20世纪歌剧巡礼——魏尔《七宗罪》

An overview of 20^(th)-century opera:Kurt Weill's Seven Deadly Sins

【歌剧内容】安娜来自路易斯安那州。她的父亲,母亲和两个哥哥想在密西西比河旁盖一所房子,让安娜出去赚些钱。像所有人一样,在安娜的身上也有两面性。一个安娜是现实主义者,另一个则是理想主义者。这里的每一场戏都发生在美国不同的城市里,并代表以下的七种罪孽——傲慢、嫉妒、愤怒、懒惰、暴食、贪婪以及色欲。在剧中,理想主义的安娜代表有理性的人,它迫使现实主义的安娜抑制本能的冲动去服从某个定律。而一个安娜去克服另一个安娜在道德上的谴责。最终安娜成功地赚得了足够的钱财,终于在密西西比河边为全家建起了一所房子。

For music lovers,Weill might not be a familiar name.In 20th-century music history,he is often overlooked.Perhaps that is because Weill's music tended to cross over to popular music.But in theatre history,Weill's collaborations with Brecht included The Seven Deadly Sins.This short opera,in seven scenes,is only about 40 minutes long,without unnecessary details or useless words.The story is easy to understand,the music and singing filled with popular idioms,tracing the seven deadly sins.