Opera: The Extravagant Art discussion
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What operas have you seen recently?
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Jenna
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Feb 05, 2009 06:55AM
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Falstaff at the Pittsburgh Opera, with Mark Delavan. Watch this:http://www.post-gazette.com/multimedi...
Patrice, is that the Tosca that's an opera film, rather than a staged opera? I've never seen it; I have trouble with the lip-synching in the opera films I've seen, except for Domingo's Carmen, which was really good. Also, there are often unfortunate cuts, and strange scenes inserted, for example in the filmed Traviata with Domingo and Stratas, the repeated clips of Alfredo's innocent sister being spurned by her priggish fiancé, etc. I found those scenes jarring, and it put me off opera films.
But I think I should give that Tosca a try, based on your recommendation.
But I think I should give that Tosca a try, based on your recommendation.
Okay, I'm sold! I just checked my township library web site and one branch has a copy. Maybe I'll drive over there and pick it up today.
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I am determined to see the opera "Dead Man Walking" and I cannot explain why. The opera gets warm reviews, but not raves. I liked the movie OK, but I was not completely enthralled with it. I have been doing a search every season to find out where it is playing, but so far, it has not worked out for me. There is hardly any place in the country where one cannot fly in for the day, or I could do an overnighter. We know opera is irrational so perhaps we should not be surprised if it makes us behave irrationally (sigh). I know it's too early to search next season, but if anyone sees it listed on a program anywhere, please let me know.
Jenna wrote: "M I have to admit I love love love Zeffirelli's La traviata though I can see how the intercutting to the sister/fiance was bothersome. That scene didn't bother me, but the memory of them rowing on..."
This DVD was my very first exposure to Traviata, and those bits at the end really confused me -- was this woman dying, or not?? LOL
But I agree that the performances of the 2 stars are outstanding. And I even like the overture section as Violetta wanders through her house as movers pack up everything. That I didn't find confusing!
What I don't get is why they let this DVD go out of print.
This DVD was my very first exposure to Traviata, and those bits at the end really confused me -- was this woman dying, or not?? LOL
But I agree that the performances of the 2 stars are outstanding. And I even like the overture section as Violetta wanders through her house as movers pack up everything. That I didn't find confusing!
What I don't get is why they let this DVD go out of print.
Paula wrote: "I am determined to see the opera "Dead Man Walking" and I cannot explain why. The opera gets warm reviews, but not raves. I liked the movie OK, but I was not completely enthralled with it. I hav..."
We will try to help you fulfill your mission, Paula! Though I never hear about performances unless they're in Opera News, but you never know.
We will try to help you fulfill your mission, Paula! Though I never hear about performances unless they're in Opera News, but you never know.
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Last opera I saw was one of the Met HD offerings in a theater and can't even summon which it was now -- no fault of the opera at all, solely the state of my mind -- and had a wonderful experience of conversation with another patron during the imtermission. Last live performance was some long while back at the local university's end of year productions by their opera students. Need to move performance schedules, HD showings and such up on my radar settings and make more of an effort to view more either on PBS or in the movie theaters if not a live production.
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When my TV/VCR works, I try to catch all the local PBS airings though.
Most recently I had the opportunity to watch "The queen of spades" in Novi Sad. It was as "traditional" as it gets, and as should be :-).There were no famous singers involved but it was nice none the less.
I really loved the character of the Countess and her aria in the second act.
Tchaikovsky has, as always, outdone himself when it comes to music.
At first it was a bit unusual to follow it in Russian, but you get used to it.
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A few weeks ago I saw Nabucco. It was nice, the mezzo soprano that has sung the part of Fenena was the same that I had the opportunity ti listen to both in the Pique Dame and Il Trovatore. She sings wonderful and it was worth seeing her. The soprano, on the other had was not asgood as I would like her to be.
Jenna wrote: "Seeing Pique Dame would be interesting. Only know plot. A good production is worth seeing, though, even if no famous singers involved!"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UfqTX...
The aria of the Countess, if you would like to hear it :-)
I just saw the final dress rehearsal of Die Fledermaus at the Met. It was hilarious! My full review is here...http://www.emmaiadanza.com/2013/12/27...
Ok, I saw L'elisir D'amore and I MET ANNA NETREBKO!!!
We just attended the semi-staged La Traviata at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa on Thursday evening -- it the third such opera/concert offering from the resident Pacific Symphony with excellent soloists and the Pacific Chorale and sometimes the OC Children's Chorus. This is an effort to once again put into place some opera in Orange County which has sadly been lacking that portion of the music scene since the demise of the county opera company some years ago. We have attended all three and loved them! The other two were La Boheme and Tosca.
That company must really like Puccini and Verdi!
I mentioned elsewhere here that Tuesday I will be seeing Paul's Case, a chamber opera based on a short story written by Willa Cather.
I just saw La Cenerentola at the Met (it was the last performance of the season) and I went to the stage door afterwards and met Joyce DiDonato, Juan Diego Flórez, Pietro Spagnoli, and Luca Pisaroni (I also took selfies with them, and I had a short conversation with Luca!) http://www.emmaiadanza.com/2014/05/10...
Wagner's Flying Dutchman at the Royal Opera House. Going to see Carmen in January.
I saw Welsh National Opera's Autumn season productions of Khovanshchina, From the House of the Dead and Eugine Onegin - awesome! WNO are a fabulous company. I also saw Thomas Adés The Exterminating Angel live streamed from the Met Opera last night. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I particularly liked the music for Act 1. I look forward to attending a Thomas Adés concert in Birmingham UK next Spring when Thomas will be conducting.
I saw Macbeth at the Royal Opera House last night. The production was stylized, as indeed the original play would have been, but no attempt to impose the director's concept against the plot.Before I knew the work it sounded a bit of a joke with Shakespeare with the cliches of early Verdi (choruses of assassins and witches, drinking song, brass bank for Duncan's entrance) but it works musically, even though it does not surpass the original play. Falstaff does.
Terrence wrote: "I saw Macbeth at the Royal Opera House last night. The production was stylized, as indeed the original play would have been, but no attempt to impose the director's concept against the plot.Befor..."
Excellent Terence! The seems to be a lot of productions of 'The Scottish play' on at the moment. I saw WNO's production of Verdi's Macbeth in 2016 - Weird but wonderful!
Recently I have seen Welsh National Opera's production of Verdi's La forza del destino. Not my favourite of Verdi's works. It didn't seem to flow. I have also seen Birmingham Opera Company's new commission: Wake! based around the story of Lazarus. Two hundred performers and a 36 piece orchestra with additional musicians, and a promenading audience in a disused warehouse. BOC like to push the boundaries!
I saw Moby Dick at Pittsburgh Opera. Jake Heggie is the composer. This is a newer production from the original one, and I absolutely loved it!
Saturday, I went to Sullivan’s Iolanthe at the English National Opera. I knew it from records as a child, but I’ve not seen it on stage. The combination of the beauty of the music and absurdity of the words is wonderful and this performance did it justice. I found a few of the extra gimmicks tedious, but on the whole er enjoyable.
Yesterday I saw a double opera production at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (UK): Charpentier's, Les Arts Florissants and Offenbach's, Mesdames de la Halle. Both well performed by the students. I most enjoyed the Ofenbach work.
Sounds good. Did the double production make for a long day?
Paula wrote: "I am determined to see the opera "Dead Man Walking"...If you're hanging in there in this group I have good news: Dead Man Walking is on the Met's schedule for its 23-24 season! I am hoping it'll be live-streamed. Fingers crossed.
