Time was when productions of Enescu's only opera Oedipe were as rare as hen's teeth. Not any more!
In recent years, the production by La Fura dels Baus has been seen in Brussels, Bucharest, Buenos Aires, Cagliari and London. Other productions have been mounted or revived in Berlin (Deutsche Oper),Toulouse (see my review on the 'Other writing page'), Salzburg and Amsterdam, plus a host of concert performances including by the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 2017, for which I wrote the programme notes.
Now, almost simultaneously, two new productions appear at the Opera de Paris (Basille) and the Komische Oper Berlin. From what I read about them, both would seem to be productions worth catching.
Mark Berry's very intelligent review for Seen and Heard International of the Komische Opera production makes me hope that - finally - this great opera might make it to DVD.
Meanwhile, it's good to know that the ever probing conductor Ingo Metzmacher is revisiting the score after such an interesting production in Amsterdam a few years back. He will lead the Paris production, which premieres imminently. If this New York Times report is to believed, should not be short of directorial ideas. There's an interesting interview with the director, Wajdi Mouawad, on the Opera de Paris website.
Not before time, the power of Enescu's opera with its universal message for mankind is no longer in the shadows.
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