parterre box

57 comments

• JATM2063 says:

  That C was F**K**G UGLY.

  I wonder when RF is going to try Manon Lescaut. The Puccini, not the Massenet.

  on February 20, 2008 at 4:08 PM
• mercury says:

  if you like fleming, hope she never does. contrary to uninformed people, who spout it is a lyric role, IT IS NOT!

  on February 20, 2008 at 6:05 PM
• Trey Zbirry says:

  Dare I venture that, whoever sings it, Manon Lescaut is not really Puccini at his best. It’s sort of a noisy piece and it does go on a bit …

  on February 20, 2008 at 6:10 PM
• Sanford says:

  I stated on an earlier post that I didn’t like Richard Strauss and then challenged myself to listen to Rosencavalier, only to discover that I liked it. However, I’ve heard Puccini and I didn’t like it in its original form or watered down by Andrew LLoyd Webber. I know that most people like Boheme, but I sang parts of the Leoncavallo Boheme in college and prefer it, musically and dramatically. And I like Massenet’s Manon better than Puccini. I think I would have liked Fleming in the Massenet, at least on disc, about 10 or 15 years ago.

  Racette is hosting the Met Finals on Sunday. I’m going and bought an extra tkt in case someone from here wants to do lunch and then opera. It’s balcony (I’m unemployed so I couldn’t justify orchestra), but I’ve never been to the Met, so I’m excited.

  on February 20, 2008 at 10:52 PM
• BeauBoi says:

  Oy Sanford….would that I were in NYC instead of wayyyy down here in Louisiana (and not even the good part).

  on February 20, 2008 at 11:45 PM
• Sanford says:

  Oy Beauboi, I haven’t seen you since, I don’t know, yesterday on Youtube. How ya doin’? For you, my darling, I have this:

  Way down yonder in New Orleans
  In the land of the dreamy scenes
  There’s a garden of Eden…you know what I mean

  Creole babies with flashin’ eyes
  Softly whisper their tender sighs
  Then stop….won’t you give your lady fair…a little smile
  Stop..ya bet your life you’ll linger there…a little while

  We’ve got heaven right here on earth
  With those beautiful QUEENS
  Way down yonder in New…Orleans

  I’ll be thinkin’ of you on Sunday.

  on February 21, 2008 at 9:25 AM
• London Dude says:

  Mercury, you’re right, it is no pure lyric role, but many lyric sopranos have done it justice. I’m a huge fan of Kiri’s for instance, although it is right at the extremity of what the voice could do, I think. She screams like a bitch in her last scene on the ROH DVD with Domingo, but I love her for it.

  I find with Fleming that when she has something she can go for full tilt, she behaves far better, and her voice in full flight is glorious. It’s when you give her something lighter that she starts mucking around. I like her best in heavy lyric repertoire (Desdemona, Tatyana etc), rather than light lyric. I agree, the Puccini Manon would probalby be too much of a stretch, and yet I’d certainly snap up a ticket if I got the opportunity.

  on February 21, 2008 at 9:34 AM