DIE GEZEICHNETEN

Yes, you read that correctly.  Last evening was the dress rehearsal of a German opera by a Hitler-banned composer, Franz Schreker, who mercifully died in 1934.  I say "mercifully" because he did not have to endure the Nazi regime.  James Conlon, the renowned Los Angeles Opera conductor, has the past few years presented Recovered Voices.  Operas that were not allowed by the Nazis.  THE STIGMATIZED (English name) is one of those operas.  Seeing it was an intellectual (whatever that means) experience.  Voices and production were superb.  I invited F, an Italian friend who usually believes the only real operas are Italian operas.  Perhaps he is right.