parterre box

27 comments

• Gualtier M says:

  That conductor on the right certainly doesn’t need to be reincarnated…it is OBVIOUSLY Carlo Rizzi!!!

  The nonsense that gets posted on this site…

  on October 15, 2009 at 4:19 PM
• einfreund says:

  Squirrel, you should check out the operas of Humperdinck’s pupil, Siegfried Wagner, who did emulate him.

  on October 15, 2009 at 6:35 PM
• WindyCityOperaman says:

  I wouldn’t be too unhappy with Davis not conducting – you hear what he did to the Tosca opening? Sounded like he was pulling teeth, not conducting.

  Besides, this is for that shitty new production, right?

  on October 15, 2009 at 7:01 PM
• WindyCityOperaman says:

  (Sorry, I meant for the Lyric Opera Tosca opening. Unfortunately at the Lyric we’re stuck with Davis)

  BTW, H&G makes me think of the lovely old Met O’Hearn production that was conducted by James Fulton and is now a $200+ DVD on Amazon. What were the details of Fulton’s passing?

  on October 15, 2009 at 7:04 PM
• MontyNostry says:

  Oh dear, I was mixing up my Luisis and Luisottis. I thought the guy on the left didn’t look like the music director of SF Opera …

  on October 15, 2009 at 7:09 PM
• richard says:

  WCO, I heard the LOC Tosca broadcast. Davis sounded very fussy to me, not sure what that was all about.

  Is he LOC’s new Bruno Bartoletti?

  on October 15, 2009 at 7:11 PM
• brooklynpunk says:

  15:

  I Think you meant to say Thomas Fulron…not James..?

  He was one of my favorite “junior” conductors , in the House..and died , tragically young, at 44, of kidney failure.

  I agree about Sir Andrew..while I hope the “personal reasons ” aren’t TOO horrible…after listening to the past “Faust” from LOC…I’m not all that upset that he’s not coming to NY

  on October 15, 2009 at 7:12 PM
• brooklynpunk says:

  …that should have read “Fulton”..oops

  on October 15, 2009 at 7:13 PM
• CerquettiFarrell says:

  Having Luisi for H&G is great news indeed, he is a fine musician and a versatile conductor. I absolutely adore the score and even Koenigskinder is a fine opera. There’s a recording with Ofelia Sala and Jonas Kaufmann in the title roles, available on Accord.
  As for HUmperdinck, it appears that everybody stole from him at their convenience: Mahler the idea of incorporating folk tunes within orchestral fabric (1st symphony resembles the zwischnspiel between acts 1 and 2 of H&G, many sugary chorale moments in the 2nd symphony bear resemblance to the angel pantomime). R Strauss “burrowed” the flute trill for the end of Salome from the Sandman’s appearance, and the Octavian / Sophie duet which ends Rosenkavalier is a carbon-copy of H&G’s prayer.
  The role of the witch is delightfully hammy and altogether she is much more reachable and involving than the kids. Having a tenor in drag is OK if you have a great personality, like Langridge on the Met DVD, but there’s nothing like a fully fledged dramatic soprano in this, like Edda Moser showed us once and for all in Wallberg’s magisterial recording. One of the greatest vocal portraits on record.

  on October 15, 2009 at 8:36 PM
• 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