Mr. Lang also wrote the libretto. This may have been a mistake, or at least a lost opportunity to have a strong literary collaborator. He draws upon phrases from the librettos Beethoven went through in earlier versions of his opera, and also adapts texts from Machiavelli, Jeremy Bentham and other pertinent sources. “Prisoner” is strongest when Mr. Lang departs the most boldly from Beethoven. For his jailer’s equivalent, “Gold,” Mr. Lang presents the character’s jaded take on life.

Source: International New York Times June 07, 2019 18:11 UTC