Alexandra Kozina
Google
Even though I really want to see Khovantchina from Moussorgskii, I think I will withhold that wish, as recently Grand Theatre de Geneve did nothing but disappoint. I have seen two pieces this season (La Clémence de Titus and Salome) and they were both heavily yet badly politicized. Introducing modern politics and its actors into art is not borderline, but plain propaganda. Unfortunately for the directors, most of the public of Geneva who chose to spend their money at Geneva’s opera is obviously a level up in its comprehension of things and was seating with sad grins on their faces not understanding why are they getting a lesson of high mathematics from a vocals teacher. Me included.
On top of being wildly irrelevant, both times the parallels between opera characters and real characters were done so bad, the initial leftist message they contained was very weak. Hence the double fail - the beautiful classic piece was ruined for nothing and the attempt to bring propaganda into the minds of public became a sad show of absurd. Of course I can meticulously explain why bad, why not relevant, why wrong, but it’s not the place to discuss it as opera is not the place to proclaim your personal subjective opinion onto masses.
To conclude, I can afford to go, but I am not going on principle to this establishment because I am scared what awaits me there.
Make opera great again and then I will reconsider.
