a duet in jail. like that? how abt Whitman welcoming Wilde to heaven? that's all part of the silliness of the new opera we saw last nite.
I really wantd to like Theodore Morrison's "Oscar." sometimes his music is lovely. but there are so many problems with the libretto.
for me the difficulties begin with the decision to make the role of Oscar Wilde in the range of a countertenor. that pegs the character immediately. & for this listener it's tough going to spend 140 minutes with a piece whose lead is a countertenor. it's simply hard on my ears.
I understand using Walt Whitman as a sort of narrator to frame the action but ultimately don't approve.
then there are the cliches which end both acts. the first turns the trial into an actual circus. but the major laugh is a stage full of angels welcoming Wilde to the afterlife.
on the plus side I did like the decision to make Bosie a non-singing dance role. perhaps some of his choreography was too much but the basic decision works.
I really wantd to like Theodore Morrison's "Oscar." sometimes his music is lovely. but there are so many problems with the libretto.
for me the difficulties begin with the decision to make the role of Oscar Wilde in the range of a countertenor. that pegs the character immediately. & for this listener it's tough going to spend 140 minutes with a piece whose lead is a countertenor. it's simply hard on my ears.
I understand using Walt Whitman as a sort of narrator to frame the action but ultimately don't approve.
then there are the cliches which end both acts. the first turns the trial into an actual circus. but the major laugh is a stage full of angels welcoming Wilde to the afterlife.
on the plus side I did like the decision to make Bosie a non-singing dance role. perhaps some of his choreography was too much but the basic decision works.
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