The Rake's Progress

Igor Stravinsky's 1951 opera is set to a libretto—co-written by W.H. Auden, based on a famed series of 18th-century engravings by William Hogarth—that follows a wastrel who strikes it rich with demonic help but loses his wealth and ends up in a madhouse, even though he saves his soul by gambling with the devil. Written in a cool neoclassical style, The Rake's Progress is more admirable than lovable, but very enjoyable in this fine 2010 Glyndebourne Festival performance that revives the exquisite designs (modeled after Hogarth) that David Hockney fashioned in 1961 (later used for a 1975 Glyndebourne mounting). Vladimir Jurowski leads the London Philharmonic in an ebullient yet refined reading of the score; Topi Lehtipuu looks the part of Tom Rakewell and sings beautifully; Miah Persson shines in the role of Anne Trulove, the local lass Tom unwisely abandons; and Matthew Rose cuts a darkly humorous figure as the Mephistophelean Nick Shadow. Only Elena Manistina, as Baba the Bearded Lady, whom Tom weds, falls a bit below the high vocal standard. Aiming more for the brain than the heart—but almost irresistible in a version this elegant—The Rake's Progress is presented in DTS 5.1 and Dolby Digital stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and LPCM stereo on Blu-ray. Extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette, an introduction to the opera, and a cast gallery. As a more traditional alternative to the Brussels mounting (VL-7/08)—which relocates the action to 1950s Las Vegas—this is highly recommended. (F. Swietek)