Mark-Anthony Turnage redefined British opera with Greek, his 80-minute updating of the Oedipus myth to modern, working-class London, with a raucous score and a perversely happy ending. But that was in a different world: 1988. Nowadays, Thomas Adès seems to be the defining composer of British opera, like it or not. And when Greek arrived at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Dec. … [Read more...] about Mark-Anthony Turnage’s ‘Greek’ is back after 30 years — and its tattoos still aren’t smeared
Arnold Schoenberg survived Nazi Germany, Vienna and Hollywood. But Boston?
Opera thrives on iconic figures, whether from mythology or history. But maybe composer Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951) hasn't been gone long enough - or was never outwardly heroic enough - to fill Tod Machover's new opera Schoenberg in Hollywood, premiered Nov. 14-18 by Boston Lyric Opera. Schoenberg was the springboard for modernism in the second half of the 20th century; … [Read more...] about Arnold Schoenberg survived Nazi Germany, Vienna and Hollywood. But Boston?
I have my come-to-Arvo moment
Arvo Pärt, disarmingly, lacks barriers. He hides nothing. Evasion, irony and pretension are unknown in his music. The 80-something Estonian composer is, however, the master of implying far more than he says. At its most spare, his music seems to barely exist. And that's probably why I've had such a long road to the full appreciation of this internationally acclaimed composer … [Read more...] about I have my come-to-Arvo moment
Glass’ Satyagraha imported from Sweden with stunts under precarious circumstances
Philip Glass used to say he was never composed opera per se, but ended up rubbing shoulders with Verdi and Wagner because opera houses had the needed theatrical apparatus. Was he buying time while figuring out how to write recitatives his way? Was he creating a hybrid? Both? Whatever the case, Glass’ first mainstream-ish opera, Satyagraha, was no easier to define Nov. 4 … [Read more...] about Glass’ Satyagraha imported from Sweden with stunts under precarious circumstances
Life gets lush: Gregory Spears meets The Crossing
Finding one's voice is an elusive matter for composers - a combination of circumstances that may or may not be in their control, plus the unpredictable factor of artistic evolution. Somebody like Jennifer Higdon doesn't necessarily wake up in the morning and declare herself ready to write, say, a tuba concerto. People come to her with those kinds of requests, and if the … [Read more...] about Life gets lush: Gregory Spears meets The Crossing