This
production has in many ways become a benchmark for The Rake´s Progress. First seen at Glyndebourne in 1975, it has
undergone numerous revivals and has even been released on DVD in 1997 featuring
Samuel Ramey and Felicity Lott. While the present version looks a bit fresher,
I don´t see any compelling reason to acquire this present DVD if you already
own the previous one.
No doubt the
reason for the popularity and longevity of this production is the extraordinary accordance between the production and Stravinsky´s original work.
Stravinsky
was originally inspired by 1) Mozart and 2) William Hogarth´s 1735 series of eight
paintings (later engravings) depicting the life of Tom Rakewell. As most will
know, the composition style is neoclassical - Mozart, but not quite
Mozart. As for the story line - Don Giovanni but not quite Don Giovanni.
The
director is John Cox, but the trademark of the production are the designs by
David Hockney. Hockney is a British multi-artist, born in 1937 and famous for
his pop art installations in the 1960´s.
He was
equally inspired by William Hogarth in creating the sets, which are quite often
print-like black and white, with multiple stripes and crosshatching. Complete
with period costumes, it is a set evocative of Mozart – but then, just like the
music, not quite Mozart. And always with a certain irony and distance, to be
found in Stravinsky´s score and the libretto as well.
The “new”
singers are all excellent: From Miah Persson´s Anne Trulove, which is both
beautifully sung and acted, to Topi Lehtipuu´s convincing portrait of the lazy
Tom always seeking the easy way and Matthew Rose as a somewhat ironic Nick
Shadow and finally Elena Manistina´s tour de force as Baba The Turk.
Vladimir
Jurowski is effective conducting a score, that I find it easy to admire but
hard to love.
The bottom
line (scale of 1-5, 3=average):
Miah
Persson: 5
Topi
Lehtipuu: 5
Matthew
Rose: 4
Elena
Manistina: 4-5
John Cox´
production: 5
Vladimir
Jurowski: 5
Overall
impression: 5
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