MET: Akhnaten

[Dave2002]

Did anyone go to see Akhnaten at the MET cinema screenings lately? In an odd sort of way I enjoyed it, though it was't anything like as immediate as the live ENO performance I saw. I don't think I'll become an Akhnaten groupie, but I might go again if ENO or another UK based company puts it on.

The ghost of Amenhotep was superb - even though only a speaking role.

[bluestateprommer]

Did anyone go to see Akhnaten at the MET cinema screenings lately? In an odd sort of way I enjoyed it, though it was't anything like as immediate as the live ENO performance I saw. I don't think I'll become an Akhnaten groupie, but I might go again if ENO or another UK based company puts it on.

The ghost of Amenhotep was superb - even though only a speaking role.

I did see it live this past Saturday at the movie theater. Totally get what you meant with "In an odd sort of way I enjoyed it", as I knew that little was going to happen plot-wise, so any 'pleasure' had to come, at least for me, from accepting the work as more of an immersion ritual rather than a drama, and enjoying the visual spectacle - which actually kind of worked out, for me.

You clearly had the advantage of having experienced it live previously. (A friend did see it in NYC, and didn't care for the work, but at least she can now put it in the "been there, done that" column.) Agree that Zachary James did very well as Amenhotep III, and even though his was a speaking role rather than sung, it actually worked well in practice, as suitable contrast to everyone else singing and/or juggling. I saw the ENO cast and noted that Zachary James was also in this year's ENO revival cast, besides Anthony Roth Costanzo, of course.

[ARBurton]

I thought it was superb with some (esp in Act 2) really quite beautiful. The only bit I didn`t like was the way the modern-day scene at the end, featuring a college lecturer giving a rather short talk to students, almost felt as though it was being played for laughs. But a small blot on an otherwise splendid performance which I hope will come out on DVD.

[Master Jacques]

I thought it was superb with some (esp in Act 2) really quite beautiful. The only bit I didn`t like was the way the modern-day scene at the end, featuring a college lecturer giving a rather short talk to students, almost felt as though it was being played for laughs. But a small blot on an otherwise splendid performance which I hope will come out on DVD.

Yes, it is a very curious anomaly that - despite the work's fame and so many effective productions around the world dating back to 1984 - there has not yet been a single DVD/blu-ray issue of Akhnaten. Let's hope that changes soon.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I went on Saturday night and it was gratifying to see quite a good turnout for a contemporary opera. I think these Met and ROH opera relays are , on the quiet , building up quite a loyal audience for an art form that is perceived , wrongly , as difficult and elitist . Although I am not a huge Glass fan It would be difficult to imagine a more compelling production and performance . Those constant string arpeggios in the opera always remind me of Zadok The Priest ( aka Coronation Anthem) and what a master of harmonic progression Handel was and how some composers might benefit from picking up a few tips ...
Anthony Roth Costanzo was magnificent in the title role.....and his interval interview was highly entertaining ..particularly on how over -vigorous waxing for the role led to his countertenor voice.

[Dave2002]

Anthony Roth Costanzo was magnificent in the title role.....and his interval interview was highly entertaining ..particularly on how over -vigorous waxing for the role led to his countertenor voice.

I think he has a sense of humour!

However, the procedure mentioned was probably not needed for the performance which was screened. I'm not sure about other performances in the US, but in the ENO live performance it might have been more appropriate. That said, I can't say that that aspect of the bowdlerised version from NYC concerned me unduly.

[LHC]

I think he has a sense of humour!

However, the procedure mentioned was probably not needed for the performance which was screened. I'm not sure about other performances in the US, but in the ENO live performance it might have been more appropriate. That said, I can't say that that aspect of the bowdlerised version from NYC concerned me unduly.

I believe the other performances at the Met included full-frontal nudity, as at ENO, but that this was removed for the broadcast:

While the stage production of Akhnaten contains some full-frontal nudity, the Live in HD transmission of the opera on November 23 will include some additional costuming elements and there will be no nudity

This is not the first time that Met productions have been censored for broadcast. The production of Salome featuring Karita Mattila cut away from her dance just before she removed her last item of clothing, and topless courtesans in the Tales of Hoffman had to cover up for the movie theatres. I think the Met is concerned about how nudity will be received in movie theatres in the Midwest.

[Bryn]

I think he has a sense of humour!

However, the procedure mentioned was probably not needed for the performance which was screened. I'm not sure about other performances in the US, but in the ENO live performance it might have been more appropriate. That said, I can't say that that aspect of the bowdlerised version from NYC concerned me unduly.

Which ENO production are you referring to? The original one certainly used pretty realistic body stockings, rather than full-frontal nudity.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I think Anthony may have been full frontal for the recent ENO production . According to Private Eye he assured fans that due to cold onstage conditions what was seen on stage was not “wholly representative”. He certainly gives the lie to the myth that singers take themselves too seriously...in a previous interval interview at the Met he suggested to a bemused Wagnerian soprano that they do some Wagner together ....

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Due for broadcast tomorrow night (7/12/19) starting at 6:30pm on R3 (so you can have as much nudity as you want!)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000c2s1

[Dave2002]

Due for broadcast tomorrow night (7/12/19) starting at 6:30pm on R3 (so you can have as much nudity as you want!)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000c2s1

I shall remember to take my clothes off specially.

[Dave2002]

I think Anthony may have been full frontal for the recent ENO production.

Looked pretty full on to me, though that's perhaps not quite the way to describe it. It wasn't like that in the Met version as screened in cinemas - and does it really matter anyway?

I'm not sure that singers (or actors) should have to do this, but if they're game with it .... Artistically, does it add anything?

[bluestateprommer]

Yes, it is a very curious anomaly that - despite the work's fame and so many effective productions around the world dating back to 1984 - there has not yet been a single DVD/blu-ray issue of Akhnaten. Let's hope that changes soon.

Since the Met's HD-casts eventually make their way to US television on PBS' Great Performances series, and also to DVD, my initial thought is that this production of Akhnaten will appear on DVD. But then it occurred to me to look into the earlier Met HD-cast of Satyagraha, to see what was up with a DVD there. It turns out that although this Met HD-cast of Satyagraha was duly broadcast on PBS some months after the live movie relay, there has never been a DVD of that Met Satyagraha. My inference is that Glass must have vetoed a DVD of Satyagraha, since he controls all rights to his work and can do what he wants. (Or maybe Phelim McDermott had a say in this decision as well.) If PG stays with that situation with respect to Akhnaten, then there may not be a DVD of Akhnaten to come out of this Met HD-cast. I'm pretty sure, on gut feeling, that Akhnaten will be shown on PBS down the line, but now I'm no longer so sure about a DVD. If the BBC airs these Met HD-casts on TV, then you would get that show on TV at some point. That may be your only chance to see it on the small screen from this point on.

BTW, Akhnaten is set to return to the Met in 2 years, per the NYT's Zachary Woolfe on Twitter.

[Bryn]

Bear in mind that though, I think, currently out of the catalogue, there has been a commercial DVD of Satyagraha, there has not, so far, been one of Akhnaten. If broadcast on PBS television in the US of A, it seems likely that one of the 'bootleg' opera recording outfits will make it available on DVD recordable, if they can get away with it.

[Master Jacques]

If the BBC airs these Met HD-casts on TV, then you would get that show on TV at some point.

I'm sure that you will be aware that the Met production was a licenced revival of the ENO / Los Angeles production, with the same lead singer - I think it came from the Met/ENO collaborative agreement.

So there is no reason for the BBC to spend money airing the Met's revival when they could be sharing the original London production with the rest of our benighted country, which after all paid for the thing in the first place! Musically, the London production was excellent, and I suppose Glass would be more likely to licence that for Orange Mountain to issue than the Met's revival (especially as it would probably work out cheaper on the royalties front).

And yes, sadly the ArtHaus Satyagraha DVD is NLA, and people seem to be holding on to their copies like gold dust. I suspect Glass is unwilling to sacrifice the appeal of live shows - in which he believes most passionately - in favour of the home viewing substitute.