Theater Thursday - The Garden of the Finzi-Continis

We were given complimentary tickets to The Garden of the Finzi-Continis for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

What: The Garden of the Finzi-Continis 

Where: Museum of Jewish Heritage 

            36 Battery Place

            New York, NY

Who: Recommended for  Ages16 and Up

When: Through February 6, 2022

The Garden of the Finzi-Continis is a new opera by Ricky Ian Gordon. It is a joint production of the NYTF and the New York City Opera which is based on the 1962 book of the same name by Giorgio Bassani. There was also a 1970 film adaption of the novel which won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

The story takes place mainly just prior to and in the early part of World War II. As things are first heating up, the wealthy Finzi-Continis hang out in their walled garden acting as if they are immune to what is going on in the world and in their own country. However, as the situation worsens and more and more antisemitic laws are passed, they realize even their wealth cannot protect them from what is happening. The story is told from the reminiscence of a man named Giorgio a middle-class young man who was in love with the Finzi-Continis' daughter, Micole and who therefore became a part of their circle. 

It is a bittersweet story that seems like the perfect vehicle for an opera, and the singing voices are indeed lovely. However, the music, for the most part, seems very repetitious. There aren't any songs that really stand out.  Also, the show is almost three hours long and you definitely feel it because the whole thing really just seems to drag along at times particularly in the first act. The second act is somewhat better. Not only is it actually shorter there seems to be at least a little bit more variety in the music and the scenes just don't seem as overly long.  

In any case, one of the most memorable and important things about this opera is that it premiered on Holocaust Remembrance Day. With all the hatred that is going on in the world right now, it is more important than ever to remember what can happen and to keep it from ever happening again.

And that's our view. Tune in Saturday for another installment of our Working in Theater series.

Photo credits: All The Garden of the Finzi-Continis production photos by Alan Chin