COMMENTS,
OPINIONS AND CRITICAL RESPONSE
There have been over 150 reviews, articles and commentaries on The Dreyfus
Trilogy and innumerable testimonials from distinguished personalities
and institutions.
HEADLINES
"DREYFUS
AFFAIR CONQUERS THE OPERATIC STAGE"
"OPERA WITH COMMITMENT FOR HUMANITY"
"AN IMPORTANT WORK AT THE RIGHT TIME"
"BERLIN APPLAUDS A POWERFUL OPERATIC MESSAGE"
"SUCCESS FOR ANTIRACISM"
"OPERA OF THE CENTURY"
"SENSATIONAL PREMIERE OF THE OPERA DREYFUS"
"DEEPLY IMPRESSED"
"WARNING FOR OUR TIMES."
'The
Dreyfus Affair' is an Opera one must experience. The work is provoking.
It persuades by its relevance. It is important. In George Whyte's libretto
there are many glimpses into the future and into the past. He bites into
the story he wants to tell and pulls out the bloody rags of truth.
Berliner
Morgenpost, BERLIN
A
total success paid tribute to a work of compassion which, by evoking one
of the most monstrous cases of a miscarriage of justice, exhorts us to
vigilance and racism. This musically dramatic rendering of the Dreyfus
Affair has, without a doubt, attained its objective.
Opera International,
PARIS
'The
Dreyfus Affair' is an opera with such impact it brings to mind Alban Berg's
1925 masterpiece "Wozzeck". At the beginning , at Dreyfus' 1894 trial,
when a crowd arrives clamoring for his death, the chorus tears through
the stage's walls, which are paper, to chilling effect. The jagged edges
- of French Society - remain in every scene.
Associated Press,
NEW YORK
There
are intimations throughout the opera of the horrors which German antisemitism
led to 50 years after the Dreyfus case. Whyte's message is a compelling,
uncompromising one. The applause from the first night audience at the
Deutsche Oper was long, loud and unanimous
The European, LONDON
An
intense spectacle, uncomplicated, effective, descriptive and passionate.
The characters are powerfully driven to hatred, human relationships are
abruptly severed, intimate feelings depicted with passion. A work of great
talent and high professionalism.
Tribune de Genève,
GENEVA
Alfred
Dreyfus was the subject of a stirring Opera. In a montage of flashbacks,
arguments and rage, angry mobs burst from the sides, and Emile Zola (bass
Artur Korn) is again the conscience of a nation, singing lines from his
scathing 'J'Accuse'. Attending the world premiere at Berlin's Deutsche
Oper, Dreyfus' grandson Jean-Louis Levy wiped away tears as the story
unfolded. The Deutsche Oper has created an impressive monument to Dreyfus.
Time Magazine,
NEW YORK
In
light of the growing racial intolerance throughout Europe this documentation
is a painful reminder of the horrors of the past and constitutes a warning
to future generations. Material of this kind brings this whole period
into sharper focus and it helps us in our aim to promote understanding
between people and nations and to prevent the recurrence of the horrors
of the past.
Institute of Contemporary
History and Wiener
Library,
LONDON
With
your work you make a worthwhile contribution towards the awareness of
young people to be on their guard against racism, hostility towards strangers
and all kinds of obstructions to liberty which are more current than before
in the European Year against Racism of 1997.
Prof. Dr Rita Süssmuth,
President of the
German Parliament
Impressive.
The natural origins of hate to minorities which it stresses cause us to
reflect about the appropriate preventive measures which should be used
in order to fight against such a tendency.
Amon de Hartig
Supreme Court of Jerusalem
'The Accused' is a most magnificent and important work. Publications such
as yours serve to remind the world of the utter injustice and futility
of antisemitism.
Prof. Glenda Abramson,
Centre for Hebrew
and Jewish Studies,
OXFORD
What
a splendid piece of craftsmanship artistically, culturally historically,
intellectually, politically and visually. Inter Nationes is to be congratulated
upon the publication of this dramatic documentary focusing on the ever
evil presence of racism and antisemitism.
International Theater
Institute of the United
States
Impressive,
in its inter-artistic conception, important in its historic humanistic
message.
Prof. Jaacov Iram,
Bar Ilan University,
ISRAEL
The
book is beautifully and sensibly produced and is a fitting compliment
to its content, which, in its complete honesty, integrity and passion
for truth, is a searing investigation into the martyrdom of modern Jewry
exposing the utter absurdity, baseness, ignorance and vulgarity of common
antisemiitism. Dr.
Elisabeth Maxwell,
Remembering for the
Future
,OXFORD
It
is a timely reminder to all of us here in Europe and the rest of the world
of the dangers of antisemitism and racism and the devastating effect that
they have had on our culture and society. As the architects of the future
"we must remember the past" and this publication is a great stimulus for
our memory. Benjamin
Leon, President
European Union of
Jewish
Students, LONDON
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