The Sound of Ghent was again 'on the air' this past weekend for the continuation of Donna Diva tv.
Episode 3
Where did we leave off at the end of episode 2? Donna Diva wants to go back to Luciano in the year 1970.
Mezzo-soprano Helene Bracke, pianist Wouter van Ginste and Anton Cohen continue the thread in this crazy adventure and pave the way to opera, an art form that is still described as elitist. The haughty and intellectual veneer is gone. With wild imagination, the audience from 6 to 99 years old is guided through time and space by Dr. Coppelius' OPERAtional time machine, both the past and the future. In all its chaos, the story is funny and touching.
The synopsis goes as follows. Donna Diva takes control. Passionate and pragmatic, she oversteps her bounds. Without Dr. Coppelius' knowledge, she operates the tele-time machine herself. Overconfident! To her surprise, the tele-time machine has dropped her in a desolate sterile white landscape. In the distance, she spots a figure. Upon closer acquaintance, the man tells her that she has landed in the future, namely the year 2970, and not 1970! Slight panic! He tells her that he was listening to the best music of all time on his headphones via SCAM, a computer program that works with algorithms.
Clear parallels are drawn with today's world. When he learns that Donna Diva stands before him, he places her on a pedestal, he is completely starstruck: "You are not only my idol but that of many, a singer and diva like you no longer exists". Of course, this flatters her vanity. Through a purple tunnel, he gives her a glimpse into the recent past… the year 2525. Art has become a neglected area. Due to excessive use of computers, emotion has left the world, people can no longer invent anything themselves, creativity is completely bled dry. Again, there are connections here with pandemic emptiness and boredom. This sobering image makes Donna Diva long to return to her safe cocoon with Dr. Coppelius.
Through an interruption with a commercial spot, suspense is built. Because she has missed her great love Luciano, Donna Diva, once back, sings a sorrowful song. Dr. Coppelius is moved. This episode is technically ingeniously constructed. The whole thing is wrapped in an atmospheric soundscape where electronics are played with.
Episode 4
Donna Diva manages to convince Dr. Coppelius to whisk her back to Luciano one more time. On one condition does Dr. Coppelius agree 'to say a final goodbye'. No sooner said than done. The focus now turns to Dr. Coppelius. He himself is in love with Donna Diva. For her, he created the OPERAtional time machine so she could fulfill her dream of 'singing opera'. Completely alone in his lab, he sings of his love for the unreachable diva. In a commercial spot, the Donna Diva pillow is promoted. Included free: Donna Diva socks, wine and cheese.
Whisked back, Donna Diva is in a state. Her great love Luciano has already hooked another diva who sings a duet with him: the legendary soprano Joan Sutherland, of whom an old recording is shown. In Italy, for her performances she was nicknamed La Stupenda (the Beautiful). Through this betrayal, Luciano has fallen from his pedestal. Dr. Coppelius comforts her: "Luciano doesn't deserve you!" It's on his lips to declare his love for her when Mozart appears via the telegramophone. The existential loneliness of man and his vulnerability in the search for ideal love comes across beautifully. This also resonates with what society is experiencing. To wrap up episode four, a karaoke session is announced. Under pressure, Donna Diva sings the song 'Luciano' once more. With much eye-rolling and grimacing, she shows that it doesn't suit her at all.
I do miss some of the famous opera arias a bit in episodes 3 and 4. There is, as in all operas, a score, characters, a storyline and orchestration. In every score there is someone to long for, a horizon to disappear behind. Hopefully, with Mozart's appearance in the upcoming episodes, opera arias will be featured again. Otherwise, the concept has succeeded. The roaring laughter and sneaky chuckles on the children's faces at the antics of the characters are certainly there. Antics that might perhaps inspire them themselves and parents who are clearly enjoying the attention and pleasure of their children in discovering what lies behind the word 'opera'.
- WHAT: Sound of Ghent
- ORGANIZATION: Festival van Vlaanderen Gent
- PHOTOS: © Gent Festival van Vlaanderen
