Aug 28, 2008
Pages tagged “Opera - General”
Belatedly, Video & Reviews for Conlon's Latest "Recovered Voices" Effort
James Conlon uses his post as LA Opera music director to champion works of composers affected by the Third Reich. LA Opera’s double bill of Viktor Ullmann’s comedy “The Broken Jug” (from a story by Heinrich von Kleist) and Alexander Zemlinsky’s tragedy “The Dwarf” (from a story by Oscar Wilde) opened on February 17.
James Conlon uses his post as LA Opera music director to champion works of composers affected by the Third Reich. LA Opera’s double bill of Viktor Ullmann’s comedy “The Broken Jug” (from a story by Heinrich von Kleist) and Alexander Zemlinsky’s tragedy “The Dwarf” (from a story by Oscar Wilde) opened on February 17.
A Dream Tristan I Never Dreamed Of, But Should Have
Every winter it seems like “something’s going around at work” but this is ridiculous! Six singers have made unscheduled Met debuts in the past two weeks, and one, the American tenor Robert Dean Smith, offered a Tristan that ought to go down as one of those “Were you there?” moments.
Every winter it seems like “something’s going around at work” but this is ridiculous! Six singers have made unscheduled Met debuts in the past two weeks, and one, the American tenor Robert Dean Smith, offered a Tristan that ought to go down as one of those “Were you there?” moments.
Backstage at the Opera
Heather Mac Donald is intrigued by the backstage insights that add so much to the Met’s movie theater broadcast program. For a longer look at some of the unsung (but not totally unsinging) backstage crews who make opera possible, Bonnie recommends a wonderful documentary about life as a Ring Cycle stage hand.
Heather Mac Donald is intrigued by the backstage insights that add so much to the Met’s movie theater broadcast program. For a longer look at some of the unsung (but not totally unsinging) backstage crews who make opera possible, Bonnie recommends a wonderful documentary about life as a Ring Cycle stage hand.
Renee Fleming Sings Korngold
Several readers have alerted us to this performance of Renee Fleming singing the Korngold aria “Ich ging zu ihm” from Das Wunder Der Heliane. Learn a little more about this rarely-performed work.
Several readers have alerted us to this performance of Renee Fleming singing the Korngold aria “Ich ging zu ihm” from Das Wunder Der Heliane. Learn a little more about this rarely-performed work.
In Defense of "Cavalleria Rusticana"
For a 90-minute bicycle ride, I chose Pietro Mascagni’s 1890 opera, Cavalleria Rusticana to provide the right sort of distraction to accompany a boring, but regrettably necessary task. To my chagrin, some Mascagni lunatics got wind of my less than flattering perception of this hoary score, and requested the “right of rebuttal”; I quote this odious phrase, as an example of their impenetrable legalese.
For a 90-minute bicycle ride, I chose Pietro Mascagni’s 1890 opera, Cavalleria Rusticana to provide the right sort of distraction to accompany a boring, but regrettably necessary task. To my chagrin, some Mascagni lunatics got wind of my less than flattering perception of this hoary score, and requested the “right of rebuttal”; I quote this odious phrase, as an example of their impenetrable legalese.
Pilgrim's Music By Berlioz and Wagner
There are at least two moments of indisputable greatness in Wagnerâs Tannhauser: The act 2 intervention by Elizabeth to save Tannhauserâs life from the likes of Biterolf and his cruel and cowardly cohorts, and Tannhauserâs act 1 epiphany in the valley of the Wartburg, with the unforgettable, immortal counterpoint of the shepherd boyâs lovely melody, fresh as May: âDer Mai! Der Mai!â
There are at least two moments of indisputable greatness in Wagnerâs Tannhauser: The act 2 intervention by Elizabeth to save Tannhauserâs life from the likes of Biterolf and his cruel and cowardly cohorts, and Tannhauserâs act 1 epiphany in the valley of the Wartburg, with the unforgettable, immortal counterpoint of the shepherd boyâs lovely melody, fresh as May: âDer Mai! Der Mai!â