Moses und Aron

The opera Moses Und Aaron is a problematic opera and is not for all tastes. I do respect the expressionist style but it is still a style that is going to be an acquired taste and is slowly growing on me. I found this 2009 production outstanding. I've also seen the 1975 film and the 2006 production, but personally prefer this to both of those put together. The video directing and filming are just marvellous, Willy Decker stage directs very imaginatively, the Golden Calf being passed through the orchestra was a great touch and the visuals while not conventional are steely and somewhat appealing also, the rounded space really gives a sense of intimacy to the audience. It is outstanding musically also, with very expressive and assured orchestral playing(the players also look as though they're enjoying it too), a shockingly effective chorus in the Act 2 sacrifice and surprisingly graceful yet commanding conducting. The two leads are superb, Dale Duesing is a noble and also very imposing Moses with a powerful baritone voice and apart from some slight strain(though a vast improvement over Thomas Moser in the 2006 production) Andrea Conrad does very well conveying Aaron's complexities and much of his voice is actually of a ringing quality. All in all, I cannot recommend this production enough. 10/10 Bethany Cox