Opera on 3 - 17.02.14 at 7.30 p.m. -Turnage's "Greek"

[edashtav]

Indeed. I would include three issues in particular:
That it remains a difficult and humiliating task to become accepted onto any benefits system.
That, once on it, it acts as a sort of social Mobius Strip, keeping its recipients dependent and effectively excluding them from the the world of employment, just as it did thirty years ago.
That there are still some elements from the Middle Classes who eagerly seek to castigate those recipients who do not demonstrate sufficient gratitude and servitude for the largesse of the rest of society.

Still don't see how Berkoff's play or Turnage's later opera joins the voices of the castigators.

It would be silly to dissent completely from your perceptive views, fhg, but I'm not with you all the way, as you appreciate,already. That's because I don't see all of those dependent on our benefits system as victims. These may reflect my position:
That it can be a difficult and humiliating task to become accepted onto any benefits system.
That, once on it, it may act as a sort of social Mobius Strip, keeping its recipients dependent and tends to exclude them from employment, just as it did thirty years ago.
That there are people who castigate those recipients who do not demonstrate gratitude for the largesse of the rest of society.

I would not suggest, for one moment that Berkoff and / or Turnage were or are members of the group that castigates those on benefits.
However, I maintain that they opened a can of worms and made its contents vivid. The composition of the contents of the can has changed but I believe that such a can exists today and needs to be brought to the attention of those who, perhaps, prefer to pass by unaware.

[Gordon]

Gordon, you must be the first person ever to suggest that Steven Berkoff's work is subtle and understated. Maybe if you saw the stage production, you'd experience vivid characterisation, situation and emotion, and you'd appreciate how the music contributes to this.

Show me where I used the words "subtle" or "understated"?

[Honoured Guest]

Gordon, man at the crossroads, you set an impossible task.