the art of the euphemism
La Cieca never knows quite how far to go in repeating what she “is told,” but since some of it seems to be leaking out anyway, well, she’ll try to be tactful. Apparently sometimes opera companies choose to use terminology like “laryngitis” and “knee injury” in order to avoid having to say “exhibited bizarre behavior at rehearsals” or “arrived obviously unprepared.”
There has been quite a bit of speculation about Christine Brewer’s performing credits, or in some views, the lack of them. Here is a list of her concert and opera performance schedule (from the archives of her website) for the past 2 years. To the best of my knowledge the only dates on this list she canceled were the two Handel concerts on December 19 and 21, 2008. This cancellation was due to a family tragedy. All of these appearances were in major venues with world class orchestras/opera companies in the United States and Europe. You don’t have to like her or her talent, but one simply cannot deny that she has a major career on two continents.
Some of you bitchy queens really need to take a LONG vacation.
08 March 2007
Alban Berg – Seven Early Songs
23 March 2007
Beethoven’s Opera “Fidelio”
25 March 2007
Beethoven’s Opera “Fidelio”
27 March 2007
Beethoven’s Opera “Fidelio”
12 April 2007
Richard Wagner Tristan und Isolde (Tristan Project) Act I
13 April 2007
Richard Wagner Tristan und Isolde (Tristan Project) Act II
14 April 2007
Richard Wagner Tristan und Isolde (Tristan Project) Act III
18 April 2007
Richard Wagner Tristan und Isolde (Complete)
24 April 2007
Richard Wagner Tristan und Isolde (Complete)
02 May 2007
The Tristan Project
05 May 2007
The Tristan Project
11 May 2007
Britten – War Requiem
12 May 2007
Britten – War Requiem
13 May 2007
Britten – War Requiem
19 June 2007
Tribute Concert Honoring Colin Graham, O.B.E.
07 July 2007
Zemlinsky: Lyric Symphony, Op.18
11 July 2007
Zemlinsky: A Florentine Tragedy
20 July 2007
All-Beethoven Program, Tanglewood
21 July 2007
All-Beethoven Program (Open Rehearsal) Tanglewood
21 July 2007
All-Beethoven Program, Tanglewood
12 August 2007
Wagner Gotterdammerung (Brunnhilde)
17 August 2007
An Evening at the Opera
18 August 2007
An Evening at the Opera
28 August 2007
Bank of Scotland Queen’s Hall Series Recital
01 September 2007
A Celebration of Francis Poulenc
16 November 2007
Die Frau ohne Schatten
20 November 2007
Die Frau ohne Schatten
26 November 2007
Die Frau ohne Schatten
30 November 2007
Die Frau ohne Schatten
04 December 2007
Die Frau ohne Schatten
08 December 2007
Die Frau ohne Schatten
12 December 2007
Die Frau ohne Schatten
16 December 2007
Die Frau ohne Schatten
20 December 2007
Die Frau ohne Schatten
21 January 2008
Die Frau ohne Schatten (Première)
24 January 2008
Die Frau ohne Schatten
28 January 2008
Die Frau ohne Schatten
31 January 2008
Die Frau ohne Schatten
03 February 2008
Die Frau ohne Schatten
07 February 2008
Die Frau ohne Schatten
10 February 2008
Die Frau ohne Schatten
14 February 2008
Wagner Concert
15 February 2008
Wagner Concert
24 February 2008
Richard Wagner – Wesendonck Lieder
25 February 2008
Richard Wagner – Wesendonck Lieder
26 February 2008
Richard Wagner – Wesendonck Lieder
14 March 2008
Richard Strauss – Vier Letzte Lieder
20 March 2008
Verdi – Requiem Mass
21 March 2008
Verdi – Requiem Mass
25 March 2008
Cellofest 2008
28 March 2008
BEETHOVEN Fidelio (in concert, no dialogue)
30 March 2008
BEETHOVEN Fidelio (in concert, no dialogue)
03 April 2008
BEETHOVEN Fidelio (in concert, no dialogue)
05 April 2008
BEETHOVEN Fidelio (in concert, no dialogue)
24 April 2008
Verdi Requiem
25 April 2008
Verdi Requiem
26 April 2008
Verdi Requiem
01 May 2008
Mahler Symphony No. 8 (Sop. 1)
02 May 2008
Mahler Symphony No. 8 (Sop. 1)
03 May 2008
Mahler Symphony No. 8 (Sop. 1)
06 May 2008
Mahler – Symphony No. 8 (Philadelphia Orchestra)
08 May 2008
HENRYK GORECKI: Symphony No. 3
09 May 2008
HENRYK GORECKI: Symphony No. 3
17 June 2008
Four Last Songs & Summer of 1915
18 June 2008
Four Last Songs & Summer of 1915 @ McKendree U.
04 July 2008
Community Concert – Patriotic Favorites
26 July 2008
Mahler’s Symphony of a Thousand
09 September 2008
Mahler’s 8th Symphony (Sop. I)
11 September 2008
Mahler’s 8th Symphony (Sop. I)
03 October 2008
Beethoven Missa Solemnis
18 October 2008
WAGNER Götterdämmerung: Brünnhilde’s Immolation
19 October 2008
WAGNER Götterdämmerung: Brünnhilde’s Immolation
25 October 2008
Benjamin Britten, War Requiem
26 October 2008
Benjamin Britten, War Requiem
01 November 2008
BBC Symphony Orchestra TOUR – Wagner Wesendonck Lieder
02 November 2008
BBC Symphony Orchestra TOUR – Wagner Wesendonck Lieder
03 November 2008
BBC Symphony Orchestra TOUR – Wagner Wesendonck Lieder
04 November 2008
BBC Symphony Orchestra TOUR – Wagner Wesendonck Lieder
05 November 2008
BBC Symphony Orchestra TOUR – Wagner Wesendonck Lieder
06 November 2008
BBC Symphony Orchestra TOUR – Wagner Wesendonck Lieder
07 November 2008
BBC Symphony Orchestra TOUR – Wagner Wesendonck Lieder
09 November 2008
Britten War Requiem
28 November 2008
Strauss, Vier Letzte Lieder
29 November 2008
Strauss, Vier Letzte Lieder
30 November 2008
Strauss, Vier Letzte Lieder
07 December 2008
Poulenc, Gloria & Christmas Favorites
19 December 2008
Handel, “Die ihr aus dunkeln Gruftenâ€
21 December 2008
Handel, “Die ihr aus dunkeln Gruftenâ€
11 January 2009
Verdi Requiem
14 January 2009
Verdi Requiem
22 January 2009
Strauss, Vier Letzte Lieder
25 January 2009
Strauss, Vier Letzte Lieder
05 February 2009
Strauss Opera Excerpts from Die Frau, Elecktra, and Salome
07 February 2009
Strauss Opera Excerpts from Die Frau, Elecktra, and Salome
13 February 2009
Verdi’s Requiem
14 February 2009
Verdi’s Requiem
Brewwer admirer….BRAVO!!!!
Brewer Admirer
Well done
Think you may have also missed the First Night of the Proms last year when she stepped in at 2 days notice to replace Mattila in the 4 Last Songs (televised live and probably on YouTube).
Among other opera credits (in concert) Rezia in Oberon and the Strauss version of Idomeneo
The Ariadne at ENO was absolutely spellbinding.
Wish her a speedy recovery.
Brewer also stepped in some years ago in London to replace Mattila in the 4 Last Songs at the Barbican, and I felt quite the opposite of short-changed. There is an essential honesty and integrity about her singing that makes it very moving, with the expression coming out of the music and the text rather than through applique emoting and special effects. There is a core of calm to her art: in that respect she reminds me of two other fine American singers, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson and Arleen Auger.
By the way, talking of singers who know what they’re going, there’s an interesting interview with Margaret Price here
http://www.classicaltv.com/videos/20
Strange that Solti didn’t like her at the beginning of her career. Do you think it might have been because she didn’t succumb to his attentions? She was a very pretty little thing in the early 60s… (Still pretty too — just not so little!)
Inquest O’Redger ,there was talk that at least one stage of Margaret Price’s career she could throw a ‘pretty’ temper as well. I heard of at least one conductor – and it was not Solti- that let her carry on wildly. Then quietly threatened her if she did not stop he would make sure she would not have any further career. By the way, it is also noted Solti would not stand for ‘shit’ either, out of performers. Others that know more, may wish to contribute on the subject.
my impression is that some people who “spill” on this board (la cieca excepted and a few others) are trying to give the impression that they are more connected than they really are. i think 3-4 people have reported that they are brewer’s best friend
and every other post has been from someone who has sung with her. (hyperbole)
one person who claims to know brewer is probably still insisting that christine is svelte.
La Cieca: do you believe that the Met offered Polaski $35,000 per performance to jump in as Brunnhilde, as one “insider” reported.
and, at most professions today, security is paramount. so indiscretion is strictly to be avoided.
i know i angered people because i suggested that brewer did not have a full-fledged opera career. although, i certainly wasn’t the only one who held that opinion (note spelling nerva).
between mrmyster, wotan, visconti and nerva nelli i’ve been subjected to a heap of abuse. i’ve never referred to anyone on this board as an “ignoramus”. i guess the homophobic tone of the Sonnambula chat should have alerted me to where this board was going.
well, the last thing i want to do is to get into something with anyone (especially the moderator) on this board. remember, this is the place where people were making jokes about sanford being hiv+ and the word “queens” was flying all over the place yesterday.
la cieca:
since you took the time to respond to my tongue in cheek post, i was wondering when you were going to respond to mrmyster’s post:
“Pres. Obama says he does not govern from anger. Brian were you aware of that? I recommend, with all due respect of course, that you dwell on that point and not post from anger/snark/pure bitchyness/ignorance/an excess of gay bile — or whatever your problem is. If you have new information or a constructive idea – then, say it! Otherwise, just shut up, be nice and vote Democratic. [And listen to your very wise president.]
Thank you” or this one “Brian sure is one opiniated ignoramus” from something called nerva nelli.
Kisses to Brian.
I’m listening to the Margaret Price interview now and it’s fascinating. I think she makes a good point about Wagnerian conductors and the problems singers have trying to sing over the wall of sound
LEARNING vs. KNOWING NEW ROLES
Great discussion on the in’s and out’s of coming prepared to rehearsals. The greatest role model has not been mentioned, MC. If every principal singer in today’s hurly-burly, jet-setting opera world had the foresight to follow in her footsteps in striving to be an ARTIST first instead of allowing opera management push and pull them; we might all be better off. The exceptional gift and ability to learn roles quickly has only been granted to person that we all love and admire, PD. (122 and still counting)