Infinite Disappearances in M&V 5 October 2017

Infinite Disappearances An opera about the Italian theoretical physicist Ettore Majorana, reviewed by GIUSEPPE PENNISI Ettore Majorana — cronaca di infinite scomparse was awarded the first prize in the European competition Opera Oggi for artistic teams (composers, librettists, stage directors, set designers and costume designers) under the age of thirty-five. The competition was promoted by Opera Lombardia, an association of five theatres in Lombardy; it operates in collaboration with two Milan institutions: La Scala and l'Orchestra dei Pomeriggi Musicali (a well-established Italian orchestra resident in Milan). Its debut was at the Teatro Sociale di Como, where I saw and heard it on 30 September 2017. It will have a long tour because in addition to the Opera Lombardia theatres, it will go to Bolzano and Trento as well as to the Palau de les Arta Reina Sofia in Valencia and to Magdeburg Opera House. The authors and promoters have serious hopes that Valencia and Magdeburg will open doors to tours in Spain, Germany and maybe France, where Opera Lombardia has exchanged productions with several medium size theatres. A scene from 'Ettore Majorana - cronaca di infinite scomparse' by Roberto Vetrano and Stefano Simon Pintor at Teatro Sociale di Como. Photo © 2017 Alessia Santambrogio. Click on the image for higher resolution Ettore Majorana, born on 5 August 1906, was an Italian theoretical physicist who worked on neutrino masses. On 25 March 1938 he disappeared under mysterious circumstances while going by ship from Palermo to Naples. The Majorana equation and Majorana fermions are named after him. In 2006, the Majorana Prize was established in his memory. His disappearance has always been a mystery: possible explanations include suicide during the crossing (but the body was never found), expatriation (to Argentina or according to some, the Soviet Union), seclusion in a convent, a new life as a homeless clochard, and quite a few others. In addition, rumors had spread that he had 'gay' tendencies — not a good trait to have in Italy during that period. In spite of his young age, he had a worldwide reputation. When he disappeared, he was working on an equation with infinite variables. Ettore Majorana. Click on the image for higher resolution However, the opera is not a thriller. The various hypotheses are explored by repeating, in different ways, Majorana's departure on the banks of Palermo harbour. The infinite scomparse, infinite disappearances, are mostly a pretext to deal with a broader and deeper theme: the relationship between Science, the Creation and the Creator. The subject was developed by Paul Hindemith in one of his last works for the stage, Die Harmonie der Welt, where the specific theme is the relationship between Music and the Creation. If one substitutes Physics with Music, the connection between the two operas is clear. The conclusion of Ettore Majorana — cronaca di infinite scomparse is quite different to that of Die Harmonie der Welt. God tells Majorana and Science that the impossibility is the limit of the mind and that this prevents the search into the unknown. A scene from 'Ettore Majorana - cronaca di infinite scomparse' by Roberto Vetrano and Stefano Simon Pintor at Teatro Sociale di Como. Photo © 2017 Alessia Santambrogio. Click on the image for higher resolution There has been some discussion as to whether Ettore Majorana — cronaca di infinite scomparse is an opera or a piece of musical theatre, because some sections have spoken dialogue. The boundaries are very thin. In any event, the score is rigorously atonal with two exceptions: an arioso by the scientist's mother and a duet between Majorana's brother and a monk in a convent which might have been the place to which the physicist escaped. The orchestral writing is very rich and describes mostly atmosphere and inner reflections. The number of singers is quite small because almost all of them interpret several different characters. The singing is mostly declamation. A scene from 'Ettore Majorana - cronaca di infinite scomparse' by Roberto Vetrano and Stefano Simon Pintor at Teatro Sociale di Como. Photo © 2017 Alessia Santambrogio. Click on the image for higher resolution The difficult philosophical concepts are well developed in the libretto by Stefano Simon Pintor, and in the musical writing by Roberto Vetrano. Nearly two thirds of the opera deals with the different hypotheses on Majorana's disappearance. The final scene is devoted to the key philosophical questions. The action is fast, the acting good, and the projections that form the sets are quite interesting. Jacopo Riveri conducts the Orchestra dei Pomeriggi Musicali well. The Opera Lombardia Chorusis excellent. Among the singers, only the baritone Lucas Moreira Cardose requires some polishing. A scene from 'Ettore Majorana - cronaca di infinite scomparse' by Roberto Vetrano and Stefano Simon Pintor at Teatro Sociale di Como. Photo © 2017 Alessia Santambrogio. Click on the image for higher resolution The audience reacted quite well. Copyright © 5 October 2017 Giuseppe Pennisi, Rome, Italy ITALY  << M&V home       Concert reviews        La Traviata >>