Previn - A Streetcar Named Desire / Previn, Fleming, Gilfry, San Francisco Opera
There are those who believe (whether they admit it or not) that  opera is an exclusively European art whose history ended with the death  of Puccini. They are, of course, entitled to this delusion, but it  creates serious obstacles for a vital form of new music and it deprives  opera fans of some memorable theatrical experiences. For most of the  20th century and very intensively in its last half, American composers  have been transforming literary masterpieces into operas that deserve  and are gradually winning a place in the repertoire with the European  classics. WithA Streetcar Named Desire(1998), André  Previn is the latest addition to the list of these composers, with Gian  Carlo Menotti, Dominick Argento, John Corigliano, Carlisle Floyd, John  Harbison, William Bolcom, Mark Adamo, and others.Previn came to classical music from a background as a jazz pianist and  soundtrack composer, credentials that may raise a few eyebrows but  obviously developed his sense of what works dramatically in music and a  knack for regional flavor in an opera set in New Orleans. The libretto  preserves the impact of the original Tennessee Williams play about the  fragile Blanche DuBois (brilliantly portrayed by Renée Fleming)  and the loutish Stanley Kowalski (sung with precision and a subtle  sense of character by Rodney Gilfry). There are no weaknesses in the  supporting cast and there are particularly fine performances by  Elizabeth Futral and Anthony Dean Griffey. Previn, a world-class  conductor, is of course an expert in his own music, and Kirk Browning  has a convincing approach to the opera's visual elements. Highly  recommended to anyone not allergic to modern opera.--Joe  McLellan