Tokyo Performances

Die Soldaten

Conducted by Hiroshi Wakasugi
New National Theater Opera House
May 5

This is not an opera for anyone who wants to hum along. Strident and atonal, it's all about the drama. The theme seems to be that the military corrupts young maidens.

The opera is written for huge forces - 20 percussionists were called on stage at the end, and the demands made on the singers are extraordinary. I had prepared myself by watching a DVD a couple times, so I had an inkling of the story line: young, foolish girl is corrupted by soldiers. Hearing the piece live revealed subtleties lost in the recording.

On the other hand, there is very little peace and quiet in the opera. It is loud and searing; the vocalists have to screech at each other almost the entire time. Still, at the end it was a surprisingly powerful experience - although once was enough.

The staging was excellent - a black and white box, the soldiers in red. Toward the end the box tilted alarmingly, and it was a wonder that anyone could remain standing.

The end was met with tumultuous cheers which, in my cynicism, was an attempt to demonstrate how sophisticated the Tokyo audience is. Rubbish. I know that the vast majority would have preferred to be hearing Carmen.

posted by Larry Wells @ 6:17 PM