Comments on: reviewer no longer to be confused by his notes http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/ where opera is king and you, the readers, are queens Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:31:23 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 jack jikes commented http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/#comment-15197 jack jikes Fri, 16 May 2008 05:43:07 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=959#comment-15197 Drew and brooklynpunk: Suzanne was - along with Callas and Gould - among the performing artists who, consumed my life and therein reigned supreme . As an administrator she is challenged on every level. She has no achievement of distinction in that realm. As to Martins's many masterworks, I offer another trinity - 'Morgen' ( Richard Strauss songs), 'Les Petites Riens' (Mozart -classicism of the highest order) and 'Fearful Symmetries' (John Adams - in worldwide repertory.) There are many, many more. Save for a brief time in Baryshnikov's tenure and extending into Balanchine's dotage, company morale was never particularly 'high.' Many got the big thing - most did not. (Many ballet goers and dancers STILL don't.) Lincoln Kirstein was fond of quoting Samuel Goldwyn - 'Happy companies make bad movies.' I don't agree. I can imagine an enchanted order. Drew and brooklynpunk: Suzanne was – along with Callas and Gould – among the performing artists who, consumed my life and therein reigned supreme . As an administrator she is challenged on every level. She has no achievement of distinction in that realm.
As to Martins’s many masterworks, I offer another trinity -
‘Morgen’ ( Richard Strauss songs), ‘Les Petites Riens’ (Mozart -classicism of the highest order) and ‘Fearful Symmetries’ (John Adams – in worldwide repertory.) There are many, many more.
Save for a brief time in Baryshnikov’s tenure and extending into Balanchine’s dotage, company morale was never particularly ‘high.’ Many got the big thing – most did not.
(Many ballet goers and dancers STILL don’t.)
Lincoln Kirstein was fond of quoting Samuel Goldwyn -
‘Happy companies make bad movies.’
I don’t agree. I can imagine an enchanted order.

]]> jfmurray3 commented http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/#comment-15194 jfmurray3 Fri, 16 May 2008 03:19:11 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=959#comment-15194 I like Maury D'annato's writing so much I might change my name to Jfmaury3. Seriously, I would love to see MauryD and JJ take over some opera writing at the Times. On a side note - superb performance this evening by Kelly O'Connor in Lieberson's Neruda Songs with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. The last 3 sonnets in particular were exceptional. (Haitink and the CSO brass brought down the house in Mahler 1.) I like Maury D’annato’s writing so much I might change my name to Jfmaury3. Seriously, I would love to see MauryD and JJ take over some opera writing at the Times.

On a side note – superb performance this evening by Kelly O’Connor in Lieberson’s Neruda Songs with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. The last 3 sonnets in particular were exceptional. (Haitink and the CSO brass brought down the house in Mahler 1.)

]]> brooklynpunk commented http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/#comment-15159 brooklynpunk Thu, 15 May 2008 19:54:40 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=959#comment-15159 Jack: Company moral at NYCB under Peter M. has reached epically low levels..., he is , indeed a good fund raiser...but a horrible successor to the Balanchine Style.. I would love to see...but know it will never happen--Susanne Farrell take her rightful place, as custodian of Mr. B's works... I WOULD be very interested in hearing what you feel is a good Martins dance-work---and no flame intended to you...or for that matter, Mr. Martens (who danced like a dream , in his day.... Jack:

Company moral at NYCB under Peter M. has reached epically low levels…, he is , indeed a good fund raiser…but a horrible successor to the Balanchine Style..

I would love to see…but know it will never happen–Susanne Farrell take her rightful place, as custodian of Mr. B’s works…

I WOULD be very interested in hearing what you feel is a good Martins dance-work—and no flame intended to you…or for that matter, Mr. Martens (who danced like a dream , in his day….

]]> Drew commented http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/#comment-15147 Drew Thu, 15 May 2008 19:05:44 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=959#comment-15147 DirkVa: Sean Lavery has only been successful in developing male dancers. Lavery is a very serious dance master, and he works very closely and very successfully with Peter Martins, but neither Lavery nor Martins seems to have any luck in developing female dancers. That is probably the single most critical concern right now. Jack: Not everyone thinks highly of Martins' choreographic skills. What do you think is his finest ballet? I have no candidate to name, other than "none of the above". And I am not a Martins hater, I assure you. He has excellent administrative skills and has kept the company in excellent financial health for a quarter century. Not everyone could have accomplished that. DirkVa: Sean Lavery has only been successful in developing male dancers. Lavery is a very serious dance master, and he works very closely and very successfully with Peter Martins, but neither Lavery nor Martins seems to have any luck in developing female dancers. That is probably the single most critical concern right now.

Jack: Not everyone thinks highly of Martins’ choreographic skills. What do you think is his finest ballet? I have no candidate to name, other than “none of the above”. And I am not a Martins hater, I assure you. He has excellent administrative skills and has kept the company in excellent financial health for a quarter century. Not everyone could have accomplished that.

]]> jack jikes commented http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/#comment-15144 jack jikes Thu, 15 May 2008 18:22:45 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=959#comment-15144 Indeed Macaulay and his ilk were suckled on the venomous tit of Arlene Crotchrot. Martins's preservation of a wide spectrum of work by established masters is unique in ballet history. He is the world's greatest living CLASSICAL choreographer and has a body of work of great distinction. Indeed Macaulay and his ilk were suckled on the venomous
tit of Arlene Crotchrot. Martins’s preservation of a wide spectrum of work by established masters is unique in ballet history. He is the world’s greatest living CLASSICAL choreographer and has a body of work of great distinction.

]]> Maury D'Annato commented http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/#comment-15130 Maury D'Annato Thu, 15 May 2008 16:31:26 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=959#comment-15130 Hey thanks for the nod, above, jfmurray3. Nice of you to say! Hey thanks for the nod, above, jfmurray3. Nice of you to say!

]]> DirkVA commented http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/#comment-15092 DirkVA Thu, 15 May 2008 07:40:50 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=959#comment-15092 "I also can’t quite imagine why the moving tracks of audience seating are necessary." Probably not necessary, but possibly useful. Have you ever been in the Armory? It runs all the way from Park Avenue to Lexington Avenue. A big opera house if you're wearing heels! “I also can’t quite imagine why the moving tracks of audience seating are necessary.”

Probably not necessary, but possibly useful. Have you ever been in the Armory? It runs all the way from Park Avenue to Lexington Avenue. A big opera house if you’re wearing heels!

]]> DirkVA commented http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/#comment-15091 DirkVA Thu, 15 May 2008 07:22:28 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=959#comment-15091 "It is past time for Peter Martins to depart, but there is no one, anywhere, with the requisite knowledge of the Balanchine repertory to replace Martins." What about Sean Lavery? “It is past time for Peter Martins to depart, but there is no one, anywhere, with the requisite knowledge of the Balanchine repertory to replace Martins.”

What about Sean Lavery?

]]> kashania commented http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/#comment-15080 kashania Thu, 15 May 2008 03:42:23 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=959#comment-15080 jfmurray3: I have a recording of that Jessye double-header in <i>Troyens</i> as well and she is simply stupendous. The 3-minute ovation she gets after "Adieu fiere cite" is huge. What's amazing is that she sings her heart out throughout the whole performance, never holding back as Cassandre and with plenty of voice left for Didon. Too bad her Enee was Ed Sooter. jfmurray3: I have a recording of that Jessye double-header in Troyens as well and she is simply stupendous. The 3-minute ovation she gets after “Adieu fiere cite” is huge. What’s amazing is that she sings her heart out throughout the whole performance, never holding back as Cassandre and with plenty of voice left for Didon. Too bad her Enee was Ed Sooter.

]]> Berlinfan commented http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/#comment-15078 Berlinfan Thu, 15 May 2008 03:28:29 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=959#comment-15078 I can't quite imagine anything by Zimmermann amounting to a "Disney ride." But that said, I also can't quite imagine why the moving tracks of audience seating are necessary. Has anyone seen the original production at the Ruhr Festival? I can’t quite imagine anything by Zimmermann amounting to a “Disney ride.” But that said, I also can’t quite imagine why the moving tracks of audience seating are necessary. Has anyone seen the original production at the Ruhr Festival?

]]> High C's @ 4:20 commented http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/#comment-15077 High C's @ 4:20 Thu, 15 May 2008 03:08:38 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=959#comment-15077 MALEDIZIONE! MALEDIZIONE!! MALEDIZIONE!!! I JUST A-FREAKIN-DORE EWA... MALEDIZIONE! MALEDIZIONE!! MALEDIZIONE!!! I JUST A-FREAKIN-DORE EWA…

]]> La Cieca commented http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/#comment-15076 La Cieca Thu, 15 May 2008 02:54:06 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=959#comment-15076 "Veronica Cangemi" sounds like a great name for a commenter. “Veronica Cangemi” sounds like a great name for a commenter.

]]> Nerva Nelli commented http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/#comment-15074 Nerva Nelli Thu, 15 May 2008 02:41:13 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=959#comment-15074 Well, Ewa is ill with bronchitis and has cancelled ; Sonia Prina will be taking her place. Also in the cast: Richard Croft and Veronica Cangemi. Well, Ewa is ill with bronchitis and has cancelled ; Sonia Prina will be taking her place. Also in the cast: Richard Croft and Veronica Cangemi.

]]> Sanford commented http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/#comment-15071 Sanford Thu, 15 May 2008 02:15:20 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=959#comment-15071 I was reading the NYTimes this sunday and saw those tantalizing bits of casting news. I was reading the NYTimes this sunday and saw those tantalizing bits of casting news.

]]> High C's @ 4:20 commented http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/#comment-15067 High C's @ 4:20 Thu, 15 May 2008 01:55:52 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=959#comment-15067 I have a nice ticket to Ariodante in San Fran (and Nat in Lucia) Why do you bring it up, Sanford? Good news i hope as im looking forward to it... I have a nice ticket to Ariodante in San Fran (and Nat in Lucia) Why do you bring it up, Sanford? Good news i hope as im looking forward to it…

]]> jatm2063 commented http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/#comment-15065 jatm2063 Thu, 15 May 2008 01:50:54 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=959#comment-15065 I've got a recording of Jessye singing Aida, taken from a live radio broadcast in France (Paris I guess) with Cossotto as Amneris. I think it is around 73 or maybe 74. She certainly does it, but she doesn't seem comfortable in the part. Certain sections are too high and in the big moments her voice wasn't really that big (at least at that time). But she does achieve what she has chosen to do, unlike some others we know of (see mp3 above). I’ve got a recording of Jessye singing Aida, taken from a live radio broadcast in France (Paris I guess) with Cossotto as Amneris. I think it is around 73 or maybe 74. She certainly does it, but she doesn’t seem comfortable in the part. Certain sections are too high and in the big moments her voice wasn’t really that big (at least at that time). But she does achieve what she has chosen to do, unlike some others we know of (see mp3 above).

]]> Sanford commented http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/#comment-15064 Sanford Thu, 15 May 2008 01:47:33 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=959#comment-15064 So, off topic. SFO this summer - Das Rheingold, with Mark Delavan and Jennifer Larmore as Fricka. Better still, Ariodante with Susan Graham, Ruth Ann Swenson, and Ewa Podles. New York on the other hand, has Die Soldaten, which is aparently a Disney ride. The seating is on tracks and moves throughout the performance. Discuss So, off topic.

SFO this summer – Das Rheingold, with Mark Delavan and Jennifer Larmore as Fricka. Better still, Ariodante with Susan Graham, Ruth Ann Swenson, and Ewa Podles.

New York on the other hand, has Die Soldaten, which is aparently a Disney ride. The seating is on tracks and moves throughout the performance.

Discuss

]]> jfmurray3 commented http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/#comment-15059 jfmurray3 Thu, 15 May 2008 01:36:46 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=959#comment-15059 I bought a very good Jessye Les Troyens CD where she sang both Cassandre and Didon at the MET. I got it at Academy Records in Chelsea. It's the 2/18/84 broadcast. I'm not sure who put these CDs together. The sound isn't perfect - it's a recording from the radio broadcast, with Peter Allen doing the narration, but the performance is thrilling. (The bonus on the CD is a live performance of La Morte de Cleopatre with the Phila Orch/Muti in a radio broadcast.) On a side note, I first fell in love with opera while watching Jessye's Sieglinde in the televised MET ring in the early 1990 or thereabout. My life was changed at that moment, with Jessye as my first love. (I hope she doesn't mind my current infatuation with Stephanie Blythe.) I bought a very good Jessye Les Troyens CD where she sang both Cassandre and Didon at the MET. I got it at Academy Records in Chelsea. It’s the 2/18/84 broadcast. I’m not sure who put these CDs together. The sound isn’t perfect – it’s a recording from the radio broadcast, with Peter Allen doing the narration, but the performance is thrilling. (The bonus on the CD is a live performance of La Morte de Cleopatre with the Phila Orch/Muti in a radio broadcast.)

On a side note, I first fell in love with opera while watching Jessye’s Sieglinde in the televised MET ring in the early 1990 or thereabout. My life was changed at that moment, with Jessye as my first love. (I hope she doesn’t mind my current infatuation with Stephanie Blythe.)

]]> kashania commented http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/#comment-15042 kashania Wed, 14 May 2008 22:31:23 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=959#comment-15042 Sanford: Yes and Carreras was her Edgardo. Sanford: Yes and Carreras was her Edgardo.

]]> kashania commented http://parterre.com/2008/05/13/reviewer-no-longer-to-be-confused-by-his-notes/#comment-15041 kashania Wed, 14 May 2008 22:30:23 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=959#comment-15041 Mrs. Claggart: I only know early Jessye through recordings (almost exclusively from the studio). Your comments have made me want to pull out a early 70s live Aida and give it a listen. I think it's the only live opera recording I have from her early years. Mrs. Claggart: I only know early Jessye through recordings (almost exclusively from the studio). Your comments have made me want to pull out a early 70s live Aida and give it a listen. I think it’s the only live opera recording I have from her early years.

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