parterre box

27 comments

• mrmyster says:

  I understand the “personal reasons” relate to Mr Davis
  wife who is victim to a very serious illness and is not
  doing well. I wont give her name, but you will know.
  Very sad indeed.
  On a brighter note, Fabio Luisi is a splendid conductor
  and his command of German opera among the best.
  Count your blessings, while much sympathy to the
  Davis family in Chicago. Damned shame.

  on October 15, 2009 at 9:40 PM
• mrmyster says:

  Once was enough, La Cieca; sorry!

  on October 15, 2009 at 9:41 PM
• Krunoslav says:

  “I’ve never explored Koenigskinder but maybe I should make a point of it.”

  Go for it, squirrel! Helen Donath and Hermann Prey are MAGNIFICENT in the EMI recording of it, though Adolf Dallapozza is merely good enough– Jonas K. really nails the Jadlowker-created part of the Prince in the Zurich production onstage, though I wouldn’t want the voice of Ofelia Sala (I always think that sounds like gypsy curse) in my home.

  Good first act, weaker second, masterpiece third act.

  The Met should honor its responsibility to this score and do it for Roeschmann/ Harteros, Kaufmann and Terfel.

  HANSEL usually has me crying by the second phrase…

  on October 16, 2009 at 12:23 AM
• squirrel says:

  Speaking of operas the Met should stage: Do any of you gossips know whether the Met has plans for a production of Carl Nielsen’s MASKARADE in the next decade? It is a great neglected masterpiece, forbiddingly in Danish, by a composer who is – at least in the symphonic realm – universally admired. It had important premieres recently at ENO and Bregenz and Sazlburg.

  on October 16, 2009 at 12:26 AM
• queen amahelli says:

  ROH in London did Maskarade recently – it may be one of those pieces that doesn’t translate, my impression was that there were some lovely bits, but it wasn’t quite pacy or funny enough to really clinch.

  As for Konigskinder, ENO (and later Munich) intendant Peter Jonas counted it as one of his favorite pieces. ENO staged it – late 80′s early 90′s. It was fun, and very sad at the end, but way too long and the music didn’t seem as tingle-inducing or as fresh as ‘Hansel’. I guess sometimes the muses just visit once – how galling to write a perfect masterpiece and spend the rest of your life trying to do something as good.

  on October 16, 2009 at 2:13 AM
• Cocky Kurwenal says:

  ENO haven’t done Maskarade, at least not in the last decade. The ROH production was very enjoyable, in my opinion. Not something I’d rush back to, but I’m glad I’ve seen it. They did it in an English translation though, which sort of surprised me, but better that than not doing it at all. Kyle Ketleson (sp?) and Emma Bell were both brilliant in it, although I haven’t enjoyed either of them as much since.

  on October 16, 2009 at 4:16 AM
• squirrel says:

  cocky
  perhaps it was “Opera North”… someone in England did it before ROH.

  the piece is delicious and interesting on musical terms. Nielsen’s humor doesn’t always translate to the stage, and the third act could use some cuts, but it is a magical and individual work. The productions for ROH and Salzburg were by (I think?) Pountny and rather 80s kitsch, that can’t help at all. I saw the American premiere, in Danish, in a traditional staging. You can all guess where.

  on October 16, 2009 at 12:11 PM