The Beggar's Opera Reviews

Die Tote Stadt (The Dead City)

There is great interest currently in the 1920s music of Erich Korngold and this opera which he wrote in Vienna before moving to Hollywood, is currentlhy being staged at The Royal Opera House. The dead city is Bruges, which had lost its role as a port. The conflict for the hero is the purity of his dead lover, Marie, and his wish to be faithful to her memory pitted against the physicality of a new promiscuous woman who looks like Marie, is called Mariett - , the part of the both women is sung by the same singer. The DVD performance is dark an powerful, ending tragically. The music is lush and emotional. On a practical note I found it quite difficult to get the English subtitles for the opera sung in German - though they were there.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Successful Satire

There is plenty of juicy and vivid characterization in Jonathan Miller's production of The Beggar's Opera. Eventually one gets used to the rather cluttered studio setting and the acoustic is acceptable. There is much rambling dialogue (as expected in this prosaic era of literature) interspersed with snippets of airs which do convincingly capture the mood of the moment. A parody of opera but a satisfying and interesting genre experiment of the time.

Beggar's opera

I had hoped to enjoy this DVD. The quality of singing and acting by the female actresses was excellent. The quality of the male actors was appalling, especially the singing. What a disapointment.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Successful Satire

There is plenty of juicy and vivid characterization in Jonathan Miller's production of The Beggar's Opera. Eventually one gets used to the rather cluttered studio setting and the acoustic is acceptable. There is much rambling dialogue (as expected in this prosaic era of literature) interspersed with snippets of airs which do convincingly capture the mood of the moment. A parody of opera but a satisfying and interesting genre experiment of the time.