eL/Aficionado
Avant legend Robert Ashley's defining opera was just recently re-recorded for the first time in decades; but this original recording, released back in 1994, gives us a chance to hear Ashley's original vision, with baritone Thomas Buckner in the lead role. It's a brain-buckling contortion of language, humor and harmony that turns cultural conventions on their head: think David Lynch xJames Joyce x Puccini.
Opera is a tough proposition - the form has traditionally been walled off by its own very purposeful class signifiers and monetary barriers to entry. But those same factors makes it interesting to deconstruct, which is exactly what Robert Ashley did over his career. "eL/Aficionado" is one of his more bizarre works, a part of the "Now Eleanor's Idea" tetralogy that used a spy story setting to explore language, identity and cultural expectations.
On this recording, Thomas Buckner plays an agent, who is cross-examined by a trio of investigators played by Jacqueline Humbert, Sam Ashley and Robert Ashley himself. The vocals dip into spoken word and full-voiced singing, and are set against a Badalamenti-esque backdrop of eerie, TV-lite electronics. It's all very intentional, to help us focus our minds on the themes Ashley attempts to disassemble .
Classified/personals adverts are sung seemingly disconnected from the narrative, but the words are coded, used by Ashley to reflect not only a John LeCarré’ inspired world of espionage, but the economy and accidental poetry of amateur advertising. "eL/Aficionado" is a unique proposition, and while its cultural references have become more opaque, the central messages of surveillance, duplicity, language and identity are perhaps more relevant than ever. Massive recommendation.
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Avant legend Robert Ashley's defining opera was just recently re-recorded for the first time in decades; but this original recording, released back in 1994, gives us a chance to hear Ashley's original vision, with baritone Thomas Buckner in the lead role. It's a brain-buckling contortion of language, humor and harmony that turns cultural conventions on their head: think David Lynch xJames Joyce x Puccini.
Opera is a tough proposition - the form has traditionally been walled off by its own very purposeful class signifiers and monetary barriers to entry. But those same factors makes it interesting to deconstruct, which is exactly what Robert Ashley did over his career. "eL/Aficionado" is one of his more bizarre works, a part of the "Now Eleanor's Idea" tetralogy that used a spy story setting to explore language, identity and cultural expectations.
On this recording, Thomas Buckner plays an agent, who is cross-examined by a trio of investigators played by Jacqueline Humbert, Sam Ashley and Robert Ashley himself. The vocals dip into spoken word and full-voiced singing, and are set against a Badalamenti-esque backdrop of eerie, TV-lite electronics. It's all very intentional, to help us focus our minds on the themes Ashley attempts to disassemble .
Classified/personals adverts are sung seemingly disconnected from the narrative, but the words are coded, used by Ashley to reflect not only a John LeCarré’ inspired world of espionage, but the economy and accidental poetry of amateur advertising. "eL/Aficionado" is a unique proposition, and while its cultural references have become more opaque, the central messages of surveillance, duplicity, language and identity are perhaps more relevant than ever. Massive recommendation.
Avant legend Robert Ashley's defining opera was just recently re-recorded for the first time in decades; but this original recording, released back in 1994, gives us a chance to hear Ashley's original vision, with baritone Thomas Buckner in the lead role. It's a brain-buckling contortion of language, humor and harmony that turns cultural conventions on their head: think David Lynch xJames Joyce x Puccini.
Opera is a tough proposition - the form has traditionally been walled off by its own very purposeful class signifiers and monetary barriers to entry. But those same factors makes it interesting to deconstruct, which is exactly what Robert Ashley did over his career. "eL/Aficionado" is one of his more bizarre works, a part of the "Now Eleanor's Idea" tetralogy that used a spy story setting to explore language, identity and cultural expectations.
On this recording, Thomas Buckner plays an agent, who is cross-examined by a trio of investigators played by Jacqueline Humbert, Sam Ashley and Robert Ashley himself. The vocals dip into spoken word and full-voiced singing, and are set against a Badalamenti-esque backdrop of eerie, TV-lite electronics. It's all very intentional, to help us focus our minds on the themes Ashley attempts to disassemble .
Classified/personals adverts are sung seemingly disconnected from the narrative, but the words are coded, used by Ashley to reflect not only a John LeCarré’ inspired world of espionage, but the economy and accidental poetry of amateur advertising. "eL/Aficionado" is a unique proposition, and while its cultural references have become more opaque, the central messages of surveillance, duplicity, language and identity are perhaps more relevant than ever. Massive recommendation.
Avant legend Robert Ashley's defining opera was just recently re-recorded for the first time in decades; but this original recording, released back in 1994, gives us a chance to hear Ashley's original vision, with baritone Thomas Buckner in the lead role. It's a brain-buckling contortion of language, humor and harmony that turns cultural conventions on their head: think David Lynch xJames Joyce x Puccini.
Opera is a tough proposition - the form has traditionally been walled off by its own very purposeful class signifiers and monetary barriers to entry. But those same factors makes it interesting to deconstruct, which is exactly what Robert Ashley did over his career. "eL/Aficionado" is one of his more bizarre works, a part of the "Now Eleanor's Idea" tetralogy that used a spy story setting to explore language, identity and cultural expectations.
On this recording, Thomas Buckner plays an agent, who is cross-examined by a trio of investigators played by Jacqueline Humbert, Sam Ashley and Robert Ashley himself. The vocals dip into spoken word and full-voiced singing, and are set against a Badalamenti-esque backdrop of eerie, TV-lite electronics. It's all very intentional, to help us focus our minds on the themes Ashley attempts to disassemble .
Classified/personals adverts are sung seemingly disconnected from the narrative, but the words are coded, used by Ashley to reflect not only a John LeCarré’ inspired world of espionage, but the economy and accidental poetry of amateur advertising. "eL/Aficionado" is a unique proposition, and while its cultural references have become more opaque, the central messages of surveillance, duplicity, language and identity are perhaps more relevant than ever. Massive recommendation.