The photo is from 2005-09-15, Robert Lloyd (Ashby), Jonathan Lemalu (Jack Wallace). Jonathan Lemalu is from New Zealand and Maori. (What a beautiful voice!!!)
Could ROH be more insensible...
And that is just a problem that is not in the libretto. Then there is 2nd act. Wowkle and Blackrabbit. They say UGH, why, because they are Indians, Native Americans.
From Wikipedia about this opera:
Performance history
It was first performed on 10 December 1910 in New York City at the Metropolitan Opera House with Emmy Destinn as Minnie, Enrico Caruso as Dick Johnson and Pasquale Amato as Jack Rance; Arturo Toscanini conducted the premiere.
This opera was the first world premiere for the Metropolitan Opera House, and was a huge success in the United States. Despite that, it was never as popular in Europe, except, perhaps, in Germany where it enjoyed a triumphant premiere in March 1913 at the Deutsche Opernhaus in Berlin (now known as the Deutsche Oper), under the musical direction of Ignatz Waghalter. It has fewer of the "showstopping" highlights that are characteristic of other Puccini operas, but is admired for being far better integrated than his earlier work. It shows the obvious influence of (but by no means any imitation of) Debussy, and is Puccini's only venture into impressionism. It is still sometimes performed, but not as often as Puccini's other mature operas.
---To read from the libretto, act 2.
Does it sound like something OK for people today.
If you want to read the original source of LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST, go to the Gutenberg project The Girl of the Golden West by David Belasco
---
Other than these glimpses of Racism or Ignorance, Fanciulla is a wonderful opera, beautiful music...
For more reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com
No comments:
Post a Comment