Fascinated and surprised to see a 9 minute item on ENO at the Young Vic, on Newsnight, yesterday. Surprised because any coverage of the arts on BBC 2 is usually under sufferance; no more than a token gesture.
Fascinated as it presented clips from 'Punch & Judy' and an operatic version of 'Lost Highway' based on David Lynch's film. Even a snatch of 'The Minotaur' at Covent Garden. Is't possible that these productions have been filmed as it must have been expensive to bring in camera crews for snippets?
Far too many sound bites as a substitute for discussion and I had to view my recording again, today, to get the gist of it all. It seems that we have now moved away from the elitist concept of opera and John Berry, artistic director, ENO, favoured a more intimate staging for the Young Vic, by using a theatre-in-the-round facility (hear, hear) which would automatically shrink the cavernous space of The Coliseum for his planned season. 'Gadaffi' had been a flop at St Martin's Lane but Philip Glass's 'Satyagraha' attracted "78% first time attendees" (sic). In turn, perhaps the Young Vic venture could encourage a crossover to The Coli for Mozart and Verdi - and did I hear him say Lehar?
Another contributor added that opera was also perceived as precious compared to the intense and radical experience of the movies but it could also be more daring in its use of technology in a more shrunk space.
Several interesting facets and tempting extracts in the shrunk space of less than 10 minutes and it is frustrating when BBC 1 is given at least 6 hours prime time coverage to publicise a new production of 'Oliver': - 'You Could be Nancy' or holding a publicity brochure, throughout, titled 'I'll Do Anything', which the presenter does, as he clutches his prejudices to his bosom like a feather boa!
