Seeing the action in such aching purity helps to show Britten's genius as a composer whose music is always human. In a format resembling the 1942 Ceremony of Carols and coming just two years after the giant War Requiem of 1962, this 'church parable' is spare to the point of abstraction yet human at the same time, full of the tides of how people are. At the time it was described as being among the avant garde trend. That appellation dissolved because it is and was meaningless. Interestingly, Britten was a great admirer of Berg's music but although the Austrian composer used 12 tone principles, the music drama and beauty of his works went beyond technical matters. He was a real composer and so was Britten, who only used dodecaphonic devices for effects within his main purpose of music drama. No great composer has ever been a slavish 'follower'. This entire production is well nigh perfect.
You should try to see the original Noh play. I think it exists on TH-cam, but you may have to enter the Japanese characters. Because the main character wears a mask, the tension is created by subtle movements and the shifting of light on the mask. When I saw the play I broke out in tears as the ghost of the son comes out from behind the mound, and the mother reaches out to grab him, but is unable to, and the son runs back behind the mound. Sorry, but this atonal singing is just not for me.
I was so moved by this outstanding production. Hauntingly beautiful. Thank you.
Too bad the focus is so bad. A powerful work.
There is a new production filmed for BBC TV to be broadcast autumn 2024
Seeing the action in such aching purity helps to show Britten's genius as a composer whose music is always human.
In a format resembling the 1942 Ceremony of Carols and coming just two years after the giant War Requiem of 1962, this 'church parable' is spare to the point of abstraction yet human at the same time, full of the tides of how people are. At the time it was described as being among the avant garde trend. That appellation dissolved because it is and was meaningless.
Interestingly, Britten was a great admirer of Berg's music but although the Austrian composer used 12 tone principles, the music drama and beauty of his works went beyond technical matters. He was a real composer and so was Britten, who only used dodecaphonic devices for effects within his main purpose of music drama.
No great composer has ever been a slavish 'follower'.
This entire production is well nigh perfect.
Thanks to the tablet I discovered that
❤❤❤
🥰🥰🥰🥰
You should try to see the original Noh play. I think it exists on TH-cam, but you may have to enter the Japanese characters. Because the main character wears a mask, the tension is created by subtle movements and the shifting of light on the mask. When I saw the play I broke out in tears as the ghost of the son comes out from behind the mound, and the mother reaches out to grab him, but is unable to, and the son runs back behind the mound.
Sorry, but this atonal singing is just not for me.