Neither (opera)
Encyclopedia
Neither is the only opera by Morton Feldman
, dating from 1977. The libretto consists of a 56-line poem by Samuel Beckett
. Beckett and Feldman had met in Berlin in 1976, with plans for a collaboration for Rome Opera. Beckett told Feldman that he himself did not like opera, and Feldman had agreed with Beckett's sentiment.
The work is for a soprano soloist and chamber orchestra. It could more properly be called a monodrama, but given Feldman's own disdain for opera, it can be described as an anti-opera.
Morton Feldman
Morton Feldman was an American composer, born in New York City.A major figure in 20th century music, Feldman was a pioneer of indeterminate music, a development associated with the experimental New York School of composers also including John Cage, Christian Wolff, and Earle Brown...
, dating from 1977. The libretto consists of a 56-line poem by Samuel Beckett
Samuel Beckett
Samuel Barclay Beckett was an Irish avant-garde novelist, playwright, theatre director, and poet. He wrote both in English and French. His work offers a bleak, tragicomic outlook on human nature, often coupled with black comedy and gallows humour.Beckett is widely regarded as among the most...
. Beckett and Feldman had met in Berlin in 1976, with plans for a collaboration for Rome Opera. Beckett told Feldman that he himself did not like opera, and Feldman had agreed with Beckett's sentiment.
The work is for a soprano soloist and chamber orchestra. It could more properly be called a monodrama, but given Feldman's own disdain for opera, it can be described as an anti-opera.
Recordings
- hatHUT: Sarah Leonard, soprano; hr-SinfonieorchesterHR-SinfonieorchesterThe hr-Sinfonieorchester is the radio orchestra of Hessischer Rundfunk, the public broadcasting network of the German state of Hesse. Until 2005 it was the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, a name still used for international tours....
; Zoltan Pesko, conductor - Col Legno: Petra Hoffman, soprano; Bavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraBavarian Radio Symphony OrchestraThe Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, in German Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks is the internationally renowned orchestra of the Bayerischer Rundfunk , based in Munich, Germany. It is one of the three principal orchestras in the city of Munich, along with the Munich Philharmonic...
; Kwame Ryan, conductor