This was a phenomenal production! As always, the Austin Lyric Opera did a fantastic staging job, but the story and music were beautifully executed/arranged as well. The final scene, when the criminal is executed, was very compelling...the entire theatre was quiet - no music, no singing, not a sound from the audience. Then a recording of a medical heart monitor started which continued until the hearbeat flatlined. The show ended with a simple hymn that ran throughout the show:
He will gather us around, all around.
He will gather us around.
By and by.
You and I.
All around Him, gather us around.
Part of me wonders if this opera was so appealing because it was in English and didn't require as much attention to the supertitles as foreign language operas do. But it also dealt with a very contemporary subject...
As intended, I left the theatre in contemplation of the death penalty. Since I've always considered myself to be against the death penalty, it did nothing to change my convictions. On the other hand, it did a very compelling job of addressing the concerns and portraying the anguish of the victim's family who advocate for the death of the convicted.
Posted by jfer at January 18, 2003 8:00 PMExcellent description - I wish I could see it. As a long time opera devotee, I'm really pleased to see a contemporary opera make it. I'm not sure whether English vs. surtitles has any bearing on the enjoyment - a lot of times I can't understand the words when it is sung in English. It probably helps that this story is already so well known and as opposed to most of the old grand operas, the story is actually believable and not a silly convoluted story. Don't get me wrong I love the old operas but some of the plots are ridiculous.
Posted by: Cynthia on January 24, 2003 8:11 AM