Das Labyrinth - Residenzhof, 24 August 2012 (Salzburg Festival)
The main reason why Peter von Winter's Das Labyrinth has remained virtually unperformed since its 1798 debut is a simple one. It's not very good.
But as 2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the death of its librettist, Emanuel Schikaneder, and the Salzburg Festival has also programmed his eminently more successful Die Zauberflöte this year, it's not unreasonable of them to give everyone the chance to double-check its cash-in sequel for hitherto-hidden qualities.
Nope, still not very good.
The problem is that Winter's score, while crafted with a Rutlesesque nod to its predecessor, lacks a dramatic dimension. It's agreeable enough in its tinkly-plink way, but tension, pacing and narrative shaping are absent. The music fails to tell us who or what is important, so we don't care.
Alexandra Liedtke takes it at face value, emphasising its sugary charms in a harmless, hyperactive production packed with fluff, feathers and adorable tots.
Not that I saw much of it: the Rezidenzhof temporary seating is unraked and the stage is low, so the view comprises mostly backs of heads. Did nobody think to check the sightlines during planning? As the sun set over the open courtyard, it proved more entertaining to watch a family of tiny bats flapping around the stage lights in search of an insect supper.
It would be nice to report that the musicians rose above the limitations of the score, but guess what.
Ivor Bolton and the Mozarteum Orchestra seemed to be in search of a speed record. Worse, the singing was competent at best. A disappointing feature of this year's festival has been (star names aside) the shortage of vocal quality. Several of today's top singers got an early international break at Salzburg. Uncovering new talent is part of the festival's role. Alexander Pereira's preference for his old Zurich Opera regulars is not helpful in this respect. For all its faults, Das Labyrinth is just the sort of opera that suits the lighter, brighter voices of emerging artists. Instead we got a provincial cast. At Salzburg prices.
I left at half time.
Production photos here.
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