when barihunks go bad
Now, stop La Cieca if she’s wrong, but it seems to her that the concept for this production of Carmen is that Escamillo is a 1970s gay clone. Well, no, La Cieca doesn’t get it either. But see for yourself:
[kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/6F_hltdh1KE" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
These videos make the best *possible* case for Opera in English. Just to hear that CARMEN chorus pronounce “Toreador” is worth a lot.
Meanwhile, some Regie on this side of the pond…
http://www.angelfire.com/ny/nropera/
on which check out
http://www.freewebs.com/fraioli/slatton.html
Richer still is
http://taconicopera.org/production/production.html
Some favourites:
http://taconicopera.org/sea98/Elixir/elixir.html
http://taconicopera.org/sea00/figaro/figaro.html
http://taconicopera.org/sea01/carmen/carmen.html
http://taconicopera.org/sea05/mef/mef.html
Ah! One has not really lived till one has experienced operatic productions that dig deep into the subterranean depths of ‘true filth’. Where depicted drama becomes first rate unstoppable but unintentional gut-busting hilarity. When audience members then start cracking loud instant jokes, an opera company has a ‘memorable evening’ on their hands. Important criteria must be followed for such deluding success though; the President is the principal tenor, his daughter is in the chorus, his wife is a ‘mezzo’ hiding away in some walk on part, and the company’s lead soprano is also the president / tenor’s ‘secret fuck of the moment’. The orchestra has recuited a few kids from the local school to fill out the sting sections on their Chinese budget violons. Their grade 2 music teacher thought it would be good ‘work experience’. Next production is a new ‘daring’ The Merry Widow…set down in Havana. Ever heard the Vilja ‘tango’?
Perhaps Figliaimpura, this ‘Aida and Carmen’ company has ideas to do digital HD and take their singers to the World, via your local film theatre. Wishing to rival those productions from the Met and La Scala. Gelb might have some competition on his hands, yet!
Comment 29: Figliaimpura quipped:
“Looks like the budget was blown on multi-camera coverage (ok, 3!). Obviously not singing or music lessons…..”
This is definitely one guy who needs to keep his shirt on … and perhaps get some hair plugs while he’s at it.
Amateur opera in ‘not very good’ shock.
I recognize the production and staging from that Manhattan Ladies Club version of “The Pleasant Peasant” from a few years back.
Ah, to be a star in a “Let’s Have an Opera in the Barn Amateur Opera House”! Nothing like it. You feel wonderful doing it, even though it probably looks and sounds like shit! I’ve been doing stuff like this for years, and in a couple of months will do my final two bits in a scene recital. Don’t knock it ’till you’ve tried it!