Divine Permission
A Gluck double bill -
reviewed by
ROBERT ANDERSON'The musical performance under Marc Minkowski is more convincing than the staging ...'
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A main problem with performing these two works in tandem is what to do with the heroine at the end of the first opera. In the Greek original of Euripides a stag is sacrificed instead of her, and she is whisked off by the goddess Artemis to be her priestess. Gluck, by not planning a sequel for five more years, could afford, with divine permission, to end happily and marry her off to Achilles. Wagner, from respect for Euripides, disliked Gluck's ending, abolished the wedding, and allowed Artemis to explain future plans in person...
Copyright © 24 March 2013
Robert Anderson,
London UK
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