I first cut my teeth on opera with a performance of Richard Strauss’s Elektra. At that time Los Angeles had no opera company of its own, although we would get a short season with the visiting New York City Opera. So along with my friends and guides Victor, Larry and Roy we packed up the car and headed to San Francisco for my initiation into the world high drama. Pardon my nostalgia, but in those days there were no supertitles by which to understand the action. You needed a score.
Being the students that we were, standing room was the only ticket within our reach. Standing room required that you show up around 3:30 or 4:00, hang out with the rest of the impecunious enthusiasts and wait to score your tickets. Standing room at the S.F. War Memorial Opera House is actually a great ticket. The sound quality at that tier is perfect. But standing room is just that, you stand for the entire performance.
Elektra is an one act audacious tour de force. I had no idea what was going on, but I had a score to guide me. I was hooked, smitten, blown away and committed to an art form that continues to nurture and enchant. Having a score to study makes you a participant, a co-conspirator versus a mer seat occupier, an entertainment sponge. Supertitles have done more to popularize opera than any score ever did…I mean who wants to study? They take the pressure off the classical stigma and allow everyone to join in the action, but if you really want to probe into character motif and musical prowess get yourself a score.
All this preamble is to tell you that now you can get them for free. If you are a classical buff you need to know about G Schirmer Inc. and in particular SchirmerOnDemand. Not only can you now take some time to familiarize yourself with the composers, but you can peruse the score. This incredible resource is further enhanced by their comprehensive calendar of classical events making is easier than ever to get that coveted ticket ahead of time. Check out this concert on June 16th:
GEORGE ANTHEIL
- Hot Time Dance
HENRY COWELL
- Symphony No. 16 Icelandic
RICHARD DANIELPOUR
-Urban Dances: Dance Suite in Five Movements
CHARLES IVES
- Charlie Rutledge
- March: Omega Lambda Chi
- Runaway Horse on Main Street
AARON JAY KERTIS
- Symphony in Waves
Franz Kafka: Amerika (stage version)
Saarbrücken, Germany
Saarländisches Staatstheater
Pablo Assante, conductor
Other Dates:
4,18,24 April; 2,6,16,24 June – Saarbrücken, Germany
Tempting No??
READERS RESPONSE