Reworking or remixing opera classics constitutes one of the hot current trends in American opera circles. Such transformations require more than a matter of rushing tempos and trimming dead space: in most operas, this requires significant rearrangements to the score and changes to the libretto, with choruses, duets, and even arias on the cutting room floor. These changes open the door to reworking classics to try and make them more interesting or relevant to modern audiences, recapturing their resonance with the opera’s original audience.

To some, editing an opera in this fashion is disrespectful to the composer. The practice, however, is actually rooted in historical practice; Verdi and Donizetti regularly revised old works to try and keep pace with changing fashions and local tastes, with whole scenes and arias sometimes on the cutting block. Even the short-lived Mozart revised his operas based on the context — in Don Giovanni, for example, Don Ottavio’s “Dalla sua pace” and “Il mio tesoro” are alternate arias for the same occasion in the moment (while both are beautiful, doing both is generally excessive). Traveling productions often ran afoul of provincial censors demanding changes — some of which were highly specific as to the maximum duration when using their theater.

Across the country, Boston Opera Collaborative, an unusual opera company in which all singers also participate in creative and administrative work, is staging its new “remix” of Giacomo Puccini’s La Rondine. The Twin Cities Arts Reader’s Basil Considine spoke with Patricia-Maria Weinmann, the Co-Artistic Director of Boston Opera Collaborative, about updating this rarely performed gem.

Excluding the two operas that Puccini wrote in his 20s, La Rondine is probably the least-performed of his operatic works. What drew you to this one?

The rarity was one of the draws. La Rondine is not done enough and the music is some of the loveliest that Puccini wrote. It’s also a beautiful synthesis of musical styles.

Our good friend, the eminent composer and conductor John Greer, noted that La Rondine has all the challenges of opera and operetta. Acts 1 and 2 are, in turn, playfully conversational and dreamily romantic. Act 3 possesses more of the serious verismo that we have come to expect from Puccini.

This production is advertised as La Rondine: Remix. Is this a new arrangement of the opera? A pre-existing version by a specific creator or creative team?

I’ve always been drawn to the music [of this opera] and in Acts 1 and 2—charming, romantic, witty. However, the story troubled me. The libretto has been criticized as inconsequential and lacking drama. Fair enough…which brings us to the “remix”.

I also relished the opportunity to re-tell the story while keeping the music and the libretto intact, albeit with some cuts. As far as I know, this is the only arrangement of La Rondine of this kind.

Instead of manipulating a young man to live out her fantasy of true love, we imagine Magda asking the question, “What if….?” as she asks the audience toaccompany her on a wildly romantic, but ultimately unsustainable dream.  And as we experience that journey, perhaps we too might consider our own “What ifs…”.

The remix consists of creating a dream sequence which begins near the end of Act 1 and continues throughout Act 3, when Magda’s dream ends and she finds herself back in her elegant Parisian home, realizing that her dream of love will probably always be just that; she is filled with bittersweet regret and resignation that it is not to be. She chooses not to pursue her fantasy because it would certainly cause grief for the young man in question.

Other “remixes” and “re-imaginings” of classic operas have taken different tacks, sometimes including the addition of substantial new music (although generally derived from the original score) on top of libretto changes. Is this dream sequence a rearrangement/resetting of Puccini’s music with new text or something musically new? An application of stage effects to transform perceptions of existing material? 

There is no new libretto or new music. With lighting and staging, it will become obvious that Magda is imaging the cafe and seaside villa scene. Because this is her vision, the (cut) conversation with Rambaldo is unnecessary.  As she follows the vision further, she realizes that she can never be with someone innocent and “untouched” as Ruggero and that she must remain in the life she has chosen: being kept by a wealthy man, secure and pampered…but without true love.

We do use the waltz music near the end of Act 1 and segue to the waltz music in Act 2. It is fairly seamless and give us time for the set changes (created by the trio of friends who become something of “fairy godmothers” assisting in Magda’s dreamy vision of Magda’s.

Our remix ends with the end of the original Act 1. The only change is that Magda’s line “Who will recognize me?” is cut. All of the underlying music is intact and no new music or text is interpolated.

This production is set in 1950s Paris, a period of massive (re)construction coupled with growing domestic unrest over the Algerian and Indochina wars. Is there anything about this specific setting that resonates with the opera?

This opera does not lend itself easily to political context. This is a deeply intimate story, a personal journey that does not have geopolitical or economic overtones.

Since you didn’t chose 1950s Paris because of the political-social tensions of the time, why this specific setting? Is there a specific imagery, sense of romance, etc being tapped? Why this setting in particular?

The original setting of La Rondine, as can be seen in this costume sketch of the world premiere, was consciously evocative of the 19^th century, which wartime audiences viewed with nostalgia.

Simple economic forces at work here. That era is easily pulled from vintage stores and many of the styles are available today via inexpensive websites online. The costume designer was also able to pull from stock. It’s an elegant era with beautiful lines for women.

Personally, I also love the look. The 19^th century doesn’t interest me visually. It’s as simple as that.

Going from a full-length opera to 90 minutes necessarily means a lot of cutting. What’s been left behind and what’s been accentuated?

The uncut running time is just under 2 hours; it’s a short opera. We just cut some sections of chorus and a scene in Act 2 in which Rambaldo, Magda’s “protector” arrives at the cafe, where a difficult conversation between the two of them ensues.

What is the instrumental ensemble being used for this production?

The young and gifted Mathieu D’Ordine (he arranged our Faust et Marguerite and Idomeneo) has transcribed the orchestration for piano and string quartet. We are thrilled to have the Glenside Quartet joining music director and pianist Brendon Shapiro in the pit.

La Rondine ran through May 21 at Central Square Theater in Cambridge, MA.

This piece was originally published in the Twin Cities Arts Reader and is reprinted here by special arrangement.

Basil Considine is the Twin Cities Arts Reader‘s Performing Arts Editor and its Senior Classical Music and Drama Critic; he remains an occasional contributor to The Boston Music Intelligencer.