Thursday, December 3, 2009

Brooklyn Academy of Music- Kepler

Philip Glass has long ago established himself as an effective minimalist composer. His music has the power to enter ones' subconscious through overly repetitive patterns that collide with blunt and direct dissonance. Mr. Glass has shown that this style works great as film music: where its’ purpose is to dramatically enhance the visual action. The Hours is one of the saddest and most beautiful movies of the past decade, due in large part to Mr. Glass’s score. As a two-hour opera however, this becomes an easy recipe for boredom. Opera is by nature supposed to be dramatic. Drama can of course come in a variety of doses and forms, but it eventually manages to deliver. This evening reminded me of why I do not go to church- it's boring. Come on! Labeling your piece an opera entails that it will touch people’s emotions. The New York Times said that Kepler would have worked better as an oratorio. Knowing at least that, we would be sure to drink coffee before going.

The cast was formidable, and nothing more. The lead soprano was called in that evening as a replacement and read from the score for the entire performance. Nothing against her, as she did well considering the circumstances, but can the Brooklyn Academy of Music please be sure to supply proper understudies? The Bruckner Orchestra Linz seemed uninspired, and is evidently much better than they showed us. Following the performance, the audience rose to their feet in applause like a quacking herd of geese. I just woke up from my slumber and adjusted my dry contacts. Nothing more.

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