Martinu's Julietta

[Sean]

I'll be playing soon the Krombholc recording of this work: Martinu's output is uneven of course and I've already had a good go at The Greek passion and the choral Epic of Gilgamesh, which contain some very interesting things, though the writing can also slide into anonymity. I wondered if others had any thoughts on this important effort.

[Spineur]

I have been looking for the DVD of Bohuslav Martinu, "The Greek Passion".  It is his last opera, and quite highly regarded by a number of critics.  Its synopsis is amazing close to what we are living through in Europe:  A group of greek migrants from a village destroyed by the turcs arrives in a village community.  A young villager Manolios decides to help them build a settlement on a nearby mountain.  But ultimately they are rejected by the community and the Pope (greek priest).  The end is tragic.
I always find interesting to see what artist and art have to say on universal issues, such as migration& persecutions.  Myths are also a fabulous ground for any form of art expression.

A DVD of this opera was filmed by Supraphon for the  Czech TV in outdoor setting, so it is a film-opera.  I looked for it everywhere in France, then I contacted Supraphon and a Czech onlin platform (Botonland), and I was told that this DVD is out of print, and they would not say if it would be reissued one day (bummer !).

I have a CD of excerpts of Juliette et la Clef des songes with Magdalena Kozena.  Its only very briefs fragments unfortunately, but I liked it.  There is a french and n Czech version of this opera (Bohuslav Martinu wrote it while in Paris, and the libretto was derived from the play of the surrealist author Georges Neveux).  It was staged at the Paris opera in 2002.  A very similar production was presented in Geneva last year, with moderate to limited success.

[Mirror Image]

That Mackerras recording (from above) is awesome. I really wish someone like Bělohlávek or Hrůša would give us an up-to-date recording of the full opera, though. Are you reading this Supraphon?

[Sean]

Wow, well dug out.

It's an inventive work, also set within a dream that the protagonist chooses to remain within, if I remember...

[Spineur]

Well guess what ?  Its on at the Narodni divadlo in Prague starting from March 24th 2016

http://www.music-opera.com/fr/narodni-divadlo-prague-theatre-national/105886-julietta-martinu.html