Boston Lyric Opera - Schoenberg in Hollywood
Music is only understood when one goes away singing it and only loved when one falls asleep with it in one's head, and finds it still there on waking up the next morning.
Arnold Schoenberg
Why see Boston Lyric Opera - Schoenberg in Hollywood?
World Premiere
Tod Machover (Skellig, Death and the Powers) illustrates the emigration of influential composer Arnold Schoenberg to Los Angeles in the 30s in this brand new opera commissioned by the BLO new works. Starring Omar Ebrahim as Schonenberg, with music by Machover, a libretto by Simon Robson and based on a scenario by Braham Murray, this world premiere production promises to be an illuminating celebration of the composer's life and career as he endeavoured to make his home in the City of Angels after fleeing the rise of Nazism in his native Austria.
Known as an innovative voice in the world of 20th Century classical music, Schoenberg left Europe after the Nazi regime labeled his work as degenerate. Eventually at home in the country, he at first found it difficult to find comfort in a culture very different from his own. During this time he taught at many institutions including UCLA and made a friend and tennis partner of George Gershwin.
Reviews
Customer reviews
1 reviews, average rating: (5.0 Stars)
Gerald Marsden
Brilliant New Opera
Tod Machover's opera "Schoenberg in Hollywood", in its world premiere staging at the Boston Lyric Opera, is a brilliant addition to the genre. The music and libretto are continually engaging, and the staging -- the sets, choreography/stage movement and video visuals -- were superb, the best use of video on stage I've ever seen. Usually employed, it seems, to advertise that the producers are on the cutting edge, in this production it really becomes an integral and exciting part of the production. The lead role, sung by English baritone Omar Ebrahim, was vocally secure and dramatically profound. The two junior cast members were similarly effective. Other reviews I've read are respectful but not enthusiastic, which may hurt the opera's future, and this would be a shame. This opera, particularly this brilliant production of the opera, deserves to be seen by the entire opera world. That remarkable local stagings are almost never available on DVD is a damning comment on music culture. ... Read more
NEWS, TICKETS, THEATRE & MORE
"Get the latest from Broadway and beyond - straight to your inbox!"
Read how we protect your data .