Loremartis

Art Therapy

“One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect. Perfection simply doesn’t exist…..Without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist” ― Stephen Hawking

Loremartis

“One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect. Perfection simply doesn’t exist…..Without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist” ― Stephen Hawking

— 2023-03-05

Revenge

The theme of revenge appears in folk stories from all over the world.  It can be found in the Bible, in the Iliad and Odissi, in indigenous tales and in modern fiction. Philosophers and psychologists contributed thoughts and theories about the reasons humans engage in acting so destructively and violently when the feeling of revenge overwhelms them.  I thought to escape the growing atmosphere of tension and violence which started intensely with the establishment of a far right government two month earlier. I thought a visit to the Opera will elevate my mood, and provide a distraction.  The double bill of 2 short operas, one of which I was not familiar with piqued my curiosity.  Little did I know what I am about to experience.

The double opera performances of Aleko by Rachmaninoff paired with Cavalleria Rusticana by Mascagni, is indeed a strange combination. Two short operas by very different composers and styles, but thematically telling the old story of love, infidelity and revenge killing.  It is indeed the first time these two operas were paired, and it reflected the violence happening in the world today. Both operas are based on stories. Cavalleria Rusticana is based on an 1880 story by the same name, meaning Rustic Chivalry, which was made into a play by Giovanni Verga. It was first performed in Rome in 1890, and is considered to be a classic Verismo Opera, meaning “True Story”.  That is why it is usually paired with Pagliacci by Roggero Leoncavallo.  Aleko is based on a poem “The Gypsies”, by Pushkin, and was the first of 3 operas written by Rachmaninoff. It was first performed in 1893 at the Bolshoi theater in Moscow.

The style is totally different, but the theme of love, jealousy and revenge killing is the same.  The two cultures in which the stories happen are also very different.  Aleco is an outsider in a Gypsy camp, a society cherishing individual freedom, honor of their own rules and communal support, while Cavalleria depicts a Sicilian village ruled by the Catholic church, with a double standard of a society pretending to be G-D fearing. The use of the same set for both operas, and the same performers in the same costumes,  singing Russian and Italian was a very clever and effective way of showing both the difference and the universality of the notion of revenge.  As similar as the stories are, the cheating in the “civilized” world was dome by the man, while in the Gypsy camp it was the women who dares to assert her freedom to love whomever she chooses, and cheated on Aleco her husband who was from outside the tribe. In the “enlightened” Catholic society it is the man who can use and abuse the women. Jealousy and revenge prevail in both cases. Both the Gipsy women and her lover are killed, and the cuckold husband in Cavalleria, shoots the man who   abandoned his wife to court his married former sweetheart.

Reality mirrored art, or is it the other way around? In response to the perceived threat of the government trying to enact laws which will turn the country into a theocracy and a dictatorship, people took to the streets. Mass demonstrations were organized to try and avert the damaging trend. While the demonstrations grew in numbers to an unprecedented scale.  Abusive language, incitement by government officials, and even stunt grenades were used by police forces.  In spite of all this, the demonstrations only increased.  It is now more than 8 weeks in which people of all walks of life are gathering, in increasing numbers, every Saturday night in Tel Aviv, and many other locales across the country.  This week there was a call for demonstrations on Wednesday during morning hours, and the main roads became one large parking lot.  Families are coming with children, veterans, reservists and high-tech companies are protesting, and the atmosphere is rife for something dire to happen.  The love, solidarity and support within the ranks of caring citizens encourages the development of hope.  Hope, in spite of the fact that there is a majority government with absolute power to enact laws which trample democracy and freedom. It is like an abusive domestic relationship, the men at the top create more and more oppressive rules, and punishes anyone who dares to resist.  It feels like we are entering a home with domestic violence, and we are the battered wife who will, if she is lucky, escape to a shelter. 

I also felt like seeking shelter from the violent and depressing atmosphere , and once again turned to the opera for a bit of respite.  The calm of Baroque music was soothing and almost brought relaxation to my body. it was a rare performance of Ariodante. A story of love and jealousy, intrigues and betrayal presented through Handel’s celestial music. A spellbinding production by David McVicar, one of today’s most important opera directors, and conducted by Baroque specialist Jean-Christophe Spinosi with the Barrocade Orchestra. I sat through three and a half hours of spellbinding magnificent music.  The baroque style arias were perfectly executed.  The intrigues matched the villainy in the outside world, showing that indeed, like Ecclesiastics claims “there is nothing new under the sun”. The outcome, like in any respectable Hollywood movie, is the demise and murder of the villain, and the coronation of the happy couple with a magnificent chorus which rendered a majestic atmosphere to the finale. A fairy tale of all’s well that ends well.

Two days later we were reminded of the reality we live in.  In bright daylight  army and police units entered a town, surrounded the house in which two known terrorist were hiding. In the ensuing battle 11 people were killed, and dozens wounded.  The cycle of blood and revenge has resumed.  Two young men, brothers, drove on the road leading through an Arab village in the West Bank. They were shot and killed by terrorists.  The counter-revenge was quick to come.  Settlers of nearby Jewish villages took the law into their own hands. It was a bloody pogrom in Hawara.  Houses were set on fire with people in them, cars were torched, an older woman was killed, while the police or the army did not interfere, and some of the “brave” leaders in the parliament sent encouraging messages. The prime minister’s reaction was a call to all citizens not to take the law into their own hands. After rebuke from world leaders 8 people, among them some minors are arrested.  It is an upside-down situation in which demonstrators for democracy are called anarchists and perpetrators of a pogrom are called Zionists.  Like in a Hollywood movie, the bad guys and the good ones can be recognized by the color of their head covers. The white hats always win.  Two days later another person, this time a tourist driving on a road to the Dead See was shot and killed. Ther revenge wheel keeps turning.

I feel like shouting “stop the world, I would like to get off”, which is not really possible. I need creativity and beauty in my life.  Cultivate compassion, share respect and acceptance.  After all we are all human beings, each of us unique, and that is the most beautiful aspect of humanity.  As a human being I need contact and coregulation. I need to feel part of a group, share appreciation and respect.  Perhaps I need to go back and experience another opera. This month the playbill is Mozart’s Don Giovanni.  An opera Buffa, full of playful intrigue, blending comedy, melodrama and supernatural punishment. I am looking forward to see it together with my favorite partner for whom Mozart is the best music for the soul. We need some laughter; it is the best antidote to despair.

— 2023-03-05