Minimalist brilliance ...
If you want to see how potent minimalistic staging, costumes and acting can be in opera then Peter Sellars' twin productions of Iolanta and Perséphone, commissioned by Teatro Real's Artistic Director, Gerard Mortier, are the epitome of this style. From the moment the spotlight focuses on Ekaterina Scherbachenko and her attendants, and the first words of Tchaikovsky's Iolanta are sung, this production is captivating. The singing is superb throughout, as it has to be as there is nothing else happening on stage to hide any imperfection behind. Set on an otherwise empty stage the simple `door' frames, with their improbably balanced obsidian stones, are used to indicate different rooms and structures within the imagined spaces of the story. This works exceptionally well with the lighting effects used giving both depth and definition to the artists' movements on stage.
Sellars uses the same set for Stravinsky's Perséphone to great effect with changing backdrops and...
Fantastic!!
I am a grumpy old lady who hates minimalist productions. And the same set and same costumes are used for two very different operas!! Should have been a recipe for disaster BUT I really loved both productions on this dvd. I cannot agree more with the first reviewer.
Meaningful productions
If you are not really familiar with these 2 operas, go first to the extras where Peter Sellars explains his understanding and realization of the two operas. Both operas use the same minimalistic staging and customs. For Iolanta it works beautifully. In fact it is possible that the premier failure of Iolanta was due to staging it as a grand opera, when in fact it is an intimate and personal opera. Sellars gives to this opera various meanings and he knows how to accomplished it. You may agree or disagree with Sellars, but his interpretation is very well executed. The orchestra and singers perform wonderful. The music is an intimate Tchaikovsky, different from his grandiose operas or ballets, a real treat. I was very impressed by Willard White playing Dr. Ibn-Hakia. In summary, a very enjoyable and well executed Iolanta.
Persophone is a little bit more difficult. The libretto by Andre Gide is quite dense and needs full attention. I am sure something is missed in the translation to...
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