names of the colleagues who play, sing, dance and work, not only here but in all theatres, I am here to tell you we are deeply worried for the future of culture in the country and in Europe.”

Mr. Barenboim also quoted Article 9 of the Italian Constitution, which directs the government to promote culture and protect the nation’s artistic heritage.

There was an equally impassioned performance in front of the historic opera house earlier in the day as caribinieri beat and gassed protesters, hundreds of cultural workers and students from across Italy. The protests were in response to proposed drastic cuts in government funding for education and the arts.