(Shudder)https://neighbourhoodpaper.com/features/the-lost-opera/
George Dreyfus
George Dreyfus
This composer disrupted a performance of "Rigoletto" in Melbourne by shouting at the orchestra with a megaphone from the stalls. Like father, like son; his son will soon be our Attorney General if the polls are right - as early as next weekend. Son Mark loves digging dirt and wants to beef up our Human Rights body to make sure people don't get to say anything he doesn't agree with! (Shudder)
https://neighbourhoodpaper.com/features/the-lost-opera/
(Shudder)https://neighbourhoodpaper.com/features/the-lost-opera/
Re: George Dreyfus
Yes, I thought about that; but the topic is about a composer and his work and the lengths he'll go to combat rejection. And the impact of this influences the next generation in the family. It's singularly unedifying to see the composer prostrate across a doorway in that image. But the Dreyfus family never takes 'no' for an answer.
If you want it moved I have zero objections, however.
Re: George Dreyfus
Quite the opposite!! But do read the article and tell me what you think about Dreyfus senior's situation.
Re: George Dreyfus
What a story! ....And his son is soon to be AG? Talk about friends in high places! Thank-you Belle for making my day an interesting one.
Re: George Dreyfus
Actually, I was in the audience! It was the opening night of Opera Australia's Melbourne autumn season. Dreyfus senior was in the very front row, with an electronic megaphone he couldn't make work. The ushers weren't game to touch him - probably rightly, as he is 91 and very frail - so had to wait for the police, and the opera was delayed a full-half hour. A friend of mine is having coffee with Dreyfus today, so I might learn more.
Some years ago, Dreyfus and three or four others were handing out leaflets on the same subject (OA's failure to perform his opera) outside the hall as I came in.
I don't know anyone who has seen the score, so can't say whether the opera is any good.
It was very tedious as he shouted, and mostly the audience were pretty patient, but a bit of a mob reaction was starting (shouting only) which made me a bit uncomfortable. Mind you, I believe Dreyfus, a Jew, lived in Berlin in the 1930s, so I expect it was water off a duck's back.
Some years ago, Dreyfus and three or four others were handing out leaflets on the same subject (OA's failure to perform his opera) outside the hall as I came in.
I don't know anyone who has seen the score, so can't say whether the opera is any good.
It was very tedious as he shouted, and mostly the audience were pretty patient, but a bit of a mob reaction was starting (shouting only) which made me a bit uncomfortable. Mind you, I believe Dreyfus, a Jew, lived in Berlin in the 1930s, so I expect it was water off a duck's back.
Re: George Dreyfus
Oh, so you were there!! At the coalface, so to say. Perhaps he has a bit of Dementia, being 91 and all; that can make them very aggressive.
Re: George Dreyfus
He seemed stubborn rather than aggressive - quite implacable. I was in Row N, about 13 rows back, and while he raised his voice it was declamatory rather than angry. He certainly has a chip on his shoulder, as your link points out.
When the opera did begin, it was outstanding - it's the venerable Elijah Moshinsky production, which I must have seen four times, but freshened up nicely. I didn't have high expectations, house cast apart from a Mongolian (!!) baritone and an Armenian tenor. The Mongolian, Amartuvshin Enkhbat, was a tremendous Rigoletto. The Duke sang beautifully, if a little undervoiced at times, Melbourne soprano Stacey Alleaume made a big step forward with her debut as Gilda.
There, JohnF, we get back to music eventually.
When the opera did begin, it was outstanding - it's the venerable Elijah Moshinsky production, which I must have seen four times, but freshened up nicely. I didn't have high expectations, house cast apart from a Mongolian (!!) baritone and an Armenian tenor. The Mongolian, Amartuvshin Enkhbat, was a tremendous Rigoletto. The Duke sang beautifully, if a little undervoiced at times, Melbourne soprano Stacey Alleaume made a big step forward with her debut as Gilda.
There, JohnF, we get back to music eventually.
Re: George Dreyfus
Excellent that you're able to get to all those performances in Melbourne. Sounds like a good evening, apart from the disruption.
What do you make of the Dreyfus case (cough) otherwise? Do you think he has one, in light of that link I included? I don't know anything about George's composing except some of the film and television music, eg. this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZZBxJ3CrD8
What do you make of the Dreyfus case (cough) otherwise? Do you think he has one, in light of that link I included? I don't know anything about George's composing except some of the film and television music, eg. this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZZBxJ3CrD8
Re: George Dreyfus
I asked a conductor friend whether the opera had any merit, and he didn't know. I've never heard it, and like you know very little of Dreyfus' music. I don't feel this is a lack in my life.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 42 guests