Satyagraha

Satyagraha Met Opera in HD

I am still reeling from the magnificence of this Met opera. The beginning of the opera was Sand script put to music. There was no translation on the screen and the monotone type of music and the repetition made me feel like walking out. Then it got better and better. At the end I wanted to see it all over again.

Before the opera began we were treated to a discussion about the opera. It helped immensely. This is the story of Gandhi in his early years in South Africa. I knew nothing about this historical period. Brilliant and creative beyond belief. My heart is still pounding.

The set was actually quite simple. The floor looked like it was covered with newspapers. In fact newspapers play a large role in the creative aspect of the opera. It has to be seen to be believed. A door opens in the back wall. In the first act Tolstoy sits in the open door representing the past. In the second act a famous South African poet represents the present. A very dramatic Martin Luther King represents the future. He stands high up in the open space and gestures with his arms as if giving a speech. His motions are graceful and fluent yet extremely powerful. He was high up on the stage and almost looked like a statue. Below him was the figure of Gandhi as he suffers the historical event of his people being marched off to jail.

Some operas are dramatic with highly electronic devices. Robert Lepage is noted for his electronic creative staging.

This opera is almost more dramatic by the simplicity of the presentation. At the same time it is creative, dynamic and brilliantly performed.

Giant puppets about 20 feet tall and gymnasts make for a dynamic presentation. The puppets are so enormous that many require actors on stilts to carry them on the stage. It is powerful and very exciting.

I also found this opera successful because it was telling a story that was real and meaningful. The message of Gandhi resounded throughout the performance. I couldn’t help but feel that if there was a fourth act it would be St James Park and the current sit in.

Philip Glass is the modern day composer. Someone in the audience asked me why I thought a modern day composer was so successful in this historical tale. The music is based on sand script writing. There are very few notes and much repetition. I think Glass’s music works so well because the repetition pointed out to me the slow progression of the historical events. It also made my heart pound and created an emotional impact.

The sets were brilliant and creative. The use of the puppets and the gymnasts constantly amazed me. The creative use of newspapers and scotch tape has to be seen to be believed.

Visuals are projected on the back wall to show news events of the day or to project words to exemplify the message being portrayed.

Each singer was powerful. The chorus was majestic. I do confess that the initial explanation and interview was helpful. I know I would not have understood the total opera as well without the introduction.

The singing was very difficult because Sand script doesn’t vary much in sound. The vowels often sound alike and the performers had a difficult time in learning their parts. During one intermission we were shown actual news photos of Gandhi and given interesting information about his life/ Check the web at www.cineplex.com/events for information on upcoming Met operas.