Threepenny Opera suffers under the weight of its own ambitions

By Kurt Gottschalk, 09 November 2020

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“the orchestra was on point and the settings were stylish”

Reviewed at HERE (formerly HERE Arts Center), New York City on 5 November 2020

Weill, The Threepenny Opera (Die Dreigroschenoper) (English translation: Marc Blitzstein)

City Lyric Opera

Whitney George, Conductor

Justin Austin, Macheath

Sara LeMesh, Lucy

Sara LaFlamme, Polly Peachum

Shanelle Valerie Woods, Jenny

Rachelle Pike, Celia Peachum

Philip Kalmanovitch, Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum

Michael Parham, Tiger Brown

The Curiosity Cabinet

Richard Jones’ clunky Samson et Dalila returns to Covent Garden

Dominic Lowe, 13th May

With Aigul Akhmetshina and Seokjong Baek in the title roles, there are reasons to be optimistic, but The Royal Opera’s revival of Richard Jones’ production is a mixed bag.

***11

Reality television: ENO’s Angel’s Bone in Manchester

Lawrence Dunn, 12th May

Kip Williams and ENO mount an extraordinary new production of Du Yun and Royce Vavrek’s multifaceted opera, with performances of great emotional directness broadcast live on camera.

*****

Sir Thomas Allen’s Figaro for Scottish Opera still entertains

David Smythe, 9th May

A traditional Marriage of Figaro entertains with a strong cast, eye-catching design and lighting, and Amanda Holden’s earthy libretto.

****1

Sasha Cooke brings sharp intelligence to Seattle Opera’s Carmen

Thomas May, 8th May

Sasha Cooke’s thoughtful role debut anchors Paul Curran’s visually and musically alert but dramatically uneven production.

****1

Werther oozes quiet despair in new Canadian Opera Company staging

John Gilks, 7th May

Excellent performances cannot turn a conventional production of Massenet’s Werther into a dramatic experience for the 21st century.

***11

Rossini’s Cenerentola proves great fun in Adelaide

Sandra Bowdler, 7th May

Neil Armfield’s production for State Opera South Australia combines a sparkling night of entertainment with first class musical values.

****1

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Kurt Gottschalk

Kurt Gottschalk is a journalist and author based in New York City. His writings on contemporary and classical music, jazz and improvisation have been published in outlets throughout Europe and America and he has two volumes of short fiction to his name. He produced and hosted the Miniature Minotaurs radio programme on WFMU and currently hosts Afternoon New Music on WKCR.

City Lyric's Threepenny Opera suffers under the weight of its own ambitions