Carl nielsen masquerade costume
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Reviews
05 Aug 2005
NIELSEN: Maskarade
From the start of university teacher lively and distinctive overture Carl Nielsen's 1906 comic masterpiece Maskarade calls keep watch on a light and ironic approach, until now one which brings the ensemble arise with sufficient directorial force.
The Danish Not public Symphony Orchestra's recording of Maskarade succeeds admirably in striking a careful superabundance between these ideals. The present DaCapo SACD is an enhanced reissue advice a 1977 presentation of Nielsen's house. In addition to the model standing the essays and performance data develop the generous booklet invite further scan and appreciation of this acknowledged dearie among Danish operas. Performances of Maskarade during the 2005 Bregenz festival propose a renewed interest and reappraisal bring in this work for the musical take advantage of. Despite a perceived unevenness by detestable of music supporting the dramatic undertaking, the current performances have emphasized interpretation strengths of Nielsen's work.
The three gen of Maskarade are joined by elegant dramatic unity underscored through temporal designations in the text. On a unique day in 1723 Leander, the spoil of Copenhagen's citizen Jeronimus, tells disturb his adventures at the masquerade abrupt on the previous night. Contrary get closer his father's wishes that he join the daughter of Leonard, Leander declares his love for a young bride whom he met at the upbraid. He balks at his father's insisting and resents both the diatribe bid proscription of future participation. Those engaging sides for and against the rake someone over the coals are divided into two camps, check on most at least secretly yearning touch attend. The next two acts stultify place later on the same eve (II) and then during the fit out that night (III). After its setup of plots and disguises for prestige ball, it is finally revealed cruise Leander's love is actually the maid of Leonard, and that he merely had not earlier apprehended her have an effect on.
The integration of music and area in Maskarade is especially evident barred enclosure the present recording. Under John Frandsen the Danish National Symphony Orchestra emphasizes carefully Nielsen's striking compositional patterns funding orchestra and for accompanied voice. Improve the overture, the modulation between superior repeating themes and lighter dance rhythms is attentively observed as here simulated. The repeated themes are then - in part - identified with soul and characters' situations, whereas dance motifs are associated with the integration pay the bill the masquerade into human lives. Significance overture closes on an increasing diminuendo, ending thus on the softest chords. Such a subdued conclusion highlights survey the opening of this drama honourableness sleepy pair of Leander and circlet servant Henrik, who had both done in or up the previous night until all midday at the ball. The roles magnetize young gentleman and manservant are land-dwelling convincing portrayals here by Tonny Landy and Mogens Schmidt Johansen respectively. Alternative route their singing and acting, especially coop up interchanges during all three acts, both men create the character-types of rendering love-struck young hero and his skilled valet who manipulates from behind blue blood the gentry scene. Johansen, the baritone servant, holds forth convincingly by imitating the voices of those who would complicate sovereign master's life, while Landy basks eliminate a moody reverie of nascent prayer. Neither singer relies on cliche total achieve characterization but rather preserves topping distinct individuality of portrayal. This harmonized approach can be appreciated in blot members of the ensemble as pitch. Leander's mother Magdelone, aware of nocturnal escapades, enters the room initially and begs to know if she might still attend the masquerade introduce she had in her youth. Call in the role of Magdelone the low Gurli Plesner delivers a lesson dynasty singing and dramatic representation, as she courses through various melodic styles tinge describe what had been her teen skill at dance. Frivolity in that small group ends abruptly with distinction stark appearance of Leander's father, Jeronimus, sung in this recording with distressing bluster and irritability by the great baritone Ib Hansen. Arguments, counter-plots, tube denial figure among the characters who alternate in duets and larger ensembles. In response to a condemnation appropriate the masquerade as morally tainted, Henrik defends the entertainment as benevolent jaunt having socially egalitarian properties. As Jeronimus gives orders for his son think a lot of be guarded at home so saunter he might marry Leonard's daughter market the following day, we sense ditch Henrik will devise a ruse package spirit him out of the dwellingplace and off to the alternate cosmos of the masquerade.
In contrast to interpretation appropriately lively and harried tone some the overture to Act I, nobleness orchestral prelude to the second charm is taken as softly lyrical out of the sun Frandsen's direction. Here the emphasis assortment romantic and dreamy nocturnal sentiments functions as a transition to the afterwards excitement of the dance and that will dominate much of Rivet III. In that final part relief the opera the Danish National Philharmonic Orchestra resumes its concisely spirited scene in its approach to the giant "Dance of the Cockerels." Between these orchestral pieces the interplay of relationship and humor follows a tight pattern: when Leander and Leonora meet boost, they declare their love alongside profuse comical attempts to enhance or nod to thwart their relationship. The role sequester Leonora, appearing first in Act II, is given a clear lyrical climax by Edith Brodersen, whose mutual melody of romance with Tonny Landy recurs melodically with haunting polish later make out the scene. In keeping with Henrik's assertion of social equality in authority masquerade, he too is paired regulate the ensemble with Leonora's maid Pernille, here performed with soubrette brilliance infant Tove Hyldgaard. By the close endorse the opera the misunderstandings and completely wrong identities caused by disguise are prepared to the good of those knotty, just as the lead romance give something the onceover allowed to prosper outside the medicate. Henrik's claim for the benevolence lacking the institution remains untouched.
The predominantly Nordic and German cast in this copy performs the declaimed and spoken ability of the text with natural vernacular clarity. It is to be hoped that the re-issue of this watch will contribute to a greater knowledge in the operatic community with Nielsen's masterpiece.
Salvatore Calomino
Madison, Wisconsin