Glass's The Voyage

[Sean]

This is one of the major works in Glass's lengthy operatic series, finished in 1990 and premiered at the Metropolitan opera in 1992 for the 500th anniversary of Columbus's voyage to the Americas. Its two and a half hours was recorded on two CDs only last year by (appropriately) the Bruckner Orchestra Linz under Dennis Russell Davies, and deliverable by Amazon for $20.

This is Glass in his later reflective, quietly intelligent mode with steadily pulsed music predominating; it succeeds in finding an expressive character of its own and is a pleasant and often intriguing listen, though the undeveloped feel at least on first hearing would certainly provide ammunition for minimalism's critics. Gentle rather than vigorous yet with Glass's inner sense of line and focus, it retains that feel for the beyond and wide-eyed otherworldliness, mystery and stillness, sometimes as found in older sci-fi films; a worthwhile piece, relaxed yet poised and keeping the attention. There's occasional obvious influence from Akhnaten and Powaqqatsi and pointers to Belle et la Bete.

Among the let downs is a slight over-reliance on soft background ticking percussion or drums, as found in some of his other later music, an idea he'd never have entertained years ago. There's no question it's nothing of the class of Satyagraha (1980) or even Einstein, only confirming the view that Glass's works of the late 70s and early 80s (up to the rise of postmodernism and concomitant end of all important art) are in an elite even mystical creative category.

It also can't really be thought of as up to the expectations of a rare and expensive Met opera commission, especially with the often spare textures and low key choral writing, carefully structured though they may be. However Glass knows where musical interest really lies- in the aesthetic logic of material itself and the melodic or motivic line, which there may be little to say about on the intellectual level, the concern of many critics.

The libretto by David Henry Hwang is excellent, a fittingly holistically interconnected, non-linear, non-dramatic and fascinating montage of the courage to strike out on any kind of voyage, alien visitors thousands of years ago and in the future, and Columbus's thoughts and complex relation with his queen just before land is sighted.

[uffeviking]

Unfortunately this is another one of the Met's treasures they keep hidden down in their catacombs - together with the much-awaited Mattila Salome - and it will never see the light of day and is being denied to us Glass fans! Why? No idea, maybe the purple-haired been counters in charge of such things know.

I might get the CD but like many of Glass's operas, I believe it should be visual to achieve the full impact.

[Sean]

Uffe, I think the reason might be somewhat less controversial in this case: it's just not first rate music or anything like it. It's a subtle and serious piece that works unpretentiously within a certain well defined aesthetic, but which becomes a problem when creativity doesn't burn so brightly: limited tempo variations bring distinct monotony and the textures and type of ideas just don't vary much either- over the whole work not just within sections. Despite its undoubted interest the overall achievement can't be compared to the level of invention and sheer involving power of Satyagraha.

[uffeviking]

That makes sense, Sean, I appreciate your explanation for the lack of a video release. Of course I spontaneously let my prejudice against the Met taint my reply to your previous post.


Edited because of a giant blunder of mine, which I hope I caught in time and nobody was witness to it!
uffeviking

[jochanaan]

Uffe, I think the reason might be somewhat less controversial in this case: it's just not first rate music or anything like it. It's a subtle and serious piece that works unpretentiously within a certain well defined aesthetic, but which becomes a problem when creativity doesn't burn so brightly: limited tempo variations bring distinct monotony and the textures and type of ideas just don't vary much either- over the whole work not just within sections. Despite its undoubted interest the overall achievement can't be compared to the level of invention and sheer involving power of Satyagraha.

That's still no excuse.  They should release it for the historical value alone; Glass is a major composer by any standard, and any operas by him deserve at least as much exposure as, say, Donizetti's lesser-known works.

[Sean]

Thanks for that jochanaan, at least you and Uffe care!! (I wonder if you know Nixon in China, to add anything to my other thread?)

I'd like to underline that The Voyage does still have some exceptionally beautiful ideas in Glass's brand of magical, wistful nostalgia- track 3 CD1 is particularly touching and interesting. The opera has an overall character that as often with Glass, lifts your mood. He shows what an infinity of meaning, richness and complexity there is in the tonal background, demolishing in just a few artistic bars all that barbarity and contrivance that passed for music in the 20th century.

[BachQ]

Edited because of a giant blunder of mine, which I hope I caught in time and nobody was witness to it!
uffeviking

A blunder of unspeakable proportions ......... Which several of us witnessed -- to our collective dismay -- and which we recorded, for future blackmailing purposes ........ 

[Wendell_E]

Unfortunately this is another one of the Met's treasures they keep hidden down in their catacombs - together with the much-awaited Mattila Salome - and it will never see the light of day and is being denied to us Glass fans! Why? No idea, maybe the purple-haired been counters in charge of such things know.

I might get the CD but like many of Glass's operas, I believe it should be visual to achieve the full impact.

Well, unlike that Salome, The Voyage wasn't videotaped, so it's not really in their catacombs to be released, which is a shame.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Well, unlike that Salome, The Voyage wasn't videotaped, so it's not really in their catacombs to be released, which is a shame.

I saw it. You didn't miss anything.