Porgy & Bess: Erkel Theatre Budapest
. Jan 27th 2018
This was an unusual performance for two main reasons; I left before the end and it was not a production that was approved by the Gershwin estate. I think the two are related as my main reason for leaving was the inadequacy of this staging – which may have been a planned and/or necessary response to it being an unauthorised production. This was explicitly stated in a red banner on the front of the programme btw…
There was much that was excellent; the choir and orchestra were superb – vivid and passionate and the chorus had, to my ears, the ‘right and natural’ way of singing the Gospel-infused music. There was passion and drive there but this was not enough for me, given the inadequacy and dullness of the production.
So what was wrong with the production? Well, the main problem I had was that there was absolutely no sense of place. The location I think is essential to the true nature of this piece as it is a work where its power necessarily comes from its ‘rea;’ setting. I do not know if it would be possible for there to be a radical/regie production – that’s an interesting idea and I don’t know if it has been done, but this was not it.
There was a very static quality about it and the director did in their notes talk about this being a deliberate effect that they were looking for – something on the lines of an oratorio approach with individuals coming out of the group/society. The problem with this was that there was no strong and real indication of the characters, their nature and, most importantly, their relationships. Everyone seemed to be distant from everyone else –which, given this work is quite an achievement!
The chorus, although they sang superbly, were given some awful movements to do – including a disconcertingly close approach to ‘jazz hands’ which, given the all-white cast was somewhat…uncomfortable. Likewise the dancing, which just looked awkward and uncomfortable.
I suppose this was an interesting experiment – the fact that it was done at all is something interesting and possibly commendable – but I am afraid the execution ruined it. The Washington National Opera’s production remains the one to see – the best thing I saw at that house in my 15 years in DC