no geh friends
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Thackeray Gnomey has already pointed out this video in the comments, but La Cieca feels with all her heart that it deserves a featured place on this site. Among the subtler pleasures of this cavalcade of visual filth: the expression of stoic acceptance on the face of Waltraud Meier. “Well, what can you do?” she seems to be thinking, and can one but agree with her?
I am thinking about going to a Paris Tristan, too, if some money comes along. I saw Waltraud Meier as Isolde in Berlin in May (as a replacement for Dalayaman, actually) and found her absolutely impressive, particularly in Act I and during the Liebestod. On the other hand, I am tempted to go to a Zürich Tristan with Stemme, conducted by Metzmacher. I will defnitiely go to one of Meiers performances of the Wesendock-Lieder in October, though, either in Frankfurt or Baden Baden. Maybe she reuses her gown again
Hurry hurry, Shocked German and NYCOQ! Tickets for the Paris T&I are already on sale. I’m doing a very expensive Sunday day-trip from London. The Bill Viola designs (possibly a final outing for them) should be great. Did anyone else see Theorin understudying Brunnhilde (in Siegfried) in London last autumn? I thought she was dazzling (so – in a completely different way – was Bullock, understudying in Walkure – her Elektra should be amazing).
Thanks Curvy Nal! I will have to make up my mind very quickly.
I saw Bullock twice as Elektra, in Frankfurt and Stuttgart, and found her indeed very impressive, although the highlight in Stuttgart was without doubt the Chrysothemis by Eva Maria-Westbroek, who I absolutely worship.
I am looking forward to the Bayreuth radio broadcast with Theorin as Isolde on Saturday (Robert Dean Smith is the Tristan, Peter Schneider is conducting). [I am likewise looking forward to hearing the Westbroek Sieglinde a few days later.]
Or not… Apparently la Theorin is ill and will not sing the dress rehearsal scheduled for tomorrow. No news, whether she will sing on Saturday.
I was seriously thinking of going to the Paris T&I in the autumn too, until I had my first Bastille experience in June and realised what a dreadful opera house it is (I saw the Don Carlo and thought the acoustics were simply horrendous). I also wasn’t massivly impressed with Meier’s form in youtube clips of the most recent Scala T&I, so between those 2 factors, I am reconsidering. Can anybody inspire me to go? Is Meier’s Isolde really special in the flesh?
Oh no! No wonder you’re shocked. Poor Irene. I thought you couldn’t get ill in Bayreuth, you just lived for ever on a diet of Wagner’s embalming fluid and ambrosia. I’d love to see her Isolde – somehow I can’t quite imagine how it would be. The Brunnhilde (youthful, direct, no Tristanic (?) darkness though) boded well but what horrible reviews here:
http://www.gergievfestival.nl/2008/html_ENG/media/recensies.html
May I assume the Bastille Tristan is still the Peter Sellars/Bill Viola affair? Four and a half hours of what appear to be home movies projected on a giant screen, giving the singers little chance to do anything!
Rette dich, Bill & Peter!
Melot’s Younger Brother, that’s the one. Is it not good?
By all means, go to Paris! I thought the Viola Tristan had some absolutely sublime moments (the act II duet in particular), and judging from her showing in the Chereau/Barenboim Tristan last December, Meier’s Isolde is as good as ever. And in fact she’s always better live than recorded—she’s one of those singers that makes you think she’s performing just for you.