Comments on: The Monteverdi Orfeo Film: Spectacular, Surreal, Stylish http://classical-scene.com/2010/02/28/the-monteverdi-orfeo-film-spectacular-surreal-stylish/ a virtual journal and blog of the classical music scene in Boston Wed, 23 May 2012 03:34:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Joel Cohen http://classical-scene.com/2010/02/28/the-monteverdi-orfeo-film-spectacular-surreal-stylish/comment-page-1/#comment-1821 Joel Cohen Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:02:01 +0000 http://classical-scene.com/?p=2843#comment-1821 Bettina, I looked at some of the youtube clips, and there is indeed a lot to admire in this carefully conceived production. I enjoyed much of the singing I heard -- shepherds, Orfeo. Some of the reservations I felt a decade ago also returned. The large and virtuostic instrumental ensemble still sounds overmanaged and driven to my ears. Too many beats and accents, not enough cantabile. I am only moderately enchanted by the new instrumental parts created in places by Jacobs or someone else. I remember the best thing about the staging/choreography as the aerial ballet -- that bit was breathtaking. Yes, it's wonderful to have singing and dancing integrated as we do here. But the bits I viewed struck me as overly busy. What do all the gestures _mean_ on an emotional level? Less would have been more, as in the aerial passages. Well, it's a damned hard work to stage, but we need to keep trying! Bettina, I looked at some of the youtube clips, and there is indeed a lot to admire in this carefully conceived production. I enjoyed much of the singing I heard — shepherds, Orfeo.

Some of the reservations I felt a decade ago also returned. The large and virtuostic instrumental ensemble still sounds overmanaged and driven to my ears. Too many beats and accents, not enough cantabile. I am only moderately enchanted by the new instrumental parts created in places by Jacobs or someone else.

I remember the best thing about the staging/choreography as the aerial ballet — that bit was breathtaking. Yes, it’s wonderful to have singing and dancing integrated as we do here. But the bits I viewed struck me as overly busy. What do all the gestures _mean_ on an emotional level? Less would have been more, as in the aerial passages.

Well, it’s a damned hard work to stage, but we need to keep trying!

]]> By: Bettina A. Norton, executive editor http://classical-scene.com/2010/02/28/the-monteverdi-orfeo-film-spectacular-surreal-stylish/comment-page-1/#comment-1760 Bettina A. Norton, executive editor Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:53:40 +0000 http://classical-scene.com/?p=2843#comment-1760 Should have known. Dommage is more masculine than feminine. BUT, Ms/Mr Picky, did you enjoy the article? Do you know the fillm OR the production??? that's what I really would like to know. Should have known. Dommage is more masculine than feminine. BUT, Ms/Mr Picky, did you enjoy the article? Do you know the fillm OR the production??? that’s what I really would like to know.

]]> By: picky http://classical-scene.com/2010/02/28/the-monteverdi-orfeo-film-spectacular-surreal-stylish/comment-page-1/#comment-1759 picky Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:33:18 +0000 http://classical-scene.com/?p=2843#comment-1759 BTW, it's 'quel dommage.' BTW, it’s ‘quel dommage.’

]]> By: Joel Cohen http://classical-scene.com/2010/02/28/the-monteverdi-orfeo-film-spectacular-surreal-stylish/comment-page-1/#comment-1757 Joel Cohen Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:58:21 +0000 http://classical-scene.com/?p=2843#comment-1757 This production also played live at the time at the Théatre des Champs Elysées, Paris, where I saw it. Some of the staging, as I recall, was lovely. My sense then was that, musically, it was over-conducted and over-controlled -- would be interested to see the film now, about a decade later. This production also played live at the time at the Théatre des Champs Elysées, Paris, where I saw it. Some of the staging, as I recall, was lovely. My sense then was that, musically, it was over-conducted and over-controlled — would be interested to see the film now, about a decade later.

]]> By: Bettina A. Norton, executive editor http://classical-scene.com/2010/02/28/the-monteverdi-orfeo-film-spectacular-surreal-stylish/comment-page-1/#comment-1754 Bettina A. Norton, executive editor Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:23:51 +0000 http://classical-scene.com/?p=2843#comment-1754 Thank you. Here are some other links I forgot to list: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xTgfB1JztI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb2TURdBeEQ www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=Monteverdi+Orfeo+Trisha+Brown+Keenlyside&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&fp=82a61fa7758c1e9 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sxBhg2c_PM When I was retrieving these, I noted that the posting of this article is fourth on the Google selections. In 45 minutes. Thank you.

Here are some other links I forgot to list:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xTgfB1JztI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb2TURdBeEQ
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=Monteverdi+Orfeo+Trisha+Brown+Keenlyside&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&fp=82a61fa7758c1e9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sxBhg2c_PM

When I was retrieving these, I noted that the posting of this article is fourth on the Google selections. In 45 minutes.

]]> By: Julian Bullitt http://classical-scene.com/2010/02/28/the-monteverdi-orfeo-film-spectacular-surreal-stylish/comment-page-1/#comment-1753 Julian Bullitt Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:43:27 +0000 http://classical-scene.com/?p=2843#comment-1753 The link to the IMDB follows: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0461302/ The link to the IMDB follows:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0461302/

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