I really wanted this to work
In the news today: Metallica and Lou Reed teaming up to re-investigate Lulu. Lou Reed is a bit before my time, but Metallica? One of Rock's greatest bands in the past 20 years. Required listening for anyone under the age of 40, which my passport says I am.
The critics responses seem underwhelming. My favorite comment:
The critics responses seem underwhelming. My favorite comment:
"This is 1960s coffee-shot beat poetry set to skull-crushing riffs or psychedelic haze. If you must listen to this, it probably makes sense only if you're extremely high."
I think I'll pass on that and try to listen to it like a responsible (boring) opera singer.
My experience with Lulu has been as mixed as I bet this album will be. First in Basel, with my fateful evening of meeting Calixto Bieito. Here's the fantastic mezzo, Tanja Baumgartner singing Graefen Geschwitz. (Happy Birthday, Tanja!)
Later…after listening to Loutallica…
Ok, I'll finally admit it. I slept thru portions of the Basel Lulu. Something about this show does not connect with me. Everyone says it's the pinnacle of 20th century musical theater. But you'd think the 20ft posters of Lulu's naked form would have kept me awake. My wife sleeps thru movies with overly jittery camera work. I sleep through opera's where the harmonic structure is too dense.
I'll make sure to give it another listen to the next time I'm in Amsterdam. Brownies make all things better, right?
2 comments:
I always fall asleep during Act II -- that parade of one lowlife after another makes me zone out. Ok, the whole thing is depressing. Yet I agree it's a great opera.
Granted, Berg isn't easy listening, but after you hear it enough times, it's starts to sound almost tonal. And you have to admit, Berg wrote actual vocal lines, unlike the poop-and-squeak some composers inflict on singers these days.
Glad it's not just me. Very depressing. And Calixto's choices in Basel made it even more so, I felt.
Berg as Muzak. Could you imagine it? Getting in some elevator and hearing it? Yes, the vocal lines are actually singable, as Tanja proves above.
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