Reimann: Medea

Aribert Reimann (b. 1936) is best-known for his opera "Lear" (1978), which he wrote for Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. He explains his motivation for writing "Medea," which premiered in 2010, in the liner notes: "Everything that happens to Lear as a male I wanted to elaborate compositionally with a female." The opera was a commission from the State Opera House in Vienna.He used the Grillparzer version from 1822, creating the libretto himself directly from the text. Reimann on Grillparzer: "[T]here is no other version, even Euripedes, where Medea is so harshly, so explicitly highlighted as a stranger, as an unwanted person hated by everyone." The story of Medea could not be more relevant in the 21st century as so many immigrants face hostility and violence.The premiere took place in February and March 2010 in Vienna, with Marlis Petersen as Medea. That performance is available on DVD (see my review). This Frankfurt production was the German premiere, in October 2010, with my favorite soprano as Medea -- Claudia Barainsky. Barainsky studied voice with Reimann early on. Unlike "Lear," which is too harsh and brutal to listen to very often, I frequently listen to this recording, both because of Barainsky's beautiful soprano, and because Reimann's score is more sparse, and more inviting, though clearly tragic in tone.Aribert Reimann was awarded the Siemens Prize for Music in 2011, widely considered the equivalent of the Nobel Prize.*** *** ***The Oehms box is stunningly designed, with a 70-page booklet that includes an essay in German and English, but the libretto in German only. There are several color photos in addition to those on the cover. I can't bring myself to deduct a star for two reasons -- first, because the libretto is available as subtitles in the Vienna DVD, and second because I listen to this recording so often despite that.