One of the most imaginative offerings in the Los Angeles Opera's 2008 season was this double bill of two one-act operas representing what the Nazis deemed “entartete musik” (i.e., “degenerate music”), a label often bestowed on works by Jewish composers (with performances routinely disrupted or suppressed). The longer entry here is The Dwarf (1922) by Alexander Zemlinsky, who fled to the United States in 1938. Loosely based on Oscar Wilde's short story “The Birthday of the Infanta,” the narrative centers on a deformed man (Rodrick Dixon)—blissfully unaware of his appearance—who is duped by a Spanish princess (Mary Dunleavy) at her birthday celebration into believing that she loves him, only to have his illusions shattered when he finally sees himself in a mirror. The Broken Jug (1942), a largely forgotten work by Viktor Ullmann (an assistant to Zemlinsky in Prague during the 1920s, Ullmann died in a concentration camp in 1944), is a witty comedy about a judge (James Johnson) assigned to hear a case concerning a family heirloom that he himself destroyed while trying to seduce the owner's daughter (Melody Moore). The lush music in both pieces is very well played by the house orchestra under the baton of James Conlon; the vocalism is consistently excellent; and Ralph Funicello's sets and Linda Cho's costumes are elegantly attractive. Presented in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, and PCM stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and PCM stereo on Blu-ray, this introduction to two rarely performed but fascinating 20th-century operas is highly recommended. (F. Swietek)
Der Zwerg & Der Zerbrochene Krug
(2008) 122 min. In German w/English subtitles. DVD: $29.99, Blu-ray: $39.99. Arthaus Musik (dist. by Naxos of America). Volume 26, Issue 2
Der Zwerg & Der Zerbrochene Krug
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