‘rotic oratorio’is the odd-sounding definition devised by modern scholars, such as Howard E. Smither, for those pious music dramas employing sex-laden plots from the Bible, the Apocrypha or the lives of Saints in order to give the audience moral instruction in a quasi-operatic, if generally unstaged, form.
In this appealing lunchtime recital programme, Croatian soprano Renata Pokupić demonstrated a rich, varied tonal palette and strong communicative skills as she spanned one hundred years of European song.
Bad news travels fast. Though you are about to read another version of how American diva Renée Fleming failed to bring Lucrezia Borgia alive, let us begin by discussing a few other things you already know.
As long as one keeps in mind that historical value is not the same as aesthetic quality, this DVD of early 1960’s live German TV performances of two short Gian Carlo Menotti operas makes for fascinating viewing.
The Los Angeles Opera Company’ charmingly understated new production
of Così fan tutte will please your eyes and delight your ears, but its story might grieve your romantic soul.
Kudos to the Los Angeles Opera Company for expanding its heretofore limited
Russian repertoire and opening its 26th season with Tchaikovsky’
Eugene Onegin. The romantic work based on the novel in verse of the
same name by Alexander Pushkin, is likely everyone’ favorite
Tchaikovsky opera.
The haughty beauties that are the ancient colleges of Cambridge were definitely feeling the heat this past weekend, and not even the cooling streams of the Cam and its tributaries could assuage the heat of an Indian summer in the Fens of Eastern England.
Without young artists, no art form will thrive or grow. The Royal Opera House’ Jette Parker Young Artists scheme nurtures the best from its young artists that their performances attract thoughtful audiences.
There are some literary texts which, by dint of their intense compression of
incident, their creators’firm control of structure, and the precision of
linguistic nuance, do not naturally seem to lend themselves to operatic
treatment.
Bellini’ La sonnambula does not have the most gripping or
convincing of opera plots: a young girl sleepwalks into a stranger’ room, where she is discovered by her fiancé; disbelieving her pleas of innocence, he jilts her and plans to wed another; but, she is vindicated when she is spied on a nocturnal wander, and the lovers are reconciled.
Ossia Maestro Watching in Fog City. Ten years ago it was German provincialism, now it is the Italian sort wanting to take root in the War Memorial Opera House.
Should I wait until the end of this review to tell you how much fun, how much of a theatrical whoopee cushion Robert Wilson’ production of Die Dreigroschenoper has been at BAM last week?
Bartók’ only opera, a masterpiece to rank with other sole works in
the genre such as Fidelio and Pelléas et Mélisande, was
chosen for the climax of the Philharmonia’ year-long series,
‘nfernal Dance: Inside the World of Béla Bartók’
Luciano Pavarotti died in September 2007, just short of his 72nd birthday and only a few years after his last performance at the Metropolitan Opera, in Tosca.
According to legend, when composing Don Giovanni, Mozart completed
the overture last. It was written the night before the opera’s premiere, while his wife Constanze, a fervent taskmaster, plied him with food and drink to make sure he stayed awake.
It’s very unusual for the Met these days—or any major opera house, in any era—to present a glossy new production with two different stars in the leading role.
“Historically Informed Performance” sure has a nice ring — not only does the acronym capture the trendiness of the movement (“HIP”), but one has to admire the subtle put-down the term encapsulates.
: The Opera Tattler Subscribe to this blog's feed Notes On About SF Opera's Future Seasons How Standing Room Works Official Blogs of West Coast Opera Companies Los Angeles Opera Portland Opera San Diego Opera San Francisco Opera Seattle Opera Vancouver Opera Thomas Cooley and Voices of Music Main Further Casting Changes for SF Opera's Carmen November 07, 2011 Kendall Gladen as Carmen at SF Opera Notes Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's beloved production of Carmen Thiago Arancam as Don José and Kendall Gladen as Carmen in Act I pictured left , photograph by Cory Weaver was revived at San Francisco Opera yesterday afternoon . Nicola Luisotti used his lush , hazy style to good effect on the orchestra . The volume was occasionally overwhelming , mostly in Acts II and III . The string soli were strong .
Jim Lange
2011-11-07
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Jeanne Lamon & Tafelmusik are always top-notch, but countertenor Daniel Taylor is stunning.
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Jeanne Lamon has been performing and recording early music since 1981 with Tafelmusik . Early music orchestras have certainly establishe
Beethoven decided to take in the view of Salt Lake City this week. Identify where Beethoven is in the comments, and you'll be entered to win a pair of tickets to Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony on November 11-12!
To wrap up National Opera Week, we'd like to wish a late happy birthday to opera composer Vicenzo Bellini, who was born November 3, 1801.
Bellini was a musical prodigy, and it is claimed that he could sing an aria by 18 months, was studying music theory at age two, and ...
It’s National Opera Week! We have guest blogs this week from members of the Utah Opera family, explaining their love and relationship with opera. Are you also touched by the opera bug? Tell us about it on our Facebook page, or ...
Jim Lange2011 11 03falseGet thee to a live concert soon. Even if the weather makes you as grumpy as these characters.CenterfalseBarbara Nissman at Carnegie Hall
It’s National Opera Week! We have guest blogs this week from members of the Utah Opera family, explaining their love and relationship with opera. Are you also touched by the opera bug? Tell us about it on our Facebook page, or comment on any ...
It’s National Opera Week! We have guest blogs this week from members of the Utah Opera family, explaining their love and relationship with opera. Are you also touched by the opera bug? Tell us about it on our Facebook page, or comment on any of the Opera ...
In observance of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Gian-Carlo Menotti and as Opera Idaho’s first-ever offering for National Opera Week, a free concert will take place Friday, Nov. 4, 7:30 p.m., at the Opera Idaho Studio, 513 S. 8th Street. The concert will feature Opera Idaho Resident Company members performing music by [...]
You know how this goes, just add a comment to this blog post with where Beethoven is, and be entered to win a pair of tickets to Beethoven's Seventh this weekend!
In honor of Halloween, Beethoven is exploring one of the quirkier landmarks in Salt Lake.
This week, our Resident Artists are visiting five schools: Dugway Elementary, Bluffdale Elementary, Butler Elementary, Columbia Elementary, and Dugway High School.
National Opera week is Oct 28 – Nov 6! Watch our blog, Facebook, and Twitter for all sorts of fun things as we celebrate opera.
Other upcoming education events:
Tuesday, October 25 ...
: , , The Opera Tattler Subscribe to this blog's feed Notes On About SF Opera's Future Seasons How Standing Room Works Official Blogs of West Coast Opera Companies Los Angeles Opera Portland Opera San Diego Opera San Francisco Opera Seattle Opera Vancouver Opera Don Giovanni Log Main Casting Changes for SF Opera's Carmen October 24, 2011 Dudamel conducts LA Phil in Adams , Chapela , Prokofiev Notes Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Gustavo Dudamel pictured left marked the first of six visiting American orchestras to take residency at San Francisco Symphony with Sunday's performance . The program began with Short Ride in a Fast Machine from John Adams . The piece does not pull punches , and the playing was clean if not slightly brash . Enrico Chapela's amusing MAGNETAR , Concerto for
Mona Seghatoleslami2011 10 18falseCenterwFALiEuv1xYtrueYou may have heard people talking about the "Dissonances" Mozart recording by Quatuor Ebène that is one of the thank you gifts when you donate to WV Public Radio this week. Check out the videos to hear
This week, our Resident Artists are just visiting three schools: Holbrook Elem (Davis), Western Hills Elem. (Granite), and Indian Hills Middle (Canyons).
If you follow us on facebook, you'll know that National Opera week is Oct 28 - Nov 6! Watch our blog, facebook, and twitter for all sorts of fun ...
Mona Seghatoleslami2011 10 14falseCenterfalseWe have some good, substantive interviews to post for you here soon, but for now, while we're busy raising money to support WV Public Radio and this site, I have just a few more short silly things
So Many Operas, Why These? Join us this Saturday, October 16 at 10:15am for an insightful talk about the Operas featured on the 2011-12 Season of The Met: Live in HD performances. Followed by The Met live broadcast of Donizetti’s Anna Bolena at 10:55am. Edwards Boise Stadium 22 7701 Overland Rd Boise, ID 83709 (208) [...]