ROH 'William Tell'

[Flosshilde]

In one way I regret not going to see Kanye West at Glastonbury, not because I think it would have been 'good' but because the experience of such a massively misjudged performance would have been interesting to experience 1st hand.

In the same way that one might want to watch a car crash?

[MrGongGong]

I suppose it depends on what your view of the director's job is. Are they there just to make sure people know when to come on stage and say/sing their lines & then go off? Or are they there to ensure that the production has a sense of theatricality and drama that will allow or encourage its audience to understand why the events portrayed are happening and what their meaning is?

[french frank]

Or are they there to ensure that the production has a sense of theatricality and drama that will allow or encourage its audience to understand why the events portrayed are happening and what their meaning is?

Isn't that the argument against the controversial scene? That it's an irrelevant distraction from the events portrayed? The scene is there because the director decided to put it there to illustrate a point that he had decided to make; but there is really nothing in the libretto to justify it and it isn't a theme within the opera?

[richardfinegold]

Isn't that the argument against the controversial scene? That it's an irrelevant distraction from the events portrayed? The scene is there because the director decided to put it there to illustrate a point that he had decided to make; but there is really nothing in the libretto to justify it and it isn't a theme within the opera?

[MrGongGong]

it isn't a theme within the opera?

Hummm

So according to the ROH synopsis

The Swiss hero William Tell longs to liberate his people from the cruel Austrian occupation. When he helps a Swiss prisoner escape Austrian justice he comes to the attention of the governor Gesler – who sadistically forces Tell to shoot an apple off his son's head.

[french frank]

Hummm

So according to the ROH synopsis

That's all right, but it's more about the personal cruelty of a despot than the savagery of war, isn't it? Gesler wanted to take revenge on Tell because he wouldn't bend his knee in front of Gesler's 'trophée'?

[MrGongGong]

That's all right, but it's more about the personal cruelty of a despot than the savagery of war, isn't it? Gesler wanted to take revenge on Tell because he wouldn't bend his knee in front of Gesler's 'trophée'?

I don't know the story
But surely it can be seen as a metaphor for more than just the actions of an individual?

Isn't one of the things about opera (or theatre, poetry and so on) that it addresses bigger issues?

[Flosshilde]

Isn't that the argument against the controversial scene? That it's an irrelevant distraction from the events portrayed?

No. it isn't.

The scene is there because the director decided to put it there to illustrate a point that he had decided to make; but there is really nothing in the libretto to justify it and it isn't a theme within the opera?

You have decided that there isn't; the director & others in the artistic team are of a different opinion. I think they have probably made a closer study of the opera & thought more about what it is about than you have, & I'd rther trust their judgement.

[french frank]

Isn't one of the things about opera (or theatre, poetry and so on) that it addresses bigger issues?

Bigger than what? Is that the same as a director thinking, 'Now what 'bigger issues' could I address in my production?'? Can that mean 'bigger issues than are inherent in the original opera'?

[vinteuil]

inherent

... ah, 'inherent'. Bit of a weasel word, nesspa? Who has authority to determine what 'inheres' in a pertickler work?

[MrGongGong]

Bigger than what? Is that the same as a director thinking, 'Now what 'bigger issues' could I address in my production?'? Can that mean 'bigger issues than are inherent in the original opera'?

aaah sorry

Animal Farm is only an anthropomorphic tale about farm animals.
I was obviously mistaken in thinking that it was about something else as well?

I'm sure the opera will be able to cope and survive

[french frank]

... ah, 'inherent'. Bit of a weasel word, nesspa? Who has authority to determine what 'inheres' in a pertickler work?

Orl right - I did think about what might be le mot juste there. Possibly 'posterity' has the 'right' - nobody's every interpreted in that way, and no one yet has given a strong argument for it being so interpreted. Perhaps 'whimsical' - or 'capricious' could be called to do duty in some way? Are goats better than weasels?

[vinteuil]

Are goats better than weasels?

... well, goats are tragic as well as capricious

[doversoul1]

aaah sorry

Animal Farm is only an anthropomorphic tale about farm animals.
I was obviously mistaken in thinking that it was about something else as well?

Animal Farm is a fable. William Tell isn’t.


Flosshilde #68

You have decided that there isn't; the director & others in the artistic team are of a different opinion. I think they have probably made a closer study of the opera & thought more about what it is about than you have, & I'd rther trust their judgement

.
I rather suspect that in any opera production, decisions are made entirely on the work’s artistic merit.

[MrGongGong]

Animal Farm is a fable. William Tell isn’t.

Why?

and Who says?

Surely the story is meant to be more than an entertaining way of passing the time?
Or do you think that it's the equivalent of watching Cat videos on Youtube?