Australia rewrites Fidelio with indigenous focus
NewsThe Sydney Symphony Orchestra is planning a concert performance of Beethoven’s Fidelio this month with Chief Conductor Simone Young and an international lineup of solists.
The striking difference?
In a fascinating collaboration, First Nations multi-award-winning author Tyson Yunkaporta has written new texts through an Indigenous lens to illustrate the opera’s dramatic themes of love, self-sacrifice and the journey to enlightenment. Australian actress Virginia Gay has also been confirmed as narrator after a high-chemistry performance in A Midsummer Night’s Dream earlier this year.
Poor Beethoven, completely helpless when his work is exposed to such outrage.
Indeed. Was it Simone’s idea?
Now don’t be horrible it doesn’t become you.
Isn’t this what The Woke calls “cultural appropriation”?!
On the other hand, doesn’t this prove the universality of white western European high culture, that it is infinitely adaptable by any other culture and by all of humanity? Isn’t this cause for celebration of German classical music?
No.
I have attended over 10 different Fidelio productions and over 100 performances. I don’t know that I’ve ever heard the same dialogue from production to production. Quit messing with it to suit your needs. Next thing you know, they’ll be performing “La Boheme” backwards…oh, wait.
“First Nations.” What a silly phrase. Orwell would be proud.
Very common phrase in Canada, and is starting to spread somewhat in the USA. Not sure what they objection is. It’s the most accurate, objective description. The people concerned were the First Nations in their respective geographies. Terms like American Indian, Native American, or Aboriginie are less precise.
Absolutely priceless.
A culturally appropriated western European expression.
The woke said they didn’t like cultural appropriation, remember??!! If they didn’t have hypocrisy….
Now that’s Cultural Appropriation.
No. It is destructive action. It does not have with art to do, it is hate.
“The white liberal differs from the white conservative in one way. The liberal is more deceitful and hypocritical than the conservatives. Both want power. But, the white liberal has perfected the art of posing as the negro’s (sic) friend and benefactor.” — Malcolm X
Yes, and it isn’t just in ‘one way’.
Absolute GROAN. Don’t worry, Ludwig; they can’t do anything to your piano sonatas. Wait; maybe they can. They could be played on a Didgeridoo!!