It is a measure of his artistic integrity that, even when
Brooklyn Philharmonic music director Robert Spano is compelled
to change his programs due to financial constraints, it does
not faze him: he still presents audiences with compelling, enthralling
music.
After the Sept. 11 tragedy and the recession, the Brooklyn Philharmonic
was among the financially hard-hit arts organizations, and some
reshuffling was needed if the orchestra was to play its concerts
at all. So Spano canceled the February concerts, replacing them
with the young pianist Stewart Goodyear in his New York recital
debut.
For the upcoming March 15-16 concerts, Spano has replaced the
original program with a performance of the wondrous oratorio
"King David" by Arthur Honegger, a Swiss composer (he
is thought of as French because he spent most of his life in
his adopted country) who is universally respected but far too
infrequently heard in our concert halls. Honegger is best known
for his symphonies and the short orchestral work "Pacific
231," all of which show off his considerable skill at composing
music whose color and shading are thrilling to any listener.
But it is his vocal works that are the true proof of his many-sided
genius.
"King David" recounts the legendary Biblical story
of the ruler who defeated Saul, reigned over Israel after overwhelming
Goliath and lost his kingdom due to hubris. Honegger brilliantly
juxtaposes choruses of sheerly gripping force with many tender
passages of lyrical beauty for the soloists.
For the Brooklyn Philharmonic’s performances – which will be
of the original 1921 version sans strings – the soloists are
soprano Jan Giering DeHaan, mezzo Mary Nessinger, tenor Clifton
Forbis and narrator-speaker Lambert Wilson. The New York Virtuoso
Singers under the direction of Harold Rosenbaum sing the choral
parts; the work will be performed in an English translation of
the original French.
In a deserving case of nepotism, the Swiss music label Musique
Suisse has recordings of several of Honegger’s vocal works, as
it also has for the Masses, Requiem and "Mysteries of the
Nativity" of Frank Martin, another Swiss contemporary of
Honegger, who added his own cerebral style to the composer’s
expressive musicality. In addition to "King David"
and his other classic oratorio, "Joan of Arc at the Stake,"
Honegger’s rarely heard operetta, "The Adventures of King
Pausole" and his "dramatic legend" titled "Nicholas
de Flue" have been preserved in sterling Musique Suisse
recordings.
But such glorious music deserves to be heard live, and for the
chance of hearing "King David" in its entirety, we
can thank Robert Spano.
Regina’s ’Tosca’
Luckily for the Regina Opera company, their planned productions
were unaffected by the events of Sept. 11. And so its presentation
of Giacomo Puccini’s classic tragedy "Tosca" remains
on the schedule, with performances at Regina Hall on March 9,
March 10 and March 16.
Puccini’s most lucid opera, "Tosca" is filled with
double-crossings, backstabbings and fatal passions that populate
most Italian verismo ("realism," or common life) operas.
The title heroine is a fatally flawed lover: her jealousy is
so extreme that she allows the sadistic police chief Scarpia
to convince her that her current lover, the painter Cavaradossi,
is unfaithful to her. It all ends tragically, of course.
For this production, director Linda Lehr, a Regina Opera vet
who also serves as set and lighting designer has adhered to Puccini’s
own stage directions, making this is as familiar-looking and
sounding a "Tosca" (it’s sung in Italian) as opera-goers
can get outside the Met.
On March 10 and March 16, Carroll Gardens resident Deborah Anne
Faw sings the passionate soprano role of Tosca, baritone Hak
Joon Kim (most recently heard at Regina Opera as Don Jose in
"Carmen" and Rodolfo in "La Boheme") is her
lover Cavaradossi, and tenor Eugene Green takes on the role of
Scarpia. Long-time Brooklyn resident Jose Alejandro Guzman, principal
conductor of Regina Opera, leads the orchestra.
The Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra
performs Honegger’s "King David" at the BAM Howard
Gilman Opera House (30 Lafayette Ave. at Ashland Place) on March
15 and March 16 at 8 pm. Tickets are $20-$50. For more information,
call (718) 622-5838 or visit www.brooklynphilharmonic.org.
The Regina Opera Company performs Puccini’s "Tosca"
March 9 and March 16 at 7 pm and March 10 at 4 pm at Regina Hall,
corner of 12th Avenue and 65th Street. General admission tickets
are $12; $8 senior citizens and college students. For more information,
visit www.reginaopera.org
or call (718) 232-3555.
