In a post-Roe world, an upcoming S.F. Opera show stands on the wrong side of the debate

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | July 20, 2022 | Joshua Kosman

[artichokegrower]

At the end of Act 1 of Richard Strauss’ 1919 opera “Die Frau ohne Schatten” (“The Woman Without a Shadow”), a poor woman putters about her dimly lit hovel preparing dinner for her husband, a dyer. No sooner have the fish begun to fry than she hears the hut fill with the sounds of her unborn children.

“Mother, mother, let us into the house!” they cry, unseen but palpably present. “The door is locked and we can’t get in.”

The Dyer’s Wife (in spite of being one of the opera’s most important characters, she has no other name) is horrified, because her reluctance to become a mother lies at the heart of her marital difficulties. In June, when “Frau” is scheduled to take the stage at the San Francisco Opera for the first time in more than 30 years, I imagine that many listeners will be horrified by this moment as well.

[artichokegrower]

The idea that “the unborn” are in any sense people — individuals endowed with souls, desires and operatic voices — has always been an appalling misrepresentation. Today, in the wake of the recent Supreme Court decision stripping away decades’ worth of well-established abortion rights, “Frau” feels more problematic than ever.

This San Francisco Chronicle opera reviewer is one sick individual

[Mariner]

It’s a great opera and a great opera company.

Second to only the Met in the US.

[hanamizu]

” I imagine that many listeners will be horrified by this moment as well. The idea that “the unborn” are in any sense people ... has always been an appalling misrepresentation.

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The idea that the unborn are “in any sense people” is both appalling and horrifying to Joshua Kosman tells me all I need to know about him. I would not be surprised if the opera is canceled.

[Publius]

I prefer Der Rosenkavalier or even the wildly dissonant Salome.

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

This fool who dares to review opera could never measure up to the genius librettist of so many of Strauss' operas, Hugo von Hofmannsthal. The off stage chorus sings as the "unborn children."

Vater, dir drohet nichts, Siehe, es schwindet schon, Mutter, das Ängstliche, Das dich beirrte! Wäre denn je ein Fest, Wären nicht insgeheim Wir die Geladenen, Wir auch die Wirte?

Die Frau ohne Schatten, Op. 65, Act III, Scene 4: "Vater, dir drohet nichts" (Voices of Unborn Children)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Afq2o0B6-gs

The text was among Hofmannthal's poems.

Source: https://de.wikisource.org/wiki/Gesang_der Ungeborenen

The not yet born tell that they will in the future be both those invited to a feast and those who would offer such a feast. Prescient. Poetic. Visionary. For a century and more, this text has been read and sung, and only now some "critic" finds it threatening.

[Blurp2]

“The idea that “the unborn” are in any sense people — individuals endowed with souls, desires and operatic voices — has always been an appalling misrepresentation.”

Right you are, that’s the key quote. Nothing to laugh about here.

[thecodont]

I want to see this opera. Last heard about it 30 years ago. Why has it received so little exposure? Why does no one perform it?

[Calvin Cooledge]

Gay men are among the most nihilistic and anti-human people I have ever met. Because they hate children, they hate the future, and that makes them unqualified for any leadership role, from President of the United States to manager of a Stabucks.

[NewHampshireDuo]

I love Die Frau. Never been able to see a live performance but I have a good collection of CDs and DVDs.

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

It is a difficult piece, and expense to cast it well, with a rather large orchestra. I attended several performances over many years and recommend it to you. Best wishes.