tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999907.post2971885871722058928..comments2024-01-24T08:24:14.555-05:00Comments on My Favorite Intermissions: Everyone Loves a GalaMaury D'annatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14136129943169313348noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999907.post-56286270057486905242007-04-25T11:35:00.000-05:002007-04-25T11:35:00.000-05:00I was there. I can't offer a very sophisticated re...I was there. I can't offer a very sophisticated revue, but I found Podles to be a fascinating singer. <BR/>When it was over I was very surprised to find out how long the evening had been. (I missed some of SNL) This is unusual for me, it's usually the other way 'round. <BR/>I had heard Perry Lorenzo give a talk at the Seattle library where he described the Handel operas as a sort of scat singing contest and was prepared to be bored. But I wasn't thanks partly to Ewa<BR/>I also don't like to pass up an opportunity to heap praise on Speight Jenkins. Bravo Speight and the Seattle Opera company.<BR/>If this hick town is ever going to rise out of it's cultural dustbin it will be largly because of Speight. I hope there are others somewhere.<BR/>Screw you Gerry Schwarz!Lane Savanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08678485361119088480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999907.post-48045355880865247282007-04-09T12:35:00.000-05:002007-04-09T12:35:00.000-05:00Alex:I have not found a written report on Podles a...Alex:<BR/><BR/>I have not found a written report on Podles at Seattle, but I was there for closing night in the back of the ORCH section. There was plenty of confused talk that night by people around me about watching two trouser roles and a countertenor AND a male soprano (David Korn). It seemed to distract some, while others were modernly-confused by Podles herking -and-jerking her head to hit the flurry of notes in some passages.<BR/><BR/>Interestingly, I found the night to be very good and I was more awake for this one than many productions lately. And for me, Podles was the reason.El Doctorcitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14110453836933276264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999907.post-32445146465015314272007-04-06T23:33:00.000-05:002007-04-06T23:33:00.000-05:00how was it how was it??*bouncy bouncy*how was it how was it??<BR/><BR/>*bouncy bouncy*alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04585425683549946199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999907.post-68102853468892474722007-04-04T21:04:00.000-05:002007-04-04T21:04:00.000-05:00What's 'platonic', precious? We wonders.What's 'platonic', precious? We wonders.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999907.post-79570710066574322362007-04-04T18:09:00.000-05:002007-04-04T18:09:00.000-05:00hmmm, i can't actually remember if my last comment...hmmm, i can't actually remember if my last comment went through...apparently not, unless they need to be blog-writer approved :)<BR/><BR/>in any case, i had to tune into the bcast at work via headphones, and because of doing this and that caught very little of it.<BR/><BR/>i think that AN's voice has a particular magic at piano and pianissimo volumes. as a result, i think she works a special kind of magic with Manon's entreaties to Des Grieux at St. Sulpice. It's a keening sound of true sorrow with flecks of desperation yielding seduction and attraction rather than attempting to include them as ingredients, as i think many do with less intoxicating results.<BR/><BR/>That aside, Monster-chan and Maury-kun, what are your thoughts on the Daniels as Cesare? Based on my limited experience of his voice, I can't reconcile the aural picture I have of it with the low tessitura demands of Cesare. It seems to me a role best-fitted to someone like Ewa Podles! (omg omg). Speaking of, are there any reviews of her performances of the role in Seattle? I've done a quick search and the blogosphere yields reviews which don't "get" a female singing a male character, etc. (and as such, I have trouble taking such a review seriously).alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04585425683549946199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999907.post-15033695553688878252007-04-04T15:22:00.001-05:002007-04-04T15:22:00.001-05:00Monster: Yeah, let's email about that.Monster: Yeah, let's email about that.Maury D'annatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14136129943169313348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999907.post-81023771946920487302007-04-04T15:22:00.000-05:002007-04-04T15:22:00.000-05:00Anonymous:Go back and read my blog if you're inter...Anonymous:<BR/><BR/>Go back and read my blog if you're interested--I am quite fair about Fleming, and I'm just as annoyed as you are by cults of detraction. I think the main reason I stopped reading Opera-L and (longer ago) r.m.o. was I couldn't stand the personality-disordered Domingo bashers any more. I do think Fleming's become something much less than she was--her Arabella in Houston some ten years ago was stunning. These days I just find her, and I know the word gets tossed at her a lot, mannered, and I'm not much able to enjoy her interpretations. Occasionally there's a return to form like her Berg songs at Carnegie, and I'm pleased for her, especially as she seems to be a warm and lovely person.<BR/><BR/>By the way, I also have mixed feelings about Netrebko, and have said so, including in this blog entry. I think I called her Elvira amateurish, because it was. That's not how Bellini is sung. She's a wonderful physical actress with good vocal raw materials, does too little acting with the voice at times, and sings rep I think is just wrong for her.Maury D'annatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14136129943169313348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999907.post-16158356038125282382007-04-04T15:18:00.000-05:002007-04-04T15:18:00.000-05:00Maury, I would totally be up for a Cesare (dependi...Maury, I would totally be up for a Cesare (depending on what night, natch), and given how it's selling, I might well be able to enable the special happy fun tickets, as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999907.post-48931878913723323182007-04-04T15:03:00.000-05:002007-04-04T15:03:00.000-05:00I have no problem with people being objective abou...I have no problem with people being objective about Fleming's individual performances. But I think it's unfortunate that too often it lapses into personal hatred and vitriol. Some bloggers seem to think it's cool to be snarky about everything she does.<BR/><BR/>I agree that Netrebko is the better stage presence, but not the better singer. Not even in Manon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999907.post-35192605048497165832007-04-04T14:19:00.000-05:002007-04-04T14:19:00.000-05:00Maury, who are these people reading your blog? Jee...Maury, who are these people reading your blog? Jeez. It's like Opera-L gone even worse. ("Is Domingo good or bad? Bad! Good! He's 66! Hes 73! I called Aprile on the phone the other day!")<BR/><BR/>I saw the Fleming Manon last year, and it was NOTHING like what I heard last night. Comparitively speaking, it was a pretty cautious reading. <BR/><BR/>And indeed, Trebs tends to actually hold a vowel in a steady place for more than a beat or so.<BR/><BR/>Though every time I say somethig even a bit snitty about Fleming, I remember that I'd like to invite her over for snacks. She seems lovely. <BR/><BR/>Checkin' Reality, J von WJonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04828036288155133139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999907.post-64017605796103497562007-04-04T13:55:00.000-05:002007-04-04T13:55:00.000-05:00What I mean by fresh approach is she sings it fair...What I mean by fresh approach is she sings it fairly straight instead of fussing with every damn syllable. If you've read this blog at all, you know I'm fond of some of Fleming's work. Her Desdemona was one of the best performances I've ever seen. Her Manon is overwrought, unspontaneous, and not sexy, and I stand by that. <BR/><BR/>Incidentally, same rep? AN sings no Strauss, has never sung the Figaro Countess or Rusalka to the best of my knowledge, 0% of Fleming's calling card roles. Fleming hasn't sung Mimi or Elvira in Puritani, no Gilda, no comic Donizetti...in fact I'd say Manon and Violetta are pretty much the only overlap.<BR/><BR/>So no, I'm not feeling particularly in need of a reality check.Maury D'annatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14136129943169313348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17999907.post-62978266970510596012007-04-04T13:20:00.000-05:002007-04-04T13:20:00.000-05:00http://community.livejournal.com/queeroperapunks/9...http://community.livejournal.com/queeroperapunks/909323.html<BR/><BR/>Check you head. Anyone who calls AN´s blatant rip-off of Fleming´s Manon a fresh approach is definitely in need of a reality check. She sings all the same rep as Fleming and rips off her recordings, albeit without the ability to make herself understood in ANY language. Pardon my French...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com