+++
author = ["authors/jenna.md"]
categories = "Editorial"
date = "2015-04-10T21:00:00-04:00"
lastmod = "2015-04-12T00:07:00-04:00"
primary_image = "https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/v1545409169/media/webhook-uploads/1428713797758/GehryPrague.jpg.jpg"
publishDate = "2015-03-31T09:00:00-04:00"
related_companies = ["scene/companies/the-metropolitan-opera.md","scene/companies/royal-opera-house.md"]
short_description = "Canadian architect Frank Gehry will design a production of Gluck&#039;s Orpheus and Eurydice, to be directed by Jürgen Flimm, the Staatsoper&#039;s Intendant. At the podium will be Daniel Barenboim, in case the idea wasn’t impressive enough."
slug = "orpheus-and-eurydice-designed-by-frank-gehry"
title = "Orpheus and Eurydice, designed by Frank Gehry"
+++

<p>
	I read some 
	<a href="http://slippedisc.com/2015/03/just-in-berlin-hires-frank-gehry-86/" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://slippedisc.com/2015/03/just-in-berlin-hires-frank-gehry-86/">exciting news</a> about the Berliner Staatsoper's upcoming season: Canadian architect Frank Gehry will design a production of Gluck's <em>Orpheus and Eurydice</em>, to be directed by <a href="http://www.staatsoper-berlin.de/en_EN/person/juergen-flimm.52645" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.staatsoper-berlin.de/en_EN/person/juergen-flimm.52645">Jürgen Flimm</a>, the Staatsoper's Intendant. At the podium will be Daniel Barenboim, in case the idea wasn't impressive enough. I know not everyone is a Frank Gehry fan, but I really am, and I'm thinking of planning my next overseas trip for March 2016 to catch this show.
</p>
<p>
	Gehry has designed once before for opera, when he created installations for a cool-looking production of 
	<em>Don Giovanni</em>, directed by Christopher Alden, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic (in <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/disneyhall/la-et-cm-disney-hall-hawthorne-dto-htmlstory.html" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/disneyhall/la-et-cm-disney-hall-hawthorne-dto-htmlstory.html">Walt Disney Hall</a>, of course). Here's a quick look:
</p>
<figure data-type="image">{{% md %}}<a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/v1545409169/media/webhook-uploads/1428713945882/GehryGiovanni.jpg">
<img data-resize-src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/wlBfa2gUxwQ_0oooN-5T-pNXiS-INuCkq5Imm0Nz9jM_7S79iwfMm65cw6eAppcEuyUwfqzO1UTTffpxHQMn8sC2G9ed" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/wlBfa2gUxwQ_0oooN-5T-pNXiS-INuCkq5Imm0Nz9jM_7S79iwfMm65cw6eAppcEuyUwfqzO1UTTffpxHQMn8sC2G9ed=s1200">
</a>
<figcaption>
<em>Don Giovanni</em> with the L.A. Philharmonic, designed by Frank Gehry, directed by Christopher Alden, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, 2012.</figcaption></figure>
<p>
	Taking a look at Jürgen Flimm's aesthetic, it appears that he and Gehry will have little trouble getting on the same page with this 
	<em>Orpheus</em>. Flimm's work is quite architectural, with looming sets and eye-catching lines. He directed the <em>Salome</em> with Karita Mattila at the Metropolitan Opera in 2004, which was definitely striking. Take a look at his <em>Fidelio </em>at the Royal Opera House
</p>
<figure data-type="image"><a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/v1545409169/media/webhook-uploads/1428713907488/FlimmFidelio-1024x733.jpg"><img data-resize-src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/UvB8kpIWPIES2O_c37Q8mK9HklAcsmSp2-fSV1ysLuwtLwbwdJhzEDRhAwZRfFaQ0-KgrTRT90HejnJ_379OIkmqKWY" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/UvB8kpIWPIES2O_c37Q8mK9HklAcsmSp2-fSV1ysLuwtLwbwdJhzEDRhAwZRfFaQ0-KgrTRT90HejnJ_379OIkmqKWY=s1200"></a><figcaption>
A scene from Jürgen Flimm's 
<em>Fidelio</em> at the Royal Opera House.</figcaption></figure>
<p>
	Or his 
	<em>Manon Lescaut</em> in St. Petersburg in 2014:
</p>
<figure data-type="image"><a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/v1545409169/media/webhook-uploads/1428713866739/FlimmManon.jpg"><img data-resize-src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/WnkCoRdBIaqhdaPKLFU5bK1jcGC62cdFopC_GwU-2i4lBdqaanq960gB1YQg3cUxyEXC4S9sv7mtJhrae78oolAvEJb1" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/WnkCoRdBIaqhdaPKLFU5bK1jcGC62cdFopC_GwU-2i4lBdqaanq960gB1YQg3cUxyEXC4S9sv7mtJhrae78oolAvEJb1=s1200"></a>
<figcaption>
A scene from 
<em>Manon Lescaut</em>, directed by Jürgen Flimm, 2014. Photo: mikhailovsky.ru.</figcaption></figure>
<p>
	While I always hope an opera production shows off the singers and the story, at the very least, I doubt this Flimm/Gehry Gluck project will be bland.
</p>
