Customer Reviews

Little Women: An Opera in Two Acts

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Marc Adamo's _Little Women_ follows Alcott's book much more closely than it seems to. True, this opera doesn't include Jo's famous haircut, the father's service (and subsequent illness) as a military chaplain, or any of the childhood antics depicted in the book's first half. But that's because Adamo focuses his attention on the less-celebrated second half, which Alcott entitled "Good Wives" (though she sarcastically claimed "Wedding Marches" would have been more appropriate).

The opera itself is superb; among American composers, only Douglas Moore and Virgil Thomson have equalled its accomplishment. Adamo's libretto is consistently quick-witted and sharp-tongued (a trait he seems to have picked up from Alcott herself), while his music is tonal, eclectic, emotional and intelligent. Each character, it seems, has at least one moment to shine, but Professor Bhaer's German lied in Act II never fails to bring down the house. What's more, the opera stages beautifully; one gets the sense that it would be as much at home on Broadway as in the concert hall.

Unfortunately, this particular recording is live, which means that the music doesn't come across with the same clarity that a studio recording would have. It's tough to justify shelling out more than thirty bucks for manifestly inferior sound, and I wish the Houston Grand Opera had purchased some studio time so they could give this opera its due. Still, the performances are as good as they come. For fans of the work, this will be a must-own.

I like this opera...more than I wanted to at first. Adamo has a wonderful understanding of the voice. Though the orchestral effects are wonderful,especially with an 18 piece orchestra (doesn't sound so small) the drama lies squarely with the singers, as so many modern operas don't. Adamo is not afraid of real arias and ensembles and at these moments he really lets the music soar, especially Meg's beautiful aria, Things Change.

Adamo is also a fine librettist. The lyrical moments are verbally poetic which calls forth rapturous music. Look again at Meg's aria. It reads like good poetry. It doesn't rhyme, but it has strong rhythm and some beautiful imagery. And the construction of the recitativo scenes is very well done also. This is not a sung play, but a real operatic libretto.

The drawbacks of the opera are really in the dramatic subject itself. Though Adamo tries to inject drama in the opera by hanging on a conflict between Jo and the passage of time, this is a bit intellectual really. The novel's basic problem is that it is a series of lyric episodes with wonderful characters, but nothing really ever happens. This problem remains in the opera. It is more of a series of lyric scenes ala Eugene Onegin. This can make for moments of boredom for those who prefer opera to be shattering like Wozzeck, or biting like Three Penny Opera.

The one other problem with the opera is that much of the music tend to "Micky Mouse" the stage action, especially in the more playful moments. It can make for a confusing listening experience during some of the scenes. The orchestra is crowded with interesting music motives that are dropped a moment later. Adamo could have taken a page from Russian opera here and organized the scenes with unifying devices, as Mussorgsky does in Boris, or Debussy does in Pelleas. We don't need every emotional shift illustrated in the music...just the big ones.

The performances are uniformly well sung. Stephanie Novacek is wonderful as Jo, and Margaret Lloyd sings "Thing Change" marvelously. Patrick Summers does an expert conducting job.

All in all, this opera deserves it's success. It is lyrical enough to satisfy the old-fashioned opera goer, and yet it is sophisticated in it's harmonic idiom and meaty.

Mark Adamo's "Little Women" is one of the finest operas to come off a composer's pen in many, many years. It's probably the best new opera written recently and it's certainly the most accessible. Andre Previn must be green with envy - his "Streetcar Named Desire" doesn't contain half as much memorable music.

Adamo's writing is wonderfully melodious, absolutely beautiful to the ear - anyone's ear, not just modern music snobs. When Adamo breaks into melody (and there's tons of melody here, real melody), the tonality just gushes everywhere.

You'll want to hear a number of arias over and over, but the baritone aria that begins the second act will melt your heart. (Listen for it to quietly return at the opera's end). Every mezzo-soprano will soon be clamoring to play Jo. The role is challenging, dramatic and full of gorgeous music. Beth's death scene is incredibly moving, with her voice floating over Adamo's harmonies to the "heavenly meadows." The closing quartet is as lovely and bittersweet as a "Rosencavalier" in miniature.

Adamo's libretto is as much of a wonder as the score. His adaptation and condensation of the story is tightly focused on Jo and the inevitable changes of maturity. But there's plenty of humor too - the words and music are a perfect match. This opera is one that will last, one that gets more beautiful on every hearing.

Although this opera is being staged everywhere now - it's on its way to the New York City Opera, where Adamo is now composer in residence - it's hard to imagine a better peformance than this one. Most of the cast members created their roles at the world premiere and repeated them at the recent revival in Houston.

You'll never regret having this CD. Thanks to Mark Adamo and the Houston Grand Opera.

Thrilling: the kind of high-octane, after-Broadway opera we've been waiting for since "Porgy and Bess." Smartly and sparklingly composed, yes, and a libretto of Sondheim-esque virtuosity, but warm, gorgeous melodies, too--"Things Change, Jo," Perfect As We Are," "Kennst du das Land" sung by a powerhouse cast: and who knew old Alcott had such a gutsy, intense opera lurking inside her famous book? A big surprise, and a bigger event: this piece will be with us a long, long time.

The cast and the orchestra for this recording by the Houston Grand Opera are top notch. Having said that, Mark Adamo's "Little Women" simply begs for a tune now and then. The "Notes" by Mr. Adamo (the prose, not the music) are eloquent and show a marvelous intellect. However, the music resorts to the same non melodic cliches that are the hallmark of a lot of contemporary music. Sorry, but I want to be moved. Even as a psychological drama of sibling relationships, the story line could move a bit more. The word "static" comes to mind.
Incidently, I just performed this opera as an orchestra pit musician. The rubatos and mixed meters are quite challenging, to say the least.

An odd, sweet, extraordinary piece. It starts leisurely, and you're not sure at first whether the first aria ("Un-bake the breads") is real or a savage parody of a woman's desire to turn back time---but as the piece goes on, what seems at first just like charming songwriting gets tighter and more pervasive in strange and telling ways, until by Act Two, every reference to the first act's tunes hits you, emotionally, like a blow to the stomach. The singing is marvellous--didn't Joyce DiDonato, who sing Meg, win the Tucker award this year?--and the orchestra sends forth a thousand colours. I bought this because I heard City Opera and Glimmerglass were doing this piece, and, apparently, Chautauqua as well--it seemed everywhere I read in last month's Opera News, there was this piece being staged somewhere. So it was worth the research: but I was, candidly, stunned by how melodious and moving it was. Little Women has never struck me as a particularly promising subject for an opera, but I loved Meg's Act One aria and the parents' duet and Bhaer's lied in Act Two, and I was breathless--breathless-- at the finale. I just find myself listening and listening, which I don't do much with new opera. Cheers to all concerned!

I saw a production of this opera at New York City Opera this past season which is why I bought the CD. It really is a triumph. I'm sorry for the people who didn't I enjoy. I wonder if NYC Opera is performing a different version or just a different concept of the same version. I found the production to be very endearing and touching. No one left the theater untouched emotionally. There is a lot to be said for new operas. Without new opera the form won't expand and continue to grow. New Operas do not take anything away from the classics, it's just important that new avenues be explored. I saw buy this CD, you'll enjoy it.

OK, so I'm the last US listener to catch up with this piece. Wow. Amazing. Nothing extra, nothing missing--it's beautiful, but that's not what I'm writing about---listening to it is like being inside someone's heart. If you've ever thought you could make someone keep loving you through force of will...it's strange that something so "nostalgic" can feel so tough and aching at the same time--when Meg sings "I love you--things end," I thought my stomach would sink right out of my body. I really can't tell you if it's a "good" record or not from an audiophile POV. But I play it. A lot...Peace, Ellen

I had the privilege of attending New York City Opera's production of this incredible work, and I have seldom been so moved. Obviously, the composer couldn't (and shouldn't) have included every single scene from the novel. What he did set, however, were some of the most touching and beautiful pages. Scenes that let us get to know these people, and care deeply about them, without needing to know their entire life stories. Maybe I'm too emotional (if there is such a thing), but I shed quite a few tears during this performance. Mark Adamo has written the finest opera of the last 50 years and more. Thank you, Mr. Adamo, for this magnificent work.
The recording is fine, as well, with a strong cast and good sound. A bargain at twice the price.

I live in Houston and attended a performance of Little Women.
It was absolutely wonderful! I had my doubts since it is not your traditional opera, but now, I would not have missed it for the world. I recommend the CD because the extraordinary performances will transport you into this classic American story.