Subverting a Faustian ‘Singspiel' (Weber's Der Freischütz in an Anti-American Production)

New York Sun ^ | 8/16/2008 | Jay Nordlinger

[mojito]

Carl Maria von Weber, the early-19th-century German composer, wrote ten or so operas. But we know basically three of them, and those chiefly through their overtures, and a few arias. The operas I'm speaking of are "Der Freischütz," "Euryanthe," and "Oberon." The Salzburg Festival is performing the service of staging "Der Freischütz" this year. But it is staging it in a production that baldly subverts the opera — thereby canceling the service.

"Der Freischütz" means "The Marksman," roughly, and it is a "singspiel" — an opera that combines singing and talking. It is a cousin of "The Abduction from the Seraglio" and "The Magic Flute," both by Mozart. The story is a Faustian one concerning a man who sells — or almost sells — his soul to the devil. He is rescued in the end, by the overwhelming force of good. This is a Christian tale.

But how do you handle a Christian tale on a continent whose elite culture is decidedly post-Christian, to say the least? More about that in a moment.

[mojito]

Another example of European directors being oh so naughty.

Oddly enough, the Euro-leftist audiences never seem to tire of this "transgressive" hooey.

[mojito]

Ping.

[mojito]

Salzburg's production is in the care of Falk Richter, a director from Hamburg. When the curtain opens, we behold the chorus — the townspeople — as a bunch of fatsos, dressed in vulgar clothing: shorts, jerseys, and T-shirts. Many of them have cameras or binoculars around their necks. One of the fatties has a T-shirt with the American flag on it. Your modern European stage director is not known for subtlety....

In a final act of subversion, Mr. Richter has Samiel's helpers take blood from sacramental chalices and daub four English words on the wall: "In God We Trust." Subtle, subtle, subtle.

The Germans are a sad and pathetic people who vadalize their own culture as they ignorantly hate ours.

Just how is it that Americans are the unsophisticated ones?

[oyez]

The production should be have been called “Die Abtreibung Der Freischütz” or “The Abortion of Der Freischütz”.

When some know-it-all tries to subvert such a classic it invariably sucks. I hope the guy lost his shirt.

[Borges]

Classical Music PING

[seoul62]

Thank you./Just Asking - seoul62.......

[keepitreal]

This is the problem with total state funding of the arts, especially opera. Any sort of garbage is put on the stage with really no consequence. No private donors to be upset, and if the audience doesn’t like it, so what? The government check continues to come.

It is really a shame that great art is destroyed by this. Opera deserves better. I’m not against innovative productions, but garbage like this is like painting a mustache on the Mona Lisa.

[Billthedrill]

Richter appears to have all the political sophistication of your average 13-year-old with a can of spray paint. Pity he was entrusted with this, and a worse pity if he’s ever invited back.