parterre box

66 comments

• Bitchy Testiculi says:

  48. LC,

  I am not as articulate as you, but I’ll try to clarify my thoughts.

  You are correct about opera being a medium that is better/best experienced in a live performance. But I get to experience this everyday of my life so I never get the sense of it being anything other than a living art form.

  I go less now than I used to as I don’t know whether I’ll be in the country or not to attend performances. Also at the end of a long day spending 3 or 4 more hours absorbing more music – particularly if it is badly done – is the last thing I want to do. I’d much rather spend that time resting for the next day’s challenges.

  However, if I know I’m in for a demented experience nothing will keep me away.

  on January 30, 2009 at 8:27 PM
• kashania says:

  Regarding live performances vs recordings. Am I the only one who has a lower standard for live operas than recordings? A medium-good performance experience live in house can still bring enjoyment when a recording of that same performance would be a bore. I’m not necessarily using this as a justification for going to see opera live because I think that there are plenty of great performances to be experienced in today’s opera houses.

  —-

  On another note, I’m listening to tonight’s Onegin. AT first I thought that there was kind of mixed frequency happening and that I was hearing some talk radio interspersed with the performance. But then I realised that it’s the prompter. The singer singing now (I don’t know the opera that well) has had every line fed to her.

  on January 30, 2009 at 8:45 PM
• kashania says:

  It was Tatyana’s nurse.

  on January 30, 2009 at 8:49 PM
• florezrocks says:

  hahahahah you’re right! Same with Hampson!

  what’s with these singers! I want DMITRI!!!!!!!!!!!!

  what do u think of mattilla so far as Tatyana? Her letter scene? any views?

  on January 30, 2009 at 9:19 PM
• Sanford says:

  Karnal, I think that’s what made the Texaco Met Broadcasts and the Met Tours so vital. People in the hinterlands got to hear live opera, or at least, opera on the radio. And even in the 1800s, there was an audience away from major cities for opera houses, hence Central City Opera. I saw Robert Merrill sing a wonderful concert in Lincoln Illinois in about 1978. The thing about records and CDs that I like is that I can fastforward through all of the parts i find tedious. And replay the parts I liked.

  on January 30, 2009 at 9:39 PM
• kashania says:

  florezrocks: I thought that Mattila sang a moving Letter Scene, appropriately agitated in the first half and full of delicacy in the second half.

  on January 30, 2009 at 9:58 PM
• kashania says:

  Still with the prompter!! I’m sorry but when you have only one aria to sing (Triquet), you shouldn’t have to rely on the prompter.

  on January 30, 2009 at 10:07 PM
• florezrocks says:

  I’ve never heard the prompter before! can the audience hear it too in the house? or is it just because of the radio recording?

  This is not excusable…..is this normal? I am very new to the idea of having prompters audibly speak every line you sing before singing it.

  on the plus side, Piotr is doing wonderfully. can’t wait for Kuda Kuda

  on January 30, 2009 at 10:11 PM
• Karnal Jones says:

  I totally agree with you Sanford but just consider this- where I was growing up there were no opera broadcasts at all- absolutely nothing. In that regard you Americans were so lucky with your Texaco broadcasts. Just imagine what your world would have been like without them. Our world was vinyl records- or nothing. You also had the Ed Sullivan shows- which we used to hear about and drool over.

  on January 30, 2009 at 10:24 PM
• Sanford says:

  Karnal, that sounds so sad! Come over here,darling, and let me comfort you.

  on January 30, 2009 at 10:58 PM