Performing Opera

Michael Ewans is Conjoint Professor of Drama in the School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Science at the University of Newcastle, Australia. His many publications include translations with theatrical commentaries of plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes. He is active in production, and has recently directed professional performances in his own translations of Theocritus’ Love Magic, Euripides’ Medea and Aristophanes’ Lysistrata. He is also the author of Performing Opera: A Practical Guide for Singers and Directors (Methuen Drama, 2016).

1 Introduction
PART ONE: FORMS
2 Arias and Monologues
2.1 ‘Great work, boss!’ (Mozart)
2.2 Wotan confides in his ‘will’ (Wagner)
2.3 Iago’s Credo (Verdi)
2.4 ‘One fine day…’ (Puccini)
2.5 Kát’a’s ecstasy (Janácek)
2.6 ‘Now the Great Bear…’ (Britten)
2.7 Conclusion
3 Duets
3.1 The art of seduction (Mozart)
3.2 ‘On such a night…’ (Berlioz)
3.3 Love in a garret (Puccini)
3.4 Jenufa and Laca alone (Janácek)
3.5 Conclusion
4 Confrontations
4.1 Elektra and Klytämnestra (Strauss)
4.2 Kát’a and Tichon (Janácek)
4.3 Lulu masters Dr Schön (Berg)
4.4 Not going to church (Britten)
4.5 Conclusion
5 Ensembles
5.1 A cruel departure (Mozart)
5.2 Lust and treachery (Verdi)
5.3 Death in the cards (Bizet)
5.4 Siegfried must die! (Wagner)
5.5 ‘Stone her!’ (Janácek)
5.6 Conclusion
PART TWO: ENCOUNTERS
6 Noises off
6.1 Cassandre and the Trojan horse (Berlioz)
6.2 The death of Carmen (Bizet)
6.3 ‘Hoé! Hisse hoé!’ (Debussy)
6.4 Treasure, flowers and domain (Bartók)
6.5 ‘Peter Grimes!’ (Britten)
6.6 Conclusion
7 Interactions with the numinous
7.1 The trial by fire and water (Mozart)
7.2 Parsifal and the Grail (Wagner)
7.3 Kát’a and the river voices (Janácek)
7.4 Wozzeck in the open field (Berg)
7.5 ‘Fire! Fire! St John’s Fire.’ (Tippett)
7.6 Conclusion
PART THREE: SHAPING THE OPERA
8 Characterization
8.1 Véronique Gens as Iphigénie, directed by Pierre Audi
8.2 Rodney Gilfrey as Don Giovanni, directed by Jürgen Flimm
8.3 Teresa Stratas as Salome, directed by Götz Friedrich
8.4 Conclusion
9 The Sense of Inevitability
9.1 Carmen: Meilhac & Halévy/Bizet /Zambello
9.2 Elektra; Hofmannsthal/ Strauss/Friedrich
9.3 Conclusion
10 Conclusion
Bibliography, Discography, Scores