A son is born to a young couple. The father, motivated by jealousy, takes the baby into the desert to be abandoned. The child is rescued, named Oedipus by King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth and raised as their own son. When Oedipus learns of a prophecy foretelling that he will kill his father and marry his mother, he leaves Corinth believing that Polybus and Merope are his true parents.
Director: Julie Taymor
Conductor: Seiji Ozawa
Writers: Jean Cocteau (French libretto), Sophocles (play), e.e. cummings (translation: English narration), Kazuko Matsuoka (translation: Japanese narration).
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0256240/
Filmed at the Saito Kinen music festival in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan in '92, performed in Latin, except the spoken narration is in Japanese. English and other subtitles are available the disc.
First performed 30 May 1927 in Latin.
Since this opera is not in Simon's 100 Great Operas, read a synopsis on Wikipedia, source of the cast info below.
This is a fascinating blend of oratorio and Japanese mime/dance, on an interesting stage/backdrop. It makes me want to watch a performance of the original play.
The music was more melodic than I expected, but oratorio is not opera. The singers don't interact with each other; that's why the dancers are added. That's from the creators of this production, not from the original Stravinsky. But I like it.
Cast:
Oedipus, king of Thebes tenor : Philip Langridge
(this performance also has a dancer Oedipus)
Jocasta, his wife & mother mezzo-soprano : Jessye Norman
Creon, Jocasta's brother bass-baritone : Bryn Terfel
Tiresias, soothsayer basso : Harry Peeters
Shepherd tenor : Robert Swensen
Messenger bass-baritone : Michio Tatara
Narrator speaking role : Kayoko Shiraishi
Director: Julie Taymor
Conductor: Seiji Ozawa
Writers: Jean Cocteau (French libretto), Sophocles (play), e.e. cummings (translation: English narration), Kazuko Matsuoka (translation: Japanese narration).
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0256240/
Filmed at the Saito Kinen music festival in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan in '92, performed in Latin, except the spoken narration is in Japanese. English and other subtitles are available the disc.
First performed 30 May 1927 in Latin.
Since this opera is not in Simon's 100 Great Operas, read a synopsis on Wikipedia, source of the cast info below.
This is a fascinating blend of oratorio and Japanese mime/dance, on an interesting stage/backdrop. It makes me want to watch a performance of the original play.
The music was more melodic than I expected, but oratorio is not opera. The singers don't interact with each other; that's why the dancers are added. That's from the creators of this production, not from the original Stravinsky. But I like it.
Cast:
Oedipus, king of Thebes tenor : Philip Langridge
(this performance also has a dancer Oedipus)
Jocasta, his wife & mother mezzo-soprano : Jessye Norman
Creon, Jocasta's brother bass-baritone : Bryn Terfel
Tiresias, soothsayer basso : Harry Peeters
Shepherd tenor : Robert Swensen
Messenger bass-baritone : Michio Tatara
Narrator speaking role : Kayoko Shiraishi
Fun fact: I "bought" this dvd because the seller didn't actually have the musical I ordered; this one cost much more, and I wouldn't have bought it because it's very short for the price. I paid nothing extra. I doubt I'll ever again get an opera for $2.13.
Philips & more, cond. Ozawa; 8
