Thread: Looking Forward

So what are you looking forward to, in opera?

For me: Natalie Dessay doing Tales of Hoffmann at the SF Opera.

Going to see the new production of Parsifal for the 2nd time on monday. The first time was an overwhelming experience so...!

Isn't it great when those overwhelming experiences come through for you?

Who stood out, in the first performance? I've seen Falk Struckmann only twice, once on the Fidelio with Karita Mattila, once as Scarpia in person. He wasn't too bad but I wouldn't have gone out of my way to see him. Who was best?

The world premiere of Stockhausen's Mittwoch in August in Birmingham (of all places).

Les Troyens at ROH. I'm seeing a performance on 1st July but also going to the final dress rehearsal today. It's 03:20 & I'm eating my breakfast. I'm setting off at 05:00 to walk to the station to get the train at 05:55.

It doesn't start 'til 11:00 but our train service is poor so I want to give myself every chance of getting there in time.

Just a bit excited!

Originally Posted by guythegreg

Isn't it great when those overwhelming experiences come through for you?

Who stood out, in the first performance? I've seen Falk Struckmann only twice, once on the Fidelio with Karita Mattila, once as Scarpia in person. He wasn't too bad but I wouldn't have gone out of my way to see him. Who was best?

There werent really any week links in the cast. I think the best part for me was the staging and the decor, but a single highlight would have to be Parsifal's enlightenment in the 2nd act. Both Petra Lang and Christopher Ventirs sang tremendously, but I have to give credit to director Pierre Audi for directing that scene. IT was completely believable, and you could feel every utterance in your bones.

Originally Posted by Jeremy Marchant

The world premiere of Stockhausen's Mittwoch in August in Birmingham (of all places).

I've heard such terrible things about Stockhausen, none of which I can remember. Have you ever seen anything by him?

Originally Posted by emiellucifuge

There werent really any week links in the cast. I think the best part for me was the staging and the decor, but a single highlight would have to be Parsifal's enlightenment in the 2nd act. Both Petra Lang and Christopher Ventirs sang tremendously, but I have to give credit to director Pierre Audi for directing that scene. IT was completely believable, and you could feel every utterance in your bones.

Yes, the director gets a lot of blame when things go wrong; but when things go right he's a genius. Not a Wagnerliebhaber myself, but you almost make me wish I could go!

Originally Posted by sospiro

Les Troyens at ROH. I'm seeing a performance on 1st July but also going to the final dress rehearsal today. It's 03:20 & I'm eating my breakfast. I'm setting off at 05:00 to walk to the station to get the train at 05:55.

It doesn't start 'til 11:00 but our train service is poor so I want to give myself every chance of getting there in time.

Just a bit excited!

OMG Les Troyens at ROH!! How I envy you. Good luck.

Porgy and Bess at the Cincinnati Opera this coming Thursday with Measha Brueggergosman and Jonathan Lemalu in the title roles.

They're doing Porgy and Bess here in NYC, except Audra McDonald just went down with a cold. I really should see it; Tommasini put it on his 100 best operas ever ... and a seatmate recommended it too, one night.

Originally Posted by sospiro

Les Troyens at ROH

So ... how was it!!!

Originally Posted by guythegreg

So ... how was it!!!

I'll do a proper review after I've seen the performance on Sunday. But the rehearsal left me exhilarated, stunned & desperate to see it again. The music & singing fulfilled all my hopes & the staging is vintage McVicar. The horse, well horse's head, is HUGE, it breathes fire, is mechanised & made of metal, but didn't contain any Greeks. At the first interval I met up with a friend who'd I'd only met previously on Twitter & afterwards we met up again & went to the Stage Door. This is me with Director of Opera Kasper Holten.



My friend & I just couldn't tear ourselves away from the opera house & hung around the Stage Door for another hour, just talking & remembering everything we could. Then we went for a coffee which lasted another 3 hours & I eventually left London at 9.00 pm to go home. I was exhausted on Saturday but it was totally & utterly worth it.

I love it!!! You had a great time!!! (Are those pearls? they work.) And you didn't freak the poor guy out or anything! I always go a little nuts when I'm meeting someone I have too much respect for. But he looks relaxed and pleasant.

You know, some things McVicar does right and some things ... I just don't know. His Manon, with Natalie Dessay, was just a little over the top. A step to the left, if you will, and then a few more steps, in a hurry, and then down a set of stairs ... lol. But his Trovatore, at the Met, is just exuberant and splendid! Well, we'll see. I'm so glad you had fun.

Originally Posted by guythegreg

I love it!!! You had a great time!!! (Are those pearls? they work.) And you didn't freak the poor guy out or anything! I always go a little nuts when I'm meeting someone I have too much respect for. But he looks relaxed and pleasant.

Oh believe me when it's a singer I really like, I go to pieces & can't string two intelligent words together! Although he's a very clever guy & I admire his work, to me Kasper Holten is just an administrator.

Originally Posted by guythegreg

You know, some things McVicar does right and some things ... I just don't know. His Manon, with Natalie Dessay, was just a little over the top. A step to the left, if you will, and then a few more steps, in a hurry, and then down a set of stairs ... lol. But his Trovatore, at the Met, is just exuberant and splendid! Well, we'll see. I'm so glad you had fun.

I agree. I'm not a total fan but he's never boring.