Shapinskaya E.N. Musical Fantasy on the Theme of «The Tempest»: Interpretation of Shakespeare’s Play by the Language of Modern Opera

Abstract: The problem of interpretation of a classical work of art with the help of modern artistic language has been examined in the paper. Opera “The Tempest” by the contemporary British composer Thomas Ades based on the play by Shakespeare and its stage representation have been analysed. The author shows the importance of fantasy element in Shakespeare’s work which helps the composer to show a number of problems of human existence, morals, power, love in a fairy-tale form, which accents the universality of these problems. The article also poses the problem of translating the meanings of the work in a different cultural context and in another cultural form. Methods of textual analysis of materials concerning the work of Th.Ades and its stage representation have been used as well as semantic analysis of cultural texts (the literary source and the operatic text). Elements of comparative study are also present in the paper. The novelty of the research work is in posing the problem of interpretation of a classical work not only by the language of a different period, but by another cultural form, which creates a complicated interpretative matrix. The author introduces into the field of Shakespearean studies the work of Thomas Ades, one of the most interesting composers of our time, who created an original and talented version of “The tempest” by Shakespeare for contemporary opera scene.

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