Customer Reviews for Los Angeles Opera - St. Matthew Passion
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St. Matthew’s Passion at LAO
3 hour down and 3 hours back—Arroyo Grande to LA. So worth it. I didn’t know what to expect, but this production was fantastic. James Conlon’s pre talk helped us to understand the nuances of the music, dance, and soloists. A perfect performance for the Lenten Season. Thank you. Kathleen Fisher
St. Matthew Passion
Johann Sebastian Bach knew what he was doing when he composed the St. Matthew Passion as basically an oratorio. What we have from LA Opera in cahoots with the Hamburg Ballet is a kind of passion play. I thought the dancing served as a distraction from Bach’s magnificent music. I could have done without all the jumping and running about. There will be people who will find LA Opera’s production cool, I’d say they also like music videos. Bach’s music is generally abstract and here the Word literally becomes flesh. Then I’m Jewish. There’s a touch of uncomfortableness when you consider the St. Matthew Passion as a passion play. I saw some Jewish names as sponsors and patrons of this production of the St. Matthew Passion. They should have let Christian and other non-Jewish donors step up to the plate.