Recovered Voices
Los Angeles Opera’s “Recovered Voices” revives German opera suppressed by the Nazis and never before staged in the United States. Here, Mary Dunleavy (Infanta of Spain) performs in a dress rehearsal for Alexander Zemlinsky’s “The Dwarf.” (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
There is much to catch the ear in “The Dwarf,” critic Mark Swed notes, including Mary Dunleavy’s work as Infanta of Spain. The opera, suppressed by the Nazis, is based on Oscar Wilde’s story “The Birthday of the Infanta.” (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Rodrick Dixon (the Dwarf) dies in the arms of Susan B. Anthony (Ghita) in L.A. Opera’s production of Zemlinsky’s “The Dwarf.” Mark Swed writes that Dixon is “a touching, tortured” Dwarf and describes Anthony’s Ghita, the Infanta’s maid, as “movingly empathetic.” (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Susan B. Anthony as Ghita, foreground, in Zemlinsky’s “The Dwarf.” (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Rodrick Dixon in the title role in Zemlinsky’s “The Dwarf.” (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Mary Dunleavy as Infanta and Rodrick Dixon as the Dwarf in Zemlinsky’s “The Dwarf.” (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Mary Dunleavy as Infanta in Zemlinsky’s “The Dwarf.” (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Mary Dunleavy as Infanta and Rodrick Dixon as the Dwarf in Zemlinsky’s “The Dwarf.” (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Viktor Ullmann’s “The Broken Jug” opened the matinee of one-act German works presented by L.A. Opera. James Johnson (Adam), center, stars opposite Steven Humes (Walter), left, and Bonaventura Bottone (Licht, a county clerk). (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
The music in Viktor Ullmann’s “The Broken Jug” is perky, but the back story is tragic: Ullmann finished the opera in 1942, just before the Nazis sent him to a concentration camp. Here, Steven Humes (Walter), left, plays opposite Elizabeth Bishop (Frau Marthe Rull). (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
James Johnson, right, plays Adam opposite Elizabeth Bishop as Frau Marthe Rull in L.A. Opera’s production of Ullmann’s “The Broken Jug.” (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
From left, Elizabeth Bishop (Frau Marthe Rull), James Johnson (Adam) and Bonaventura Bottone (Licht) in Ullmann’s “The Broken Jug.” (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)