Lulu

I have the feeling that this production was mounted on the wishes of the conductor Pierre Boulez; he may even have encouraged Cerha to orchestrate the incomplete third act. His conducting is brisk, which is a good thing when you're trying to appreciate this opera. The lighting is murky but that was the practice in those days; some may remember videos from Bayreuth where you can hardly make out what's happening on stage.

Teresa Stratas is fine as Lulu, although I prefer Christine Schafer. Franz Mazura is an excellent Dr Schon, while Yvonne Minton in the thankless part of Geschwitz makes a good impression. Sound can be a bit muffled, but that's OK for a Youtube item. I'm glad somebody posted it to the internet, but it's not my preferred Lulu.

I had the opportunity to see a "private" copy of this television production this week. Apparently it has only aired in France, and has never seen the light on commercial home video (at least not on VHS/NTSC). Although the quality was terrible, this for me is the video edition of the opera that should be cleaned up commercially and distributed by Polygram or Kultur on DVD. I have no idea why opera video producers have neglected this version. Although I can argue about Msr. Chereau's production, this is still a very powerful rendition of the opera. Teresa Stratas and Lulu were made for one another. The music making, with Boulez at the helm, is definitive.

Of Berg's operas I prefer Wozzeck only just. Wozzeck and Lulu for a while were just operas that I appreciated highly(seeing as expressionistic music is not usually a style I listen to), but on three viewings for each opera over the past three or four days, both are wonderful operas, powerful dramatically with tormented titular characters and while it is in a style that takes a while to get used to because it's very atonal and angular the music is wonderful. And as much as I do love the Julia Migenes Johnson Met production, after seeing the whole thing on Youtube as I had heard so many good things about Teresa Stratas' interpretation this is my favourite Lulu. I just wish that it would be released commercially or on a DVD(if not already) with sharper picture quality and sound that doesn't make the singers so distant when they're at the back of the stage, because musically and dramatically this is one powerful production. The production is quite dark but considering the tone of the opera this was appropriate, and the orchestra perform Berg's difficult score with power and passion with Boulez's conducting never rushing or dragging. Chereau does a fine job with the stage direction, with the final scene between Lulu and Jack the Ripper incredibly intense. The performances are simply wonderful, with Teresa Stratas singing Lulu with intelligence and great dramatic commitment, both as a femme fatale and a tormented victim. Yvonne Minton is a fine Countess Geschwitz, and Franz Mazura is a genuinely menacing Dr Schon. Overall, a superb Lulu and my favourite production of the opera. 10/10 Bethany Cox