Credits:

Phibbs, Joseph (1974-)

Description:

The chamber opera "Juliana" is based on Swedish playwright August Strindberg's masterpiece "Duchess Julie". The play, featuring the masculine Countess Julie and her servant Jean, who has a strong upward mobility, has gained popularity around the world, including Japan. In what the author calls a "naturalistic tragedy," scriptwriter Laurie Slade has changed the setting from the 19th century to the present day, giving new personalities to the characters and intertwining issues such as the power of wealth, immigration, drugs, and gender. The music is a treat to hear, with a percussion-driven ensemble coloring the tense interactions between Juliana, a rich girl who is infatuated with her father; Juan, an immigrant; and Kirsten, a housekeeper caught up in an emotional altercation between the two. Naxos Japan