Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Dallas Opera's Death and the Powers



One of the prettiest venues in Dallas is the Winspear Opera House, it is just lovely!  Tonight was opening night for Tod Machover's Sci-Fi Opera Death and the Powers at this beautiful building.   It is the story of Simon Powers, a successful and powerful business man, who wants to perpetuate his existence and escape death.  Nearing the end of his life, Power attempts a chance at immortality by downloading his consciousness into a giant computerized "system."  The story follows as Simon's family members must decide if this is a good idea and whether or not to follow him into the "system."  

It is a modern opera and while the music in it was amazing, it pushed the envelope on all the things that I enjoy about the opera.  There were no elaborate costumes; no over the top backdrops with multiple settings; and no grand choreographed musical numbers.  Yes, there were huge computer looking movable pieces, and there were remote controlled robots that were fun to watch.  If your thinking opera: family friendly appropriate for all ages; be warned this modern, envelope-pushing opera includes crude gestures and language that completely took away from the grandness. I was disappointed because there was plenty of good in this opera, but the parts that were offensive were unnecessary.   I'm really looking forward to Barber of Seville! 

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.
Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number
of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  2 Timothy 4:3




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