Akhnaten (ENO)

[VodkaDilc]

Rupert Christiansen?

Yes, as you suggested, the review in today's Telegraph is by him. As expected, he grudgingly admits that the production is impressive, but launches an attack on the work itself. He has done the same with several other productions recently; possibly Porgy and Bess, which was acclaimed by virtually every other reviewer.

I would need to look at past reviews to verify this (and I'm certainly not going to pay to refer to the Telegraph online), but I have a feeling that he seems to relish 'having a go' at ENO.

[Conchis]

Yes, as you suggested, the review in today's Telegraph is by him. As expected, he grudgingly admits that the production is impressive, but launches an attack on the work itself. He has done the same with several other productions recently; possibly Porgy and Bess, which was acclaimed by virtually every other reviewer.

I would need to look at past reviews to verify this (and I'm certainly not going to pay to refer to the Telegraph online), but I have a feeling that he seems to relish 'having a go' at ENO.

He also got into hot water for 'body shaming' Tara Erraught in the Glyndebourne Rosenkavalier a few years back, though that seemed to - inadvertently - help her career.

[bluestateprommer]

Perhaps the Met production, scheduled for this year, will get video streamed at some point.....[/COLOR]

Your wish is granted :) . The Met has Akhnaten set for HD-cast to cinemas on November 23 of this year:

https://www.metopera.org/season/in-cinemas/

[Dave2002]

I saw the original ENO production - not sure if that was the first run or the repeat. Despite one of the reviews highlighted above I did not find it so memorable, as I couldn't match much of the latest production with what I saw and heard before.
Maybe I fell asleep, or was dreaming, but didn't the earlier production set part of the work on another planet? OK - I must have been dreaming!

This production was brilliant in many ways, though I found the last 10 minutes or so unnecessary. Everything was more or less wrapped up, and made some sort of sense, then the crawlers started off again, making the next ten minutes seem like 45, and I had a train to catch. I paid full price for a ticket, and despite my reservations it was worth it.

Will I look out for the Met production? Maybe! The plot line is really rather good, so Glass's point that he chose characters who "changed the world" makes this interesting, though I wonder if another composer could have produced an equally enjoyable, but more succinct work.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Just a suggestion, Dave, but might you be thinking of another Philip Glass opera that ENO also performed in the '80s?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Making_of_the_Representative_for_Planet_8_(opera)

[gurnemanz]

Prompted by reviews and comments on here we managed to pick up a couple of tickets Saturday before last at a higher price than we normally pay for ROH. No regrets - a spellbinding evening. Worth it for the jugglers alone.

[Dave2002]

Just a suggestion, Dave, but might you be thinking of another Philip Glass opera that ENO also performed in the '80s?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ma...anet_8_(opera)

Oops. Yes - it does look like that was the one. That seems to have sunk without trace now. I thought some of the music was more interesting than Akhnatien - but maybe we're not going to get a chance to hear it again.

[Prommer]

He also got into hot water for 'body shaming' Tara Erraught in the Glyndebourne Rosenkavalier a few years back, though that seemed to - inadvertently - help her career.

No, that is a bit libellous of poor Rupert - Richard Morrison of the Times was the culprit.

[Prommer]

Yes, as you suggested, the review in today's Telegraph is by him. As expected, he grudgingly admits that the production is impressive, but launches an attack on the work itself. He has done the same with several other productions recently; possibly Porgy and Bess, which was acclaimed by virtually every other reviewer.

I would need to look at past reviews to verify this (and I'm certainly not going to pay to refer to the Telegraph online), but I have a feeling that he seems to relish 'having a go' at ENO.

Maybe he just found his Glass to be half empty?