| James J. Gavan 2006-06-17, 7:55 am |
| Chuck Stevens wrote:
> "Alistair" <alistair@ld50macca.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1149594969.480314.324680@y43g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
>
> There's an introductory prologue -- maybe about as long as the Gettysburg
> address -- delivered (preferably in Hungarian) by an old man (I don't
> remember if it's onstage or off), before the music starts. Sets the mood
> even better than the music. Many recordings and performances omit it, to
> the opera's detriment in my opinion. The vinyl recording I have, from the
> early 1950's, includes it.
>
Given in Hungarian ? I'm not bloody surprised they bypass it. Dammit I
have difficulty remembering my daughter's new Hungarian surname, and the
husband is of Polish descent but born in Hungary !
Jimmy
> Given that the set throughout the work is supposed to be a big hall with
> seven doors, and all of the "effects" are supposed to be done with different
> colored lights from behind the doors as they open (and two people walking
> around and opening doors and singing for an hour is pretty much all there is
> to the action!), it's a tough piece to stage and keep interesting, I'd say.
> Familiarity with the plot helps; I couldn't disagree with the argument e
> that it works best as an audio-only experience, letting your imagination
> provide the scenery.
>
> -Chuck Stevens
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