Many Broadway purists will argue the inclusion of a Gian Carlo Menotti opera in my musical thinking, although several of his works were produced on Broadway. Well, if I can delve into the world of cabaret and Stomp, I can certainly include The Medium in my Year.
I am not that familiar with Menotti's works, but if they are anything like this production, done for television in 1978, then I need to check out more of them. I don't have the musicological wherewithal to discuss Menotti's composition, but it reminds me of operas by Benjamin Britten--chamber operas with few characters, delving into the subconscious and spiritual worlds. And the 'spikey' vocal lines and orchestration of The Medium sound similar to Britten's Billy Budd, which I have seen. Also, the theme of the sacrifice of an innocent for the sins of another is common to both operas. The orchestra seems to project the sub-text of the characters, giving voice to their inner turmoil.
The story revolves around Madame Flora, a fake medium who has a real other-worldly experience during one of her staged seances. Originally written in the late 1940s, the opera continues to have a life in smaller opera houses, and Menotti is considered one of the pre-eminent American composers of the 20th Century. He died in early 2007, well into his 90s.
Maureen Forrester (seen above) is particularly winning in her portrayal of Madame Flora. It was a performance she had done on stage in Stratford, Ontario Canada, which was subsequently filmed by the CBC for television. The television staging retains much of its proscenium style with enough close-ups and tracking shots to keep it from feeling two-dimensional.
The Medium
Music, Book and Lyrics by Gian Carlo Menotti
Produced for television in 1978 by the Canadian Broadcasting Company
Released on DVD by VAI in 2004
Cast: Maureen Forrester
I am not that familiar with Menotti's works, but if they are anything like this production, done for television in 1978, then I need to check out more of them. I don't have the musicological wherewithal to discuss Menotti's composition, but it reminds me of operas by Benjamin Britten--chamber operas with few characters, delving into the subconscious and spiritual worlds. And the 'spikey' vocal lines and orchestration of The Medium sound similar to Britten's Billy Budd, which I have seen. Also, the theme of the sacrifice of an innocent for the sins of another is common to both operas. The orchestra seems to project the sub-text of the characters, giving voice to their inner turmoil.
The story revolves around Madame Flora, a fake medium who has a real other-worldly experience during one of her staged seances. Originally written in the late 1940s, the opera continues to have a life in smaller opera houses, and Menotti is considered one of the pre-eminent American composers of the 20th Century. He died in early 2007, well into his 90s.
Maureen Forrester (seen above) is particularly winning in her portrayal of Madame Flora. It was a performance she had done on stage in Stratford, Ontario Canada, which was subsequently filmed by the CBC for television. The television staging retains much of its proscenium style with enough close-ups and tracking shots to keep it from feeling two-dimensional.
The Medium
Music, Book and Lyrics by Gian Carlo Menotti
Produced for television in 1978 by the Canadian Broadcasting Company
Released on DVD by VAI in 2004
Cast: Maureen Forrester
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