Good for what it is, but could have been better.
In my judgment, the performances here leave little to be desired, nor can I fault the conducting of Maestro Gergiev--he is extolled as an expert on the music of Prokofiev, and my ears tell me, rightly so. Prokofiev's setting conveys the essence of Dostoyevsky's short novel very well, but it is not excerptable, alas. No arias or set instrumental pieces as such in the work. One should not condemn it for this, but the result is that I will not be rewatching it often. If I want to relive this story, I had rather reread Dostoyevsky's story than watch this opera. The fault is not even with Prokofiev, who has executed his design well, but rather with the present production itself.
To say that the staging is minimalist would be an understatement. This is not objectionable in itself if what is minimally there does not clash with the libretto. However, it is a bit jarring when Polina tells Alexei to light a candle in his garret and he turns on the electric light. Alexei, by the way,...
Click to Editorial Reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment