Die Tote Stadt

Korngold’s opera directed by Bruce Beresford was a must see. Visually innovative use of projections played wonderfully with the ideas of dreaming and obsession. Staging and lighting were evocative with some strong diagonals and glancing light. Vocal performances were thrilling. The music was very exciting with many moments of Korngold’s signature melodic invention and harmonic progression – familiar from his scores for “Between Two Worlds” (1944) or “The Adventures of Robin Hood” (1938), for example.  I couldn’t help wanting the clarity and fidelity of the orchestra’s natural voices rather than a performance amplified from the Studio below (necessary because it was too big for the  orchestra pit.)  It was, however, a mighty performance by both Opera Australia and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra!