This Saltzberg Festival version of Monteverdi is unusual, to say the least.
It's one of those theatrical experiences that revels in weirdness for the sake of it (which is not a bad thing per se) but has some dancers wearing next to nothing and a few topless female dancers (who are well-selected for their parts, if I mean to put it like that). Fortunately, if anyone is in shape these days, it's dancers, so they're not offensive, unless you are offended by nudity. Just a warning, since I'm never sure when exalting in the beauty if the human body crosses the line into exploitation. It's in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.
The best thing about the production, of course, us the incomparable music of Monteverdi. And while the eye is sometimes dazzled by the unique staging, and it makes you wonder what the designers were tripping on, musically, it's superb.
It's one of those theatrical experiences that revels in weirdness for the sake of it (which is not a bad thing per se) but has some dancers wearing next to nothing and a few topless female dancers (who are well-selected for their parts, if I mean to put it like that). Fortunately, if anyone is in shape these days, it's dancers, so they're not offensive, unless you are offended by nudity. Just a warning, since I'm never sure when exalting in the beauty if the human body crosses the line into exploitation. It's in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.
The best thing about the production, of course, us the incomparable music of Monteverdi. And while the eye is sometimes dazzled by the unique staging, and it makes you wonder what the designers were tripping on, musically, it's superb.
