Der Zwerg and Der Zerbrochene Krug

Der Zwerg and Der Zerbrochene Krug double bill directed 2008 by Darko Tresnjak at the Los Angeles Opera:

1. Alexander Zemlinsky Der Zwerg opera to libretto by George Klaren. Stars Rodrick Dixon, Mary Dunleavy, Susan B. Anthony, James Johnson, Melody Moore, Lauren McNeese, Elizabeth Bishop, Karen Vuong, and Rena Harms.

2. Viktor Ullmann Der Zerbrochene Krug opera to a libretto by the composer. Stars James Johnson, Bonaventura Bottone, Steven Humes, Elizabeth Bishop, Melody Moore, Jason Stearns, Richard Cox, Natasha Flores, Rena Harms, Lauren McNeese, and Ryan McKinney.

James Conlon conducts the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra (Concert Master Stuart Canin) and Chorus (Chorus Master Grant Gershon). Set design by Ralph Funicello; costume design by Linda Cho; lighting design by David Weiner; choreography by Peggy Hickey; directed for home video by Kenneth Shapiro. Released 2010, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio. Grade (for both titles): B 

The motto of this disc with two one-act operas is a quote from Horace Walpole, " Life is tragedy for those who feel, but a comedy to those who think." The evening starts with Krug, a boisterous comedy about a judge who has a bad hair day. Der Zwerg follows as an intense and sad counterpoint. These are excellent productions of pretty obscure works, which are appropriately short.

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