parterre box

118 comments

• turandot says:

  brooklynpunk: there have been serious questions about NYCO at least 2 years. Tommassini and the Times have been AWOL on this subject. Where were they? Why wasn’t he writing about it? It’s one thing to “hope for the best” it’s quite another for journalists to ignore what was right in front of their faces. We all saw it. Why didn’t they? Why didn’t they write about it? Probably because he liked what Mortier was promising and that clouded his judgment. If he has any judgment.

  Thank god for La Cieca!

  As for those who think NYCO has been worthless I beg to differ. Yes, I avoided the standard rep stuff they did because it was almost uniformly bad. Yes, I wish they had engaged better conductors. But it was also a place I could go to see and hear things I didn’t get anywhere else. Neither the MET nor Chicago has done Die Tote Stadt but I saw it there 3 times over the years with fine casts.

  All the Handel wonders I could see no where else. Did I always like the productions or the singing? No, but I’m glad I got to see them.

  Some of the Strauss operas — Daphne for instance — that I can’t see at the MET or in Chicago or San Francisco.

  The rarities — Ariane by Dukas, Mines of Sulphur, Little Prince, the Gilbert and Sullivan, many, many others.

  So I will be sad to see them go because I have had many pleasurable experiences there.

  on November 10, 2008 at 6:30 PM
• High C's @ 4:20 says:

  Turandot… i dont think the NYCO could be considered worthless… hardly… but you should get out more… Ive seen Handel in Dallas Houston Chicago & Santa Fe…Ive seen lots of Strauss including Daphne in Santa Fe & Dallas and Houston…plus rarities like Ermione (twice) and Angels in America and A Wedding.

  Im just sayin’…

  on November 10, 2008 at 7:11 PM
• turandot says:

  High c’s: I don’t think there is any company in NEW YORK that has done Handel more than NYCO. As for getting out more … New York is the capital of the musical world. I have no interest in going to Dallas, Houston, or Santa Fe.

  I also have no interest in trash like Angels in America, A Wedding, and the mediocre casts that Houston and Dallas put on.

  NYCO is needed far more than Houston or Dallas or Santa Fe.

  As for Chicago, they just recently did Giulio Cesare — and as a point of reference it was the first time that had ever performed this masterpiece in over 50 years of existence.

  Please.

  on November 10, 2008 at 9:18 PM
• Brooklynpunk says:

  Hear that , Dallas..Hoston…Santa Fe..Chicago.??.y’all are SAFE from the dreaded oncologist—and his stud boyfriend,,,,,

  For the so-called “Capital” of the music -world, we ain’t doing very well lately…eh, doc??

  on November 10, 2008 at 11:01 PM
• Arianna a Nasso says:

  “New York is the capital of the musical world”

  I’m sure our friends in London will enjoy reading this when they wake up tomorrow morning.

  on November 10, 2008 at 11:07 PM
• joethetroll says:

  Yea, let`s all agree that NYCO should disappear – just like this silly website , run by some pathetic Queen calling him/herslf “La Cieca “: I got the right name for you : Tuntendreck !

  on November 10, 2008 at 11:43 PM
• Contopro says:

  joe the troll is the perfect name for you. Jerk.

  on November 11, 2008 at 12:09 AM
• mrmyster says:

  joethetroll – is that you, Sen Lieberman? You sound in good form, your usual self. I rise to defend my old friend La Cieca. I knew her, however long distance, back when — back when she was doing a real service to the opera world by printing the Truth in her little funny pink-covered mimeographed book. I used to send money to help with paper, and she had a wonderful group of journalists amusing and informing us in an outrageous and often unique way, and with fresh and good insight. I encouraged her and still do. I wish some of those old names were back. BUT, in any case she is still doing wonderful work and I admire her and urge her to continue, even if her appeal is very specialized. Now, let me ask you, Joe The Troll, what are you doing here? Why are you here? If I were Cieca, I’d throw you out very fast and not allow you back for a long time.
  It’s not always nice here, but it’s rarely as unpleasant as you seem to want to be – get the message?
  Flora del Rio Grande

  on November 11, 2008 at 12:15 AM
• joethetroll says:

  Oh, the Dainty Ladies protest too much !

  Let`s pretend we all are so polite and talk about Cultural Things…like..THE OPERA ! All one reads is the old boring epithets such as …well….I can`t help myself …but mention such nasty words : Fuck…..Asshole….Jerk…..etc…..my face is turning red reading such things in such a lofty forum….and of course …”Euro-Trash” – which to be honest…is what you Queens are – the trash whose ancestors came here and whose mongrel offspring you are , and try to enoble yourself with “KULTUR”: “Oh my dear , I am so above the hoi-polloi …I go to the OPERA….and write to the Tuntendreck blog …”

  on November 11, 2008 at 12:38 AM
• Ian says:

  Turandot: when NY has an equivalent concert series as the Proms and more than one world class orchestra… then we can talk about musical capital of the world.

  on November 11, 2008 at 4:02 AM