Product Description
DVD92917 Argento ASPERN PAPERS - Söderström, von Stade - DVD 1988
Uploaded on request, and this is a terrifically entertaining opera, recommended
to everyone. Originally from my Beta videotape, recorded off television in
1989. I transferred the performance to DVD several years ago. When I attempted
a reduction to AVI, I found the video and aural artifacts unacceptable, so what
I am offering is a "burn to DVD5" version. The DVD quality is very good, but the
videotape origin ls obvious. There is a 30 second period at the end of Act 1,
where the television station switched the audio feed to another station. It is
a small defect, and completely out of my control. This performance was never
released commercially.
Resolution: 720 x 480
Frame rate: 59.94
Audio: AC3, 48 khz, 256 kbps
English-language subtitles
Dominick Argento
THE ASPERN PAPERS
DVD of the world premiere performance
The Dallas Opera
dir : Nicola Rescigno
November 19, 1988
Juliana: Elisabeth Söderström
Tina: Frederica von Stade
Sonia: Katherine Ciesinki
Aspern: Neil Rosenshein
The Lodger: Richard Stilwell
Barelli: Eric Halfvarson
Olimpia: Joan Gibbons
Painter/Gardener: John Calvin West
Stage direction by Mark Lamos
Set and costume design by John Conklin
Lighting design by Richard Winkler
Synopsis:
Act 1
The action of the opera occurs in the summer of 1835 and 1895, in a villa on the
shores of Lake Como. In 1895, Juliana Bordereau, a former opera singer,
remembers her youth and her dead friends, including her lover and impressario,
Barelli; Sonia, the singer who became his next mistress.
Scene 1 (1895)
The Lodger arranges with Juliana and Tina, her neice, to room at the villa. Tina
tells the lodger about her aunt's career and her sudden retirement. The lodger
asks about Aspern, and tells Juliana that he is a writer and is interested in
Aspern's career.
Scene 2 (1835)
Aspern is having his portrait painted as Juliana rehearses an aria from the
composer's new opera, "Medea." Barelli asks Aspern to look after Sonia while
he's in England.
Scene 3 (1895)
The Lodger is frustrated that he has not been able to talk to his hostess; he
hints about his object in coming to the villa and in making love to Tina.
Juliana and Tina arrive, and Juliana tries to push the young people together.
Juliana then shows the Lodger a portrait, and is suspicious when he offers to
buy it. The lodgers confides in Tina that he is afraid Juliana will destroy her
mementos.
Scene 4 (1835)
Aspern is rehearsing with Sonia as Juliana coaches her. When Juliana steps out,
Aspern and Sonia agonize over their love for each other and their friendship
with Juliana, who is still Aspern's mistress. They arrange for an assignation
that night: Aspern asks Sonia to put a candle in the window so he will be able
to find his way across the lake.
Scene 5 (1895)
Tina and the Lodger return from an evening together on the piazza. They learn
that Julianna has collapsed while they were gone, and is very ill. The Lodger,
searching the house, is interrupted by Julianna, who collapses again.
ACT 2
Prologue
The Lodger tells us what he was searching for: Aspern's lost opera, Medea, which
Aspern is said to have destroyed: he believes it still exists.
Scene 1 (1835)
Aspern brings Julianna the finished score of Medea. As Aspern returns to his
office, Juliana, suspecting him, unties the boat and lets it drift away. Aspern
decides to swim across the lake to Sonia.
Scene 2 (1895)
When the Lodger returns, Sonia tells him that Juliana has died; Sonia reveals
that she has the papers, and tells the Lodger that if he will marry her, she
will give them to him. The Lodger refuses.
Scene 3 (1835)
Juliana, in mourning, begins to close up her room and tells Barelli that she is
retiring from the stage. She also tells him that Medea has been burnt.
Scene 4 (1895)
The Lodger, having changed his mind, returns to accept Tina's offer. She tells
him she has already burnt the papers. He leaves, and she sits by the fire and
slowly burns the score to Medea.