Opera Guide: Alban Berg's Lulu

[@ClassicalNerd]

Originally, this video was going to be far more cinematic with costumes and location filming and a lot of other stuff … but the coronavirus outbreak got in the way. I hope everybody’s sheltering down as much as possible and staying safe during these times. New videos are on the way every two weeks!

[@TheProsaicCult]

I once saw a production of Lulu about twenty years ago at Denver, CO. and have been a Berg lover ever since. Did you get a chance to look over the videos I sent you? Peace, OUT!

[@ClassicalNerd]

@@TheProsaicCult I'm planning on my next video being a composition masterclass so I'll be digging into those then!

[@ClassicalNerd]

@Ryan Wilk Hmm ... now _there's_ an idea ... it might have to wait another year, though, since I've got a lot of other stuff in the pipeline right now.

[@Posturtle]

That giant tone cluster near the end is one of my favorite musical moments. It reminds me a lot of a similar moment in Mahler's 10th Symphony.

[@pianomanhere]

Yes !! 😁 EXACTLY !

[@pianomanhere]

This is one of the best summaries and compressed analyses of this opera that I have ever seen/heard. Thank you.

[@jackdomanski6758]

Thank you so much for this. Berg is one of my absolute favorites.

[@Herfinnur]

I've heard a lot of the music from Lulu, but the soap opera randomness of the opera genuinely has put a serious dampener on my evening.

[@ClassicalNerd]

Well, I sincerely hope you never have to take a semester-long class in it (as I have)!

[@AndrewRudin]

"the soap opera randomness"... Unnnh... say what?

[@scriabinismydog2439]

Yeeessss. Berg is slowly becoming one of my favorite composers...the Violin concerto is one of my absolute favorite pieces, and I've discovered it thanks to you! Wozzeck next?

[@ClassicalNerd]

Berg's music is really fantastic and the layers of meaning he's able to encode within it while still being both heavily late-Romantic _and_ largely 12-tone is astounding. If Ives didn't exist, Berg would be my #1. Wozzeck has been added at lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@scriabinismydog2439]

@@ClassicalNerd yes it's amazing how he could melt those two elements togheter. I find him to be the true successor of Mahler. Edit: if Scriabin and Szymanowski didn't exist, Berg would be my #1

[@CharlesAustin]

Fantastic outline.. So much in this.. the mind boggles. So impressive !!

[@grantveebeejay535]

This was well done and with humour. Thanks Thomas.

[@lacanian1500]

There's a book on Berg by Theodor Adorno. Currently reading, and I recommend it. Amazing video as always Mr. Little!

[@ClassicalNerd]

Adorno is referenced quite a bit in the literature on Lulu, but I've not actually read it myself! I'll be sure to get around to it.

[@AndrewRudin]

Even better, read George Perle.

[@wesendonkey]

“Alban Bergs Lulu - fun for the whole family”. Hahaha good one 9:09

[@erzsblasfantaven3334]

thank you so so so much!

[@timothytikker1147]

I read a funny anecdote years ago an American opera singer who, finding himself in Germany, decided to go to a library and check out a copy of Wedekind's "Pandora's Box," to read as research for his role in that opera. When he asked the librarian about it, the consternated librarian answered "Pornographie!" Nonetheless, the book was handed over, but with the requirement that it be returned by noon the following day. Well, that following day, the singer had not gotten around to returning the book. Sure enough, at 12:01 precisely, his hotel room telephone rang. The caller was the librarian, who demanded "wo ist die Pornographie??"

[@batardnoir]

Have you ever thought on uploading the audio of your videos on CastBox as podcasts?

[@ClassicalNerd]

Possibly. Would there be a substantive audience for that?

[@parsa.mostaghim]

I hope you do a tribute video on Penderecki. He passed away a week ago😔🙏

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@robertslagle7176]

Dude: Just an idea from a bibliophile: How's about a quick tour of your bookshelves with recommendations? I'll bet your subscribers would be interested.

[@ClassicalNerd]

All I can say is "stay tuned:" kzbin.infoUgkxoygs5Jinj7u4_QWtJdR2Jo3044mwWA3b

[@morganmartinez8420]

Do you still accept requests? Could you do a video on Carl Maria von Weber?

[@ClassicalNerd]

Von Weber is 352/352 active requests, which are all documented at lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@peterjanssen5901]

It's also stated that lulu is hacked to pieces. And I love the Ripper's casual line of :"Never a towel when you need one/ Why do these people never have towel around" It's a shame, most modern rendition always wussy out on the ending, pretending Geschwitz lives. I mean, I like happy endings.

[@alaskannyc]

This plot reminds me of the last time I took NyQuil.

[@mikonatt]

Hello, Nice video, I would like to read some libretto, what you suggest?, Also underrated composers, especially Romantic one. And I would like to talk with someone about classical music! :)

[@byFerrum]

I know its been 2 years but niko

[@Erinnmnn]

Thank you Classical Nerd, now I understand Lulu even less.

[@ClassicalNerd]

As one of my professors (who's a Berg expert) once put it, _Lulu_ has a _very_ steep learning curve. It personally took me about a month and a half of score study just to make heads or tails of what's going on ... but I believe that it's worth the effort to get to know.

[@onefaithlove]

Lulu: "Ich habe deine Mutter vergiftet." Classical Nerd: "...heavily implied..."

[@iknowimaysoundgaywhenisayt386]

You should dp nietsche becuz he wrote some music too

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@scriabinismydog2439]

I'd also love a video on Nietzsche's music!

[@ClassicalNerd]

@@scriabinismydog2439 Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@semajcarter8971]

You forgot to do Alexander, dude!

[@ClassicalNerd]

??

[@michaweinst3774]

I think you meant Zemlinsky, right?

[@replicant3112]

V. good

[@winstonschwarz1636]

Dumbing down Berg and Lulu? Now that is an achievement to be proud of.

[@robbyr9286]

Thanks, that was so fun! Here's a wonderful production of Lulu: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mH3YfaZ8n9N2oKs

[@thomascroke4226]

This video makes me wonder if you know Eric Chafe haha

[@ClassicalNerd]

I took his Berg seminar in my first semester of grade school! I figured if I spent several months looking at one piece, I might as well pay that forward.

[@thomascroke4226]

@@ClassicalNerd Hey me too! I hope you got to study Tristan with him, I still keep the notated score from that class in my library and refer to it often. So proud of a fellow alum for doing such an interesting channel!!

[@ClassicalNerd]

@@thomascroke4226 Aww thank you! The Berg seminar was the only class I got with him, unfortunately. I would have if I'd been in the musicology program and/or was there for longer than an MFA.

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

This pales Hans Christian Andersen into total insignificance.

[@erikrobinson2547]

Opera stories are so weird.