Intermezzo

A Scottish Intermezzo

 
No, I'm not getting the Ryanair to Prestwick. But Scottish Opera are launching their new production of Intermezzo on Saturday 26th, with further dates in both Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Strauss's most personal opera is based on his relationship with his bossy wife, Pauline. Not the easiest opera to pull off, but NYCO managed admirably last year, so it can be done. Wolfgang Quetes directs, Francesco Corti conducts, with Anita Bader as Christine, Roland Wood as Robert Storch and Nicky Spence as Baron Lummer.

Scottish Opera have put together a brilliant little silent movie-style trailer, which you can view on their site.

Intermezzo at Intermezzo

Intermezzo - New York City Opera at David H. Koch Theater, 9 November 2010

Richard Strauss's Intermezzo doesn't quite deserve a place up there with the likes of Salome and Elektra, but it hardly merits the obscurity that has become its lot either. Hey, even this blog is higher up the Google rankings. The problem I think is that it's not really an opera at all. No big numbers, not a tune you could hum. Strauss himself called it "a bourgeois comedy with symphonic interludes." I'd call it a light play set to music (think Noel Coward without the wit or the cruelty) with some orchestral business to cover the scenery changes.

celebrated German doctor honours Intermezzo