Customer Reviews

Berg: Lulu [Blu-ray]

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Alban Berg (1885-1935) came from a cultivated, well to do bourgeois Viennese family where reading and plays were part of normal life. Both his operas Wozzeck and Lulu were taken from successful stage plays which he adapted for his operas. Berg was clearly under the influence of Schoenberg from their first meeting in 1905 until his death 30 years later. Bergs style is more lyrical then Webern and Schoenberg. But he owes more to Mahler, then to the tortured intellectualism of Schoenberg.While at work on Lulu,he began to suffer from poor health. After the Nazi's came to power his work was declared decadent and was banned from performance in Germany and increasingly so in Austria. He gradually lost the incentive to finish the work.In 1935 he died of blood poisoning. In 1934 he scored the opera from the start and had reached bar 268 of Act 3 before he died.Helene his widow,in vain asked Schoenberg and Webern to finish and edit the full score.Only after Helenes death in 1976,could the Act 3 be completed. In 1979 Cerha's version was heard conducted by Boulez.

Lulu in the opera, may come across as a femme fatale, wrecking havoc in the lives of her three husbands and various male and female admirers, but is too childlike. Dr Schon finds her as a 12 year old selling flowers, educated her and later made her his mistress. She is dependent upon him as a lover and father figure.He treats her as a possession. He is preparing her for a life as a courtesan. Once we understand her past we can be sympathetic to her and her ways. In his music Berg brings her finally to obtain the status of a tragic heroine.

The orchestra of the Royal opera house is conducted by Pappano, who brings out the lyrical side to this serial work. It is minimalist in its staging, with modern dress. Lulu is Agenta Eichenholz who actually sings her part. Dr Schon is Michael Volle.Alwa is Klaus Vogt. Countess Geschwitz is Jennifer Larmore known for her work in Rameau operas and such like. Schigolch is Gwynne Howell. Well sung and acted. It is like a modern play with music. If you have never heard this music before, imagine some of the music of Mahlers 7th Symphony,abstracted. At first you may find it hard going, if you like the melodies of Puccini and Verdi. But keep going back to it. The tale and the music is worthwhile listening to. Once you get it, you will enjoy it. Serial music is often used in films.