"Abduction"'s Endless Sparkling and Wagner Retires

The New York Times review of "Abduction from Seraglio" in three sentences:
Diana Damrau's singing, acting, and person in general was sparkling. The rest of the cast sparkled brilliantly also. They lit up the city with said sparkling.

In case you want to read the actual review, here it is. Mine is better though. Nah nah.



Wolfgang Wagner has resigned from his position as head of the Bayreuth opera festival. He was head for at least 57 years, to my understanding. It is not clear who is taking over the festival, Katharina or Eva. After Katharina's disaster a few months ago, I'm sort of voting in the other direction. Having said that, I don't know what kind of person Eva is, so I won't judge. I'll leave it open for the Wagnerites to shed blood over. Not being a Wagnerite, I will stay out of it.



Happy Listening!!! =)

Quel Jour de Fete! (en HD)

Tonio- Juan Diego Florez

Marie- Natalie Dessay

Marquise of Berkenfield- Felicity Palmer

Sulpice- Alessandro Corbelli

Duchess of Krankenthorp- Marian Seldes

Hortensius- Donald Maxwell

Conductor- Marco Armiliato

A sigh and a groan went up in the Metropolitan Opera House when, after minutes of applause and a few mid-opera bows, Juan Diego Florez did not begin an encore. *sigh* Everyone in the movie theater just went "Aw, man." Life went on. Ohhhh, but the JDF fun doesn't stop there! He was simply glorious the whole show! His acting was (in my opinion) even better than at the Barber's last season. His voice was, as usual, amazing and the D flat at the end of his second act aria blew me away! It's still ringing in my ears. I've never heard something like that before, it was beautiful! Well, he's beautiful so it works.

It was wrong of me to say that Natalie Dessay was "sadly neglected" because she received enormous ovations for her numerous arias and final curtain call. I had always thought well of her, and liked her Lucia earlier this season, but this performance sealed the deal! I have officially hitched onto the Natalie Dessay bandwagon!!! Her singing is amazing and her acting is impeccable. Her coloratura is fast and furious, her high notes are sharp, and her personality is as big as the Met stage. Brava.

Felicity Palmer and Alessandro Corbelli were fabulous as the Marquise and Sulpice. Last season Corbelli was dee-heelightful as Gianni Schicci and I'm so glad he's back doing another comic role! Felicity Palmer is no stranger to opera fans and she sounded so wonderful! It made me so happy to hear her. They were so funny together, they worked off of each other and the other cast members so well. They obviously love what they are doing and it was so enjoyable to watch them.

The illustrious (strait-laced, anyone?) Duchess of Krankenthorp was played by the famous Marian Seldes. While this is only a speaking role, it is quite easy for the Duchess to steal the show. Although she had a commanding presence and a knack for all things comic, Madame Seldes might not have a strong hold on the French language. It's tough stuff (I would know, I'm studying it now), so we won't hold it against her! I think that maybe some of her scripted comedy and bursts of English were a little over the top, she was hysterically funny and it's easy to say that she left a lasting impression on the Met audience.

Some may not love this new production my Laurent Pelly, but I thought it was marvelous! His vision of Marie was very different from some other productions (i.e. Sutherland at Covent Garden), but I think it went perfectly with the role. Instead of having Marie be dressed up, Pelly had Dessay in a tank top and overalls, doing all the dirty work and getting messy. She was a true tomboy, and I loved it! The production as a whole was beautiful. Very modern, but not obnoxious or Eurotrash-y. Alessandro Corbelli said in the intermission interview that it was "fresh" and that he loved it. He's absolutely right!

What is there to say about the chorus and orchestra? Marco Armiliato kept the tempo up and made the orchestra sound its best. The best it sounded was during the orchestra and the entr'acte, but it sounded wonderful throughout. The chorus sounded superb and it was a delight to watch them commit to all the physical demands this production calls for.

I'm also seeing this on Friday, so I will have more details then. GO SEE THE ENCORE TOMORROW IN MOVIE THEATERS!!!!!!

Happy Listening!! =)

Mr. Gelb, I'm Ready For My Bis..

Alternate Titles:

To Bis or Not To Bis. That is the Question.

Bis in Our Time.

(both conveniently taken by La Cieca, but that's okay because I like this title, too.)

I tend to buy my HD tickets a little late. I might have to stop doing that since word is getting around that my town movie theater is doing the transmissions. Anyway, I bought mine earlier and can't wait!!!! Juan Diego Florez = <3

Big Question: Will he bis?

I hope so. What a piece of history!

Happy Listening!!!!! =)

Met in the Park Gone (After My First Season!) And My Summer Plans Are in Sudden Disaray!

So after last summer's performance I vowed to go every year to the Met in the Parks concerts. Now that I planned my whole summer around going (not really... hyperbole is my specialty!) Mr. Gelb is cancelling them (for good?), but have no fear! The Alagnas are here! They're doing a concert (not a full length opera) in Prospect Park.

This is a big scale down (even though Mr. Gelb would have us supposed otherwise) and according to some it's due to the "financial troubles" (total Rumor Patrol) that the Met has been having. If that's the case then scale it down! We'll just miss all the history and tradition that goes along with the park concerts. =(

NOTE: This is not a reproach on Mr. Gelb. He has done so many great things for the Met. The Sirius Radio, the HD movie transmissions, the press... The list goes on! We can't expect these things to pop out of thin air and not cost a significant amount of money. I still support Peter Gelb. We can't turn on him (I'm not saying anyone has, I'm just warning) because of this. He knew that it would take some time to pay all of this off. Yes. Of course! I just hope that he can continue with the great things he has planned for our glorious temple of opera.
Viva Peter Gelb!
Viva!


Happy Listening!!! =)

Ban, What Ban? Matthew Polenzani, THAT Matthew Polenzani? (Plus a "Who's Suing Who")

JDF and Peter Gelb admitted that the bis on Monday was not completely spontaneous. In fact, Peter Gelb had asked our dear Juan Diego weeks ago if he would be willing to do an encore. The rest (while also being history...) is explained in the article. We at Score Desk would also like to note that although the NY Times article says, "Before Monday night the only such occasion had been Luciano Pavarotti's repeating the second-act tenor aria in “Tosca” in 1994, Met officials said." We were not aware that Puccini had made "Vissi D'arte" an alternate for the tenor. Saying otherwise would be supposing that, in fact, the tenor aria they were referring to was in the THIRD act and therefore inferring that they got it wrong. Of course, we would never do anything of the sort.
There's also a video accompanying that article! Have fun watching it over and over!
Bernard Holland (who actually decided to attend the event he was reviewing) wrote this review about Monday's performance. While only briefly touching on the bis, he goes on to talk about tuning, the "drab" production, and Natalie Dessay's gorgeous singing. Ms. Dessay has been sadly neglected in this whole fiasco, so let's give her one unanimous pat on the back for taking it so well. No diva tantrums for this opera star!!!!!


Even after the tragic and heartbreaking death of Beverly Sills, the Beverly Sills Award is alive and well. This years recipient is the ultratalented and award-worthy Matthew Polenzani. After blowing me away in last years "Magic Flute", he captured my heart during a Sirius broadcast during which he was asked what opera character he was most like. To this question he replied, "I am most like Romeo because I have loved like that. Every day my love for my wife grows stronger." Or something to that effect, and he went on for a few minutes in that fashion. Margaret Juntwait hit the nail on the head when she said, "Every woman listening just went 'aaaahh.'" Congratulations to Matthew Polenzani! You deserve every award you get!


Who's Suing Who? (And For What?)
The Rosenblatt Recital Series is suing Erwin Schrott of Schrebko (aka. Anna's baby's daddy) because of his breach of contract for the second year in a row. He cancelled his recital (scheduled for June 11th) for unknown reasons, to the fury of Mr. Rosenblatt. He had this to say to the barihunk Schrott:

"For our audience to be treated with such gross unprofessionalism and disrespect
by Mr Schrott, on two occasions, is something that shouldn’t be
tolerated.
“This is a regrettable situation, but for the reputation of my
Series I cannot allow artists, with no lawful excuse, to renege on their
contractual commitments.
"In the seven years I’ve been running our recital
series I have been impressed time and again by the dedication of singers to
their art and their public. Singers such as Mr Schrott give opera a bad name and
a reputation for not caring for the people that pay to hear them sing.
“I am
disgusted by Mr Schrott’s callous disregard to his contractual obligations. His
behaviour is cowardly and I can only wonder if he has the guts to appear on a
London concert platform as this is the second time he’s backed out of appearing
here.”

Ouch.... I'd be angry too, but this is a full on RANT! Hey, that's my job!!!



Happy Listening!!! =)

(Official) HD List in Met Press Release

It's even more exciting than we thought! Considering the fact that my local movie theater (which is within easy walking distance) has adopted the Met in HD, I am happy to announce that there will not be just 10 HD transmissions like Renee said during La Boheme, but there will be ELEVEN.
I'll save the best for last and give you these 10 first (straight from the Met website)...

Saturday, October 11, 2008 SALOME (1:00 p.m. EDT / 12:00 p.m. CDT / 11:00 a.m. MDT / 10:00 a.m. PDT/ 17:00 p.m. UTC / 18:00 p.m. BST / 19:00 CEST) – Soprano Karita Mattila reprises her acclaimed interpretation of the title character of Strauss’s Salome, with baritone Juha Uusitalo as Jochanaan. Mikko Franck conducts.

Saturday, November 8, 2008 DOCTOR ATOMIC (1:00 p.m. EST / 12:00 p.m. CST / 11:00 a.m. MST / 10:00 a.m. PST/ 18:00 p.m. UTC / 19:00 p.m. CET) – Penny Woolcock directs the Metropolitan Opera premiere of John Adams’s Doctor Atomic, starring Gerald Finley as Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer and Sasha Cooke as his wife, Kitty, with Eric Owens and Richard Paul Fink. Alan Gilbert conducts. NEW PRODUCTION

Saturday, November 22, 2008 LA DAMNATION DE FAUST (1:00 p.m. EST / 12:00 p.m. CST / 11:00 a.m. MST / 10:00 a.m. PST/ 18:00 p.m. UTC; 19:00 p.m. CET) – Robert Lepage directs Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust, starring Marcello Giordani in the title role, with Susan Graham as Marguerite and John Relyea as Méphistophélès. James Levine conducts. (A new production reconceived in collaboration with Ex Machina for the Met, based on a co-production of the Saito Kinen Festival and Opéra National de Paris.) NEW PRODUCTION

Saturday, December 20, 2008 THAÏS (12:00 p.m. EST / 11:00 a.m. CST / 10:00 a.m. MST / 9:00 a.m. PST/ 17:00 p.m. UTC; 18:00 p.m. CET) – Renée Fleming stars in the title role of Massenet’s Thaïs, with Thomas Hampson as the monk Athanaël in John Cox’s production, which originated at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Jesús López-Cobos conducts. NEW PRODUCTION

Saturday, January 10, 2009 LA RONDINE (1:00 p.m. EST / 12:00 p.m. CST / 11:00 a.m. MST / 10:00 a.m. PST/ 18:00 p.m. UTC; 19:00 p.m. CET) – Nicolas Joël directs Puccini’s La Rondine, starring Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna in a production originally mounted by the Théâtre du Capitole, Toulouse, and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Marco Armiliato conducts. (Co-production with the Théâtre du Capitole, Toulouse, and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.) NEW PRODUCTION

Saturday, January 24, 2009 ORFEO ED EURIDICE (1:00 p.m. EST / 12:00 p.m. CST / 11:00 a.m. MST / 10:00 a.m. PST/ 18:00 p.m. UTC; 19:00 p.m. CET) – Stephanie Blythe and Danielle de Niese star in Mark Morris’s production of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice. James Levine conducts.

Saturday, February 7, 2009 LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR (1:00 p.m. EST / 12:00 p.m. CST / 11:00 a.m. MST / 10:00 a.m. PST/ 18:00 p.m. UTC; 19:00 p.m. CET) – Dynamic opera duo Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón star in Mary Zimmerman’s acclaimed production of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. Marco Armiliato conducts.

Saturday, March 7, 2009 MADAMA BUTTERFLY (1:00 p.m. EST / 12:00 p.m. CST / 11:00 a.m. MST / 10:00 a.m. PST/ 18:00 p.m. UTC; 19:00 p.m. CET) – Cristina Gallardo-Domâs sings the title role of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly in Anthony Minghella’s stunning production. Marcello Giordani stars as Pinkerton. Patrick Summers conducts.

Saturday, March 21, 2009 LA SONNAMBULA (1:00 p.m. EDT / 12:00 p.m. CDT / 11:00 a.m. MDT / 10:00 a.m. PDT/ 17:00 p.m. UTC; 18:00 p.m. CET) – Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Flórez star in Mary Zimmerman’s new production of Bellini’s La Sonnambula, conducted by Evelino Pidò. NEW PRODUCTION

Saturday, May 9, 2009 LA CENERENTOLA (1:00 p.m. EDT / 12:00 p.m. CDT / 11:00 a.m. MDT / 10:00 a.m. PDT/ 17:00 p.m. UTC; 18:00 BST; 19:00 p.m. CEST) – Elīna Garanča stars in Rossini’s bel canto Cinderella story, La Cenerentola. Lawrence Brownlee stars as her Prince Charming, Don Ramiro. Maurizio Benini conducts.


AND MOST EXCITING OF ALL... IN NORTH AMERICA ONLY (sorry)...

Monday, September 22, 2008 OPENING NIGHT GALA (6:30 p.m. EDT / 5:30 p.m. CDT / tape delayed to 8:00 p.m. MDT / 7:00 p.m. PDT) – Opening Night Gala starring Renée Fleming in fully staged performances of scenes from three different operas: Verdi’s La Traviata (Act II), Massenet’s Manon (Act III), and the final scene from Richard Strauss’s Capriccio. Tenor Ramón Vargas and baritones Thomas Hampson and Dwayne Croft co-star. Met Music Director James Levine and Marco Armiliato conduct.

Woooooooooaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh... So just in case I can't get tickets to the actual opening night, I can either sit in the plaza/Times Square in the cold and watch it or I can sit in a nice warm movie theater. There is always the possibility that La Fleming will take a bow on the Grand Tier balcony a la Dessay this season, but we might have to take that chance.


Did I mention lately that Peter Gelb is my hero?

Happy Listening!!! =)

JDF BREAKS ANOTHER ENCORE RULE AND WE LOVE HIM ALL THE MORE FOR IT!

THAT'S RIGHT!!!!! YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST!!!!! JUAN DIEGO FLOREZ DID, JUST MOMENTS AGO, AN ENCORE OF "POUR MON AME" DURING LA FILLE DU REGIMENT AT THE METROPOLITAN OPERA!!!!!

FIRST LA SCALA, NOW HERE!!!!! WHAT A GUY!!!

GO JDF, GOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WE LOVE YOU


Happy Listening!! =)

The Pope, The Youth, The Classical Music

I'M SO SORRY. I haven't written since the 17th (yes, I've counted the days) for the simple reason that I have been staying at my grandparent's house (no computer) so I could see the pope at the youth rally in Yonkers. What an experience!!!!! To avoid rambling endlessly about the pope, I will move on to the other important aspect of the day. THE MUSIC!

Most of the music was wonderful (despite what some may assume, I DO know every word to Kelly Clarkson songs!) even though the "Ave Maria" less than thrilled me. (Was Renee Fleming out of town? Aprile Millo? Marcello Giordani? Florez? Kiri? Domingo?) The rapping brother really was a highlight, so was "Hear I Am." Okay, here's what you've been wondering... Was there any crossover? Well, I'm hear to tell you that yes, in fact, there was! The Three Graces, even though they sounded nice (I'm going to get murdered) as soon as I heard "a mix of pop, Broadway, and opera" I groaned. Here we go again. Joy was the opera singer, we were told, and she had recently performed in La Boheme. In the spirit of this holy event I will not say anything nasty. They sounded nice. All had lovely voices. =)
The singer for the mass was really good. The litany was beautiful! I almost wish she had sung the "Ave" instead of Kelly Clarkson. It comes down to star power in the end.
The pope was the real highlight, though. I just thought you'd rather hear about the music.

This all sparked a thought in my head. Two questions came into my mind.
Did the pope pick the artists that would be performing?
What sort of music does he really like?
in other words...
Does he know who Kelly Clarkson is?
Would he rather have Domingo again, or have Florez?

I think some should call Benny up and ask him. (Benny=B 16=the pope... we all have our loving nicknames. =])


Happy Listening!! =)


PS. LIVE "FILLE DU REGIMENT" TONIGHT ON THE MET WEBSITE/SIRIUS RADIO!!!!!!! EVERYONE LISTEN!!!!!!!

Placido Angelicus- Who's that guy with Domingo?

Placido Domingo sang "Panis Angelicus" for Benedict XVI during the pope's mass in Washington D.C. today.
This has officially been awarded the Score Desk Stamp of Approval. We approve of two of our favorite people being at the same place at the same time doing what they do best.

We approve of opera singers tagging along with the pope. Trust me, if an opera singer shows up to the Youth Rally on Saturday (which I am going to, in case I didn't mention it) I will pass out. Either way I'm passing out because, hey, he's the pope.



Happy Listening!!! =)

BATTLE: The Pope and the President

(I'm sorry, that colon should have been a comma.)

It's not as thrilling as it sounds. It turns out that Kathleen Battle sang for the Pope and the President today at the White House. She sang "The Lord's Prayer." I'm hearing reports that (to put it nicely) she could have sounded better.
The article also says that there was a spontaneous outburst of "Happy Birthday" in honor of the Holy Father's 81st birthday today. Aw! I'm happy to say that I will be seeing the Pope at a youth rally on Saturday! Oh, I'm so excited! =)



Happy Listening!!! =)

Aprile Millo Day!

There are a few days I year that I think we should get off for. Maria Callas's birthday is one. Valentine's Day. Halloween. The anniversary of Caruso's death.
Aprile Millo's birthday is another.
If I had my way, it would be a national holiday today. We wouldn't have school, people wouldn't go to work, and every radio station would play Aprile Millo all day long. Would we get sick of it? Never in a million years!
Aprile Millo is oper-ific, Verdi-rific, blog-irific, over-all-terrific.

She's "my" Verdi soprano. Where ever I go, whoever I see in any of her roles I'll always say "Not as good as Millo." "Nope. Nothing compared to Millo." I did it at Ballo, at Aida in Verona, everywhere!

Happy Birthday, Ms. Millo!!!!!!!!
We love you!


Happy Listening!! =)
Happy Aprile Millo Day!

Tributes to Lily Pons and Montserrat Caballe on Their Birthday

One soprano I simply can't live without is Montserrat Caballe. There has never been a soprano like her, she's just so beyond explanation. Her "Casta Diva" was the first one I heard and the last one I needed to hear to convince me that this was one of the most gorgeous aria's for the soprano voice. Everything about her exudes brilliance, and even though half the people who bought tickets for her performances didn't see her, the ones who did will never forget it.



Lily Pons was for so many singers (and fans) an inspiration. Beverly Sills, in her autobiography Bubbles, raves about Pons constantly and with good reason. What charm! What a voice! What a coloratura. Oh, she's so fabulous.


Happy Birthday to all!!!

Happy Listening!! =)

Trust A Director To Ruin A Great Verdi Opera For Us All

In a disgusting new production of Un Ballo in Maschera at an opera house in Erfurt, naked pensioners walk in front of a back drop of, of all horrible things, the ruins of the World Trade Center. They are also wearing plastic Mickey Mouse masks.... but that's it!
"The naked stand for people without means, the victims of capitalism, the underclass, who don't have anything anymore." said the director, Johann Kresnik.
Did I happen to mention that there is an obvious Hitler reference where a woman is sporting a moustache and giving the Nazi salute. Ridiculous.

I find this atrocious. Who would put up with this? I'm shocked that singers didn't refuse to be a part of this.

"One has to introduce new elements," the director said. "Otherwise it is difficult to attract new theatregoers."
If this is what it has come to, I don't want any part in it. If this is what audiences want (which according to responses on opera-l and other places it's not) then I have been sorely mistaken with my assumption of opera goers' taste.

Again I will stress... DON'T DITCH ZEFFERELLI.


Happy Listening!! =)
(Because that's the only thing to keep you from throwing up)

Why Can't You Let Them Rest In Peace?

This peace of disturbing news reached my ears earlier today. It just makes me angry that they had to publicize this at all. I hope this is all a farce and that they're going to soon tell us that none of it is true. That would make an already tragic situation even more tragic.
Leave the man alone! First his debts, now this? Can't we remember the good times?


Happy Listening!! =)
(Happy Belated-Birthday Franco Corelli!)

The Seige of Corinth And Franco Zefferelli (unrelated topics!)

Today, approximately thirty-three years ago, the great Beverly Sills made her debut in Rossini's L'Assedio di Corinto after the retirement of Rudolf Bing, who had let us say a thing for American singers. . I just wanted to put that out there and mark the date for everyone. You can tell how much I love Beverly Sills. =)


In Other News:
Franco Zefferelli and his followers (aren't we all?) are creating quite a stir in the offices of the Metropolitan Opera. Mr. Zefferelli (who, as we all know, is an operatic genius) is insisting that Mr. Peter Gelb (a genius in a different way) not "mothball" his classic productions such as Tosca and La Boheme. Such mothballing will lead to a protest in Lincoln Center Plaza. Bring your picket signs! Bring everyone you know! We want these Zefferelli's to stay!
Forget the Salzburg Traviata!
Forget all those terrible modernized productions that make no sense!
Keep the gorgeous and opulent productions that define the greatness of these beautiful operas!
Zefferelli forever!!!!!!


Happy Listening!!! =)

Juan Diego Florez and Julia Trappe

They were married (again?) in a Roman Catholic ceremony in Florez's native Peru. The Lima Cathedral has not held a wedding since 1949. It seems like the press went wild in Peru! Here in America we're more worried about Jay-Z marrying Beyonce. =P

Congratulations to both!!!!!


Happy Listening!! =)


PS. I'm listening to the Boheme again (Sirius) and I starting to notice the slowness as compared to the two recordings I have. At some points it's more apparent than others. It doesn't irk me as much as it does some other people.

"La Boheme Makes Me Wish I Had Consumption"

I would like to start this review by profusely thanking Peter Gelb for all that he has done. I've done this before and I'll do it again. Peter Gelb is a genius. His HD broadcasts bring the Met all over the world to all sorts of people that would never think to enter an opera house. I bow down to you, Mr. Gelb.

Now that I'm done groveling let me tell you about the opera.

It was perfection. After such an ending I can hardly give anyone a bad review. I was in tears a full twenty minutes before Mimi died and during "Donda lieta usci." Angela Gheorghiu, who you know is not by any means my favorite soprano, was so wonderful. Whenever I see a singer I don't particularly care for they always win me over! I'm a sucker for wonderful performers. Ms. Gheorghiu's voice is so lovely and what an actress! She might take a long time to get to the stage door because she has to pick the scenery from her teeth first. One thing that irked me was that when she sings she moves around so much. She mouth goes all over and, at least from what I saw, her body is constantly moving. Ramon Vargas was a very effecting Rodolfo. I saw him first last season in Onegin and he was better in this I think. He has more to do here and more to sing. At first he was a either a little tentative or not fully warmed up. By the end of "Che Gelida Manina" he was beautiful. His high notes were fabulous. During the third and fourth act he was so heartbreaking, you really felt for Rodolfo.

Out of what opera adoring universe did Ludovic Tezier spring from? I had never heard of him before today, but my gosh what a voice! The first time he opened his mouth I had to gasp and thought "Who is that??" Some people were not so thrilled by him, but I was! He was rather handsome, but even with my eyes closed (which they never were, by the way) I could hear that his voice was rich and beautiful. Oren Gradus and Quinn Kelsey were agile (to say the least) and hysterically funny as Colline and Schaunard. The "Vecchia Zimarra" by Mr. Gradus was beautiful and sentimental. Schaunard is usually a character who is forgotten or just floats into the background. Not this Schaunard, he was front and center with his humor and charm. Ainhoa Arteta, who I saw in this role last season, was funny, flirty, and had a marvelous voice. Her "Quando M'en Vo" definitely stood out, and her acting quite overshadowed Ms. Gheorghiu in the second act. It was great because at the end she really cried when Mimi died. After the curtain came down we (that is, the people in the movie theaters) saw her continually wipe her eyes and her cheeks. Fantastic! Paul Plishka, of course, was a comic force for this opera. His Benoit/Alcindoro combination were so funny. It's so great to still have him around and just hanging around the house. Nicola Luisotti conducted fabulously. I've heard people complaining that he took it too slow. It's interesting, because in the theaters no one complained about it, but everyone who heard it on the radio said it was slow! Interesting...

As usual, there's nothing to be said about the chorus and orchestra that hasn't been said already. Remarkable. Truly spectacular.

Renee Fleming hosted today and what a cute job she did! We saw the obvious question cards for the interviews, which caused a few chuckles, but that's not a huge problem. She interviewed the head of the Children's Chorus and the children themselves, Angela and Ramon, Joe Clark (now a regular for interviews), and Nicola Luisotti. There was a tribute to Franco Zefferelli (who I didn't mention before because I don't need to say anything about the production) that had clips from all of his productions from the Met including Tosca, Otello, Cavalleria/Pagliacci, Turandot, and others. Another montage, if you will, featured a clip or two from every HD broadcast both last season and this season. There was a trailer for the upcoming Fille broadcast with footage from the Covent Garden production.

The backstage camera angles were so incredible. During the pause between Act I and Act II you saw the Parisian rooftops slide off the stage and the Latin Quarter (with the whole chorus already on board) moved slowly and quietly from stage right. The whole set moved onto the stage. It was insane. I couldn't get enough of it.

Renee also mentioned that next season there will be ten HD broadcasts to theaters everywhere. Guess who's excited!!!! =)

Happy Listening!! =)

Who's Excited For Boheme in HD???

Me! Me! I'm excited!!!!

My local movie theater is showing it today. It's the first one they've done, so I'm praying there's no glitches. I easily bought tickets this morning (hardly in advance...), so I hope that doesn't mean that there won't be a lot of people there. I know of quite a few opera enthusiasts in town. However, some might have gone to the bigger movie theater a couple of towns over. Oh well, I'm pumped.

Speaking of HD Broadcasts, I loved the Romeo et Juliette the other night on PBS. I remembered so much about it from seeing it in October. Of course, I saw Marcello Giordani and he was fabulous, but Alagna held his own. Anna was great, and when she passed the camera backstage she made a funny face which I thought was cute. Some of the camera angles were amazing, especially during curtain calls. I'm just upset they didn't show the intermission features.

Happy Listening!!! =)

JDF!!!!

Rigoletto being broadcast LIVE right now!!!! Right now there are interviews going on in Spanish. Not sure what they are saying, because I don't speak Spanish. I'm going to guess the basic gist of it is "JDF OWNS YOU ALL." Hey, if I spoke Spanish that's what I would be saying!!!

I'm so excited. It's out of this world.

Update: It's a scene change and I made up a song. I went to go tell my mom that I was listening to the broadcast and this came out:
*To the tune of "La Donna e Mobile"*

Juan Diego Florez
Is live from Peru
It's from Peru
And it's Juan Diego Florez

He is singing
The Duke of Mantua
From Rigoletto
It's in Peru

It's live from Peru
And it's super cool
Juan Diego Flooooooreeezzzz
I-i-i-is amazing!!!
mm-MM-MM mm-MM-MM
Juan Diego Florez
mm-MM-MM mm-MM-MM
I-IS live from Peru!

Update: Verse 2

Juan Diego Florez
is really coo-oo-ool
He's really cool
Because he's the Duke

He is the Duke
And he seduces Gilda
But that's not cool
Nooooo that's not cool
(No-ot cool, No-ot cool)
But JDF is still cool
(Sti-ill cool, Sti-ill cool)
Ye-es he's still cool

Happy Listening!!! =)

JDF Rigoletto News Flash!!!!

JDF'f Rigoletto is being broadcast live from Lima, Peru tomorrow evening at 8:30 (New York time) and in Europe that's around 2:30 am. So listen here at your respective time. =)
It's freaky to think that NY is in the same time zone as some place as far away (seemingly) as Peru! Funny how the world works.


The best part is, I'll be back from ballet class on time.


Happy Listening!!! =)