Hildegard Behrens 1937-2009

I came out of my not-blogging cave to sadly announce the death of one of the great Wagnerians sopranos, Hildegard Behrens. I was introduced to her work, however, not through Wagner, but through the perfection that is the 1985 Zefferelli Tosca. When I delicately dipped into the world of the Wagner cult, the Otto Schenk Ring cycle with her as Brunhilde was the only one I could watch. She always stunned me with her emotional and dramatic power on the stage, not to mention the force of her beautiful voice.

The soprano died on August 16th in Japan, reportedly of an aneurysm, at the age of 72. Ms Behrens was in Japan for a festival where she would perform and give master classes. She will be remembered fondly as the best Brunhilde in the post-Nilsson era.

Rest in Peace.

Wagner: Opera's Biggest Cult

Let's face it: Opera is a cult. Not the crazy, torch-bearing kind, but a cult all the same. Within this cult is a series of smaller cults. Indisputably the biggest opera cult is the Wagner cult.
And while Wagner is not really my "thing" (and yes, I've tried it. It was fantastic, don't get me wrong. Again, just not my thing) I understand Wagner's cult and completely respect him as a composer and musical genius.
Here's a small (youtube) tribute to Wagner on his birthday:

The Ride of the Valkyries (oh man, stereotype?)
The Liebsetod from Tristan und Isolde performed by Birgit Nilsson
Wotan's final scene in Die Walkure performed by James Morris (probably my favorite part of any Wagner opera)
The prelude from Lohengrin
Siegfried's Funeral March
Act III from Der Meistersinger von Nurnberg featuring James Morris, Karita Mattila, and Ben Heppner. I seriously remember years and years ago sitting in my grandmother's kitchen watching this on PBS. I remember trying to translate the title (rather unsuccessfully), asking my mom why the soprano made funny faces (hee hee. love you, Karita!!), and trying to make sense of it. I watched it all the way until dinner time and was disappointed when after it was already over. Then a few months ago I remembered watching it and said "Oh my gosh, I can name most of the singers in that now just from remembering what they look like. That's scary!" It was fate!


Happy Birthday, Wagner!

Happy Listening!! =)

"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!!! =)

Heppner Talks About His Health

Poor Ben Heppner. Getting misdiagnosed by TWO New York doctors? It's rough stuff. I just hope he gets better.



In the meantime, I think they should let Gary Lehman sing the HD transmission, but Robert Dean Smith is scheduled. I would have thought Gary Lehman deserved it. After all that...



Happy Listening!! =)

Wagner Makes Me Bang My Head Against the Prompters Box

Well, not me, but Gary Lehman.

At the beginning of the third act of Tristan und Isolde Mr. Lehman was laying on a pallet. It slowly to quickly slide down the severely raked Met stage. His head slammed audibly onto the prompter's box. The audience "gasped, and some screamed," says SarahB who was there last night. Mr. Lehman's costars and some stage managers ran to his rescue and, after helping him stand, escorted him off stage. The curtain closed and after ten minutes an announcement was made that Gary Lehman was feeling better and wished to restart the scene. Needless to say, he got a large ovation at the end of the night. What a trooper!
Note: Deborah Voigt was the Isolde last night.







This is quite a bit worse than the incident at the Figaro this year. Simon Keenlyside (the Count) was throwing things off of the Countess's desk and one of the objects proceeded to roll right off the stage and bonk a cellist right in the head. She left at the end of the act and didn't return the rest of the performance. Ouch.





I want to see the HD transmission more than ever. Lord knows what will happen then!!!





Happy Listening!! =)

Ugh, Wagner Makes Me Sick...

Well, not me, but it seems to make every one else sick. First, Ben Heppner catches a virus and can't sing Tristan. Then, the audience gets sick of the cover Tristan and he gets booed. Finally, Deborah Voigt falls ill during her performance of Isolde. In fact, it was right in the middle of the love duet. Yikes.
According to the AP Voigt had not been feeling well at the beginning of the day, but didn't want to "disturb" the management and she wanted "to be very supportive of Mr. Lehman," the cover for Tristan. (Wait, I'm confused as to where Mr. MacMaster went...) So, during the love duet Ms. Voigt suddenly ran off the stage, leaving her Tristan confused and shocked. Mr. Levine kept the orchestra going, but the curtain soon closed. After a few minutes an announcement was made that Deborah Voigt was ill. The cover Janice Baird came to a heroic rescue! Both singers received enthusiastic applause at the end of the act.


I just hope everyone gets well soon. It's terrible to have both lead singers sick at once.


Happy Listening!!! =)

The Gasp Heard 'Round the (Opera) World

Some one was booed at the Met?!?!??!?!!

The Met?

As in the Metropolitan Opera House?

Unheard of! Insane! Ridiculous!



Discussions concerning the "softies" and "too nice" Met audience have been had. Last night they were abruptly silenced when at the curtain calls of the season premiere of Tristan und Isolde tenor John MacMaster was booed by some members of the audience. Some does not necessarily mean unheard. It was (according to La Cieca) the worst booing incident in 37 years. That's pretty rough.
Having heard some of the Sirius broadcast myself I can say that MacMaster was obviously not *gulp* at his best. However, no matter what anyone else may say, I thought that Deborah Voigt sounded wonderful! I personally think she is amazing. Her voice sounded great from what I heard and although I didn't hear Michelle DeYoung I heard she all but stole the show.

Still, this booing.... What are we, La Scala? =)


Happy Listening!! =)

Wagner

Hojotoho everybody! In celebration of Richard Wagner's birthday (which was actually yesterday) I have collected some YouTube clips!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=yhnf4hMX5kQ
finale of Die Walkure

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OuKy1DIktYw
a scene from Meistersinger

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rzy8-Xxhg1k&mode=related&search=
the prize song from Meistersinger

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XdMJvjpnsdc&mode=related&search=
a rehearsal of Lohengrin with Karita Mattila

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tAo_fTiZ2hY
and finally... Kirsten Flagstad singing Brunnhilde's battle cry!!

Hojohoto! =)