Lorin Maazel – 1984 (2008)

Lorin Maazel has had a life-long ambition to realize an opera based on George Orwell’s famous novel 1984. And a risky project it was, because it is a dangerous affair trying to set a literary masterpiece for the stage. It was rumoured the conductor had to pay for a substantial part of the production costs himself; a sum of money running into six figures.
Sharp criticism in the Herald Tribune: “The music is never less than thoroughly professional. But Maazel lacks a personal voice as a composer”.
That may be so, but there is more to this opera than the music. It’s a visual spectacle as well, and as such worthwhile.

Note: the srt’s took an enormous amount of editing, as the program I use for ripping the subs somehow doesn’t process them adequately anymore. I think I weeded out most mistakes, but it is possible some were left in the files. Any suggestions for subrippers that work flawlessly are welcome.






Performers:

Simon Keenlyside - baritone
Nancy Gustafson - soprano
Richard Margison - tenor
Diana Damrau - soprano
Lorin Maazel - conductor
Robert Lepage - director
Covent Garden Royal Opera House Chorus
Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra