Sciarrino - The Killing Flower (Luci Mie Traditrici)

[aeolium]

I have a ticket to see this opera performed by Music Theatre Wales at Cardiff in October. Apparently it was performed at the Buxton Festival this summer. There is a brief discussion about it, and Sciarrino's work, here.

I'd be interested in any comments about the work, especially from anyone who has been to the Buxton performance.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It is an astonishing work that I love deeply - a successor to Debussy's Pelleas et Melisande; beautifully haunting and disturbing in its Musical language, which superbly complements the text. I have the KAIROS CD (I thought I also had the STRADIVARIUS CD, too - but, if so, it's not where I expected it to be ) There's a clip on youTube that gives a flavour:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of6DYQVlwtU

... I envy your going to see this, aeolie!

Interesting English title chosen by the composer: Light Betrays Me has been my own version hitherto.

[edashtav]

The Buxton production was recorded for Broadcast on Radio 3 - probably during this August.

I'm told by a friend who attended the opera in Buxton that the audience was largely nonplussed and that no words ( it was sung in English) reached him in the front row of the stalls.

Nevertheless, I'm very much looking forward to its broadcast. Sciarrino has not received the exposure in this country that his stature deserves.

[aeolium]

Thanks for the info and the video clip, ferney - very interesting sounds. It's a slight pity for me that it is being sung in translation. I think it's the intention of this production to create a claustrophobic effect (at least in the Millennium Centre in Cardiff). The blurb says: "As part of the audience, you'll be brought onto the stage itself and into a specially created performance area where the story unfolds in front of you."

I'm going in part to discover more about this music and in part because the WNO autumn season seems to be dominated by Donizetti's operas about the Tudors, and I'm not interested at all in either Donizetti's music or the Tudors.

Re the translation of the title, the article seemed to suggest that a literal translation would be "My Betraying Eyes", though "Luci" is surely to do with light rather than eyes...

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

I'd be interested in any comments about the work, especially from anyone who has been to the Buxton performance.

I wasn't at the Buxton performance, but Tim Ashley raved about the work when we met at the ROH the other week. His only quibble was about the way it worked in the formal setting of the Buxton Opera House, with orchestra in the pit almost inaudible at times. Apparently, when touring the audience will be seated around the singers, with the orchestra surrounding the audience. I was strongly urged to get a ticket for the Linbury performance, but - frustratingly - won't be able to leave work in time.

I'll be very interested to read what you make of it, aeolium.