"We can choose to either reinforce a studied and traditionalist view of the piece-as preservation-or we can attempt to liberate the spirit of the music, to present it in a way that's completely of the moment."
"Her version evokes what it must have felt like to be a contemporary of Dante's, reading his poem and being addressed in your own language. Dante's bracing directness, his pathos and humor, and his i"
Yuval Sharon, a renowned opera director, advocates for liberating the spirit of classic musical works rather than reinforcing traditionalist preservation approaches. Over twenty years, he has established himself as a leading modernizer of opera through unconventional productions, including Wagner's Ring cycle staged in a Detroit parking garage and Monteverdi's Orfeo featuring a turntable recording. His upcoming Met Opera production of Tristan und Isolde presents mythic characters as contemporary figures. Sharon's philosophy emphasizes simultaneous reverence and innovation. He recently engaged deeply with Dante's Divine Comedy, particularly appreciating Mary Jo Bang's contemporary translation that uses modern language and pop-cultural references, viewing it as capturing how Dante's contemporaries experienced his work through accessible, direct communication.
#opera-modernization #contemporary-interpretation #classical-works-reinterpretation #yuval-sharon #artistic-innovation
Read at The New Yorker
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