rip-roaring regie
Our previous Regie quiz returned La Cieca to her position of mysterious superiority since even her very clever cher public weren’t able to figure out that the opera represented was… Das Land des Lächelns. The director was our old, old, old friend Peter Konwitschny.
And now for your next challenge.
This time around we have a video excerpt from a recent opera production. The sound is muted and the subtitles are obscured, but La Cieca is nonetheless confident that her cher public will manage to identify the opera. (She is equally confident that those of you who recognize this production will remain mum while the others play!)
Hint: appearances to the contrary, it’s not Eugene Onegin!
It’s the Vienna Forza. Opera Chic posted some production photos last week. I’m assuming it’s tavern scene with Preziosilla.
It’s so gratifying that David Pountney’s epicentre has moved to Austria rather than the UK – he did some great things at ENO (and Scottish Opera) in the 1980s but also laid some major eggs and Vienna, Salzburg, Bregenz, Munich and Zurich now seem to be getting the benefits of his wilder excesses. When he has hardly any budget – he did a terrific Tabarro set in a truck for Opera North in Leeds – he can still be a fascinating director.
Carl whispered:
” Hint: It had a very belated Met premiere that featured the debut of one of the greatest singers of the century.”
This is inaccurate. In fact I made my debut replacing Milanov in TROVATORE, a Met staple since the house opened. Yet I could sing Ferrando *tomorrow*- it’s a question of color and tessitura.
Quickly, I was referring to Rosa Ponselle. However, I’m sure you would make a splendid Ferrando.
Ponselle was a Connecticut NOBODY who only lasted 19 years at the Met . My time there spanned 39 years , even though in the mid-Bing years I would sing Carmen and Amneris at the Garden, do Eboli and all my RING parts at the Festwochen and then come home to face Marcellina.
I could sing LA VESTALE, OBERON, LA JUIVE and LA NOTTE DI ZORAIMA tomorrow- it’s a question of color and tessitura.
Quickly, I’d love to hear you sing Norma. From Marcellina to Norma would be a natural progression.
I reckon it’s a) demented and b) Forza del Destino