Saint-Saëns is a rather well-known yet rather neglected composer. He has his 'hits' including Carnival of the Animals but what a great composer was he if one listens carefully. His 1877 opera Samson and Delilah streamed this week from the Wien Staatsoper and The Met both with Elīna Garanča (Delilah), Roberto Alagna (Samson), (both extraordinary: come on-if I could sing like Alagna, even on a rare off-day, there'd be one very happy bunny bouncing around! As is always Mr. Roberto feeding the world with his talent.) Now: why am I thinking Garanča is more a gorgeous noble deer always conflicted having done a deal with the not so nice 'furrys';)?
Not sure either production 'nails' the conflict that is still so contemporary i.e. Israel/Palestine. Equally, they are certainly both worth one's attention. Met Opera director Darko Tresnjak fashions Samson as neo-Middle Eastern Deco and the designs certainly 'bling' that enormous Met house. Reminded me of John Dexter's Aida without John Dexter. And that's not being 'catty', 'cause if I were bored I'd have tuned out. Just: it lacked the visceral quality of Alexandra Liedtke's modern neoclassical staging for Wien. It's far from easy to make this opera work in 2020 (both from 2018) but worth the effort. And the dance sequences of both productions are vital and excite rather than simply flavour. Forgot to mention Sir Mark Elder's conducting at The Met (a stalwart of English National Opera throughout the decades). Clearly he believes there is more to Saint-Saëns than often meets the eye.
Certainly ain't Christmas fare but Wien Staatsoper is repeating next Monday their audience-less premier of Hans Werner Henze's Das verratene Meer (The Betrayed Sea) (1990) based on Mishima's novel. Fantastic disturbing, subliminal Henze score and consummate cast and conductor Simone Young. But not for the faint-hearted.
The New Directors/New Films Festival is an annual film festival organized jointly by the Museum of Modern Art and the Film Society of Lincoln Center established in 1972 mostly from first-time directors. Normally in the Spring, this 'Covid' year pushed back to now, virtually. Most films are a rental of $12, a couple of docs and the shorts program are free. I've only got so far as the first three shorts (available until Dec 21) but WOW. So impressive. A short should be short. In and of its own. Not a ‘wanna be ‘ pilot for a feature. So far, so VERY impressive! Do yourself a favor and log-in. It ain't 6hours of Wagner, so no excuse!
