El Público is one of Federico García Lorca's most enigmatic plays, a surrealistic exercise made even more inscrutable by the fact that the only surviving text is incomplete. Adapted as an opera by librettist Andrès Ibáñez and composer Mauricio Sotelo, the overall meaning remains somewhat obscure, although it could be read as a general criticism of hypocrisy, calling for theatre that reflects reality rather than mere surface entertainment, as well as honesty about where true love lies. Both of these themes are conveyed in this story of a stage director (José Antonio López)—confronted by the ghost of his dead gay lover (whom he never publicly acknowledged)—who sparks controversy when his mounting of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet features an older man playing Romeo and a boy in the role of Juliet. Robert Castro's staging for this 2015 premiere production at Madrid's Teatro Real employs starkly simple sets, some cheesy silhouette work with shadow figures, and a bevy of striking costumes (including men dressed as horses with long manes), as well as a crucifixion scene that some will find blasphemous. The score, which juxtaposes declarative passages (very near to Sprechgesang) with more melodic flamenco interludes, is for the most part not very kind to the singers, although the instrumental work of the chamber orchestra Klangforum Wien under Pablo Heras-Casado is excellent, as are the flamenco guitar solos by Cañizares. El Público is a mixed bag, but will likely be of interest to admirers of Lorca and modern opera. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and PCM stereo on Blu-ray, this is a strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)
El Público
(2015) 142 min. DVD: $29.99, Blu-ray: $39.99. Bel Air Classiques (dist. by Naxos of America). Volume 32, Issue 2
El Público
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