Two books that everyone knows are Moby Dick and The Last of the Mohicans – but I’ve not read either of them.
However, you may remember the 1992 film treatment of the latter, starring Daniel Day-Lewis. In 1989 D D-L won many awards portraying Christie Brown, who had cerebral palsy and whose only functioning limb was his left foot (My Left Foot). The trailer for Lasters showed D D-L dashing through the woods. A chap remarked – “ah, so his right foot’s better now”. You may legitimately regard this as a digression but let me unpeel this banana. Lasters was written by James Fenimore Cooper.
Il bravo last night is based on a novel by JFC. The story is bonkers but as an opera it has legs.The convoluted plot is like Rigoletto and indeed it inspired Verdi. Set in Venice there are disguises, kidnapping, love and revenge to the accompaniment of some very beautiful music made all the more enthralling because I hadn’t heard it before. I loved almost every moment. Unfortunately, to make a long ish opera (three hours twenty minutes, two intervals) more interesting for those with a short attention span, the period production was interrupted by gawping modern tourists in Venice taking selfies, using google maps, trailing wheelies, buying souvenirs, getting married and even protesting about the cruise ships that are wrecking the city. Dario Fo, who once wrecked a Rossini opera in Pesaro ( see Pesaro) would approve; I don’t.
Leave that aside and it was excellent. The chorus appeared in different costumes, each scene evoking 17th century pictures of Venice and each with a different palette. Plenty of doublet and hose action with a dollop of Doge, divine drapes (curtains) and some excellent pictures of Venice doctored to look like old paintings. Except for a few dullish choruses (that’s when the 21st century tourists pranced around) it was an operatic treat, at its best as good as anything Verdi wrote. Bravi and brave for Il bravo.
Dawn is breaking and a busy day lies ahead: a birthday party for Bernstein and two one act operas.
Had no idea James Fenimore Cooper was adapted for opera. Intriguing, and now I suppose I shall look into a recording, as you say the music was rather fine. Sorry to hear about the annoying, selfie-taking tourists (anything that highlights the havoc wreaked by the giant cruise ships is welcome, but not in the middle of an opera where it doesn’t make sense, particularly as it is likely preaching to the converted). Thank you for the report from the festival — out in the Western wilds, one must live vicariously.
More from Wexford from a guest blogger later in the week.