Theater Review
André Chénier Umberto Giordano
Landestheater Detmold, 29.05.05 (in German)
What can I say? First of all, I was unfocussed, and could not properly take in the evening. In truth, my mind wandered in some parts. I would say the fault was more mine than the production: I was just not in the mood for a serious Opera which I didn't know the story of. But, what Do I have to say about it?
The singers were all fine, (though one of the tenor's notes sounded the slightest shade flat.) The Soprano did a good job, and I was particularly struck by some of her high notes. It wasn't that they were so, SO high, or loud, (though they were both of these.) It was... the beauty of her tone. It was the way that the five seconds were... intriguing. They took my full attention. I was just hanging on that, absorbed by the minute changes in "colour" of her voice. It was... an absolute beauty of sound.
Musically, as well as production wise, I enjoyed the first 20 minutes or so the most. The entrance of the Choir was wonderful, and with all of them at the front of the stage, in the white, decadent costumes, in a soft white light, it was wonderful. Absolutely. And, of course, the music then was great too. Then... there was a part that was just... like an early version of a tone-poem; it was with minimal, or no words, an the attraction to it was the changing of key and ... form.
Hrmm. That seems to be all in my head at the moment.
So, I go, and don't try to force words out of my head, that don't come there naturally.