Xerxes and Cav/Pag from NZ Opera.

Andreas Scholl concert. (drool drool).

The tiny Opera factory (students ) is putting on Amahl and the Night Visitors at Christmas

Thank heaven for Met Live in HD.

The Marinsky is amazing. Several items a day! When I go to the opera in NZ, I hear more Russian than English in the audience.

 

I'm watching a Mariinsky production right now - Betrothal in a Monastery - with a young Anna Netrebko. Very interesting staging. Very effective use of the one "machine" they got, something Lepage and the Met might want to learn from instead of putting that huge thing on stage to hinder any effective movement of the Ring characters. This one at the Mariinsky just by being lowered and raised adopts multiple functions and shapes, while being light and elegant and providing plenty of space and atmosphere.

This Betrothal is a delightful production. I had the impression of the Mariinsky as a stiff old thing, I guess Gergiev is bringing this venerable institution up to speed; what a remarkable job! Have you seen this one? (see picture of the cover in Current Watching)

 

I'm not into opera but I walk by Lyric Opera of Chicago practically every day. Their calendar shows 7 or 8 operas for 2010-11 season.

 

He he, that's a waste. Maybe you should try one

 

20 at Royal Opera House.

I'd love to visit St. Petersburg - looks fantastic.

 

20 at Royal Opera House.

My pick would be Adriana Lecouvreur with Gheorghiu (if she shows) and Kaufmann.

Have you got any more visits to ROH planned, Annie?

 

Aww here they do a lousy 15 per season.

www.dno.nl

 

What, you are complaining? Only I am allowed to complained with my lousy 2 operas.

Anyway it's an interesting line-up, very adventurous, lots of comtemporary stuff, and some Baroque. Are you going to any of them?

 

Of course,the Met has by far the longest and most diverse season of any US opera house,and only those of Chicago and San Francisco come anywhere close to this. The Met's budget is bigger than all the other US opera conapnies combined !
Many of the regional opera companies around the US do only three or four operas per season,for the simple reason that opera is the most expensive art form, and the generous government funding which is taken for granted in Europe doesn't exist.
The NYC opera has been forced by financial difficulties to offer a briefer season,but it has interesting repertoire,such as Intermozeeo by R.Strauss,A Quiet Place by Bernstein etc this season. It's very existence has been threatened recently because of dark season necessitated by renovation of what was formerly known as the NY State theater and other difficulties,by the company appears to be alive and kicking,fortunately.
Despite the difficult economic times, opera in America is alive and kicking, and more popular than ever in this nation, and the number of opera companies has grown exponentially from the past .

 

Yes that is true they are adventurous, and even baroque and classical operas get a good modern makeover in terms of staging.

Yes i am, this season ive only been to Les Vespres Siciliennes, but this week im going to Die Soldaten.
Ticket sales havent started for most of the others but there are many i would like to see. Particularly Die Rosenkavalier which is conducted by Simon Rattle!