Comments on: Love in the afternoon http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/ where opera is king and you, the readers, are queens Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:10:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: CL in DC http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-5/#comment-105162 CL in DC Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:23:34 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-105162 Jay, My email to you kept bouncing back. I'll be at tonight's performance - meeting some friends at 4:30 near the JFK bust. CLinDC.2008@gmail.com Jay,

My email to you kept bouncing back. I’ll be at tonight’s performance – meeting some friends at 4:30 near the JFK bust. CLinDC.2008@gmail.com

]]> By: Jay http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-5/#comment-104458 Jay Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:03:42 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104458 @50, and how long have you been flacking for Gelb? @50, and how long have you been flacking for Gelb?

]]> By: Alto http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-5/#comment-104447 Alto Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:37:37 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104447 "Can you imagine Birgit, Leonie or Crespin putting up with such crap?" You don't see Gelb casting them either, do you? “Can you imagine Birgit, Leonie or Crespin putting up with such crap?”

You don’t see Gelb casting them either, do you?

]]> By: sogalitno http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-5/#comment-104429 sogalitno Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:36:20 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104429 just a note - these Opera on 3 productions are not live - they are taped and the intermission features are taped earlier as well - needless to say - the commentators are a cut above those utilized by the Met - there seems to be a more serious atmosphere to the enterprise and an expectation of the audience of a certain level of knowledge. oh to be in england... just a note – these Opera on 3 productions are not live – they are taped and the intermission features are taped earlier as well – needless to say – the commentators are a cut above those utilized by the Met – there seems to be a more serious atmosphere to the enterprise and an expectation of the audience of a certain level of knowledge. oh to be in england…

]]> By: Buster http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-5/#comment-104378 Buster Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:02:08 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104378 @39 I heard Theorin's Isolde, but not under ideal circumstances. Gergiev conducted, Bill Viola's film was projected above her head, and there was enormous competition from a Brangaene who was totally unimpressed by Gergiev and Viola, and just sung gloriously: Ekaterina Gubanova. I went twice to hear her, but both performances were all about Gergiev and his orchestra - the singers, Gubanova apart, just did not stand a chance. @39 I heard Theorin’s Isolde, but not under ideal circumstances. Gergiev conducted, Bill Viola’s film was projected above her head, and there was enormous competition from a Brangaene who was totally unimpressed by Gergiev and Viola, and just sung gloriously: Ekaterina Gubanova. I went twice to hear her, but both performances were all about Gergiev and his orchestra – the singers, Gubanova apart, just did not stand a chance.

]]> By: Baritenor http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-5/#comment-104377 Baritenor Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:39:13 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104377 No, just the Walkure and Siegfried Brunnhildes. Katarina Dalyman sang the Gotterdamerung Brunnhilde. No, just the Walkure and Siegfried Brunnhildes. Katarina Dalyman sang the Gotterdamerung Brunnhilde.

]]> By: Graciella Scusi http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-5/#comment-104376 Graciella Scusi Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:04:24 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104376 Did Theorin sing the Gotterdammerung Brunnhilde at the Met?! Did Theorin sing the Gotterdammerung Brunnhilde at the Met?!

]]> By: squirrel http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-5/#comment-104371 squirrel Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:39:25 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104371 Don't get me wrong, I think she's a fine musician, talented and spunky, just not a Brunnhilde for the Met. Not even close. The sound was nice, but in the Immolation scene simply too small and exhausted for the dramatic high notes. I have no other basis on which to judge her, but I think Isolde might be a better fit. Don’t get me wrong, I think she’s a fine musician, talented and spunky, just not a Brunnhilde for the Met. Not even close. The sound was nice, but in the Immolation scene simply too small and exhausted for the dramatic high notes. I have no other basis on which to judge her, but I think Isolde might be a better fit.

]]> By: senti questa http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-5/#comment-104369 senti questa Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:32:33 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104369 just listening to this now, in act II -- stemme is luminous, particularly in this act. i like koch much better here than in the octavian clips w/ fleming. i think brangäne is a much better fit for her voice. heppner, on the other hand, is truly pathetic...on this outing at least. doing my best to ignore him and listen to nina. can one really call this singing? just listening to this now, in act II — stemme is luminous, particularly in this act. i like koch much better here than in the octavian clips w/ fleming. i think brangäne is a much better fit for her voice.

heppner, on the other hand, is truly pathetic…on this outing at least. doing my best to ignore him and listen to nina. can one really call this singing?

]]> By: Jay http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-5/#comment-104368 Jay Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:29:23 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104368 @36 Regina delle Fate, I had to suffer through Esser's Tristan at Bayreuth in 1981. Ghastly. Salminen and J. Meier more or less saved what they could of the performance. @39 CL in DC, I also live in D.C. plan to be at both of the upcoming Gotterdammerungs. Email: loge44@aol.com @40 Squirrel, Theorin's Ariadne didn't work for me, but I confess I left after "Grossmachtige Prinzessin", so maybe the final scene was better. I am hopeful about the Gotterdammerung Brunnhildes here. I liked her in Siegfried. Especially the third performance. She was ailing at the prima and wasn't at peak form. But she cooked in the third performance. @36 Regina delle Fate, I had to suffer through Esser’s Tristan at Bayreuth in 1981. Ghastly. Salminen and J. Meier more or less saved what they could of the performance.

@39 CL in DC, I also live in D.C. plan to be at both of the upcoming Gotterdammerungs. Email: loge44@aol.com

@40 Squirrel, Theorin’s Ariadne didn’t work for me, but I confess I left after “Grossmachtige Prinzessin”, so maybe the final scene was better. I am hopeful about the Gotterdammerung Brunnhildes here. I liked her in Siegfried. Especially the third performance. She was ailing at the prima and wasn’t at peak form. But she cooked in the third performance.

]]> By: CL in DC http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-5/#comment-104366 CL in DC Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:21:16 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104366 This was my first time out w/ the opera so I had nothing to compare it to, but I felt that her Ariadne was quite lovely, though there were some moments when she sang too softly that she was a bit covered by the orchestra. Overall, it was a very enjoyable performance! She's singing Brunnhilde in WNO's concert performance of Gotterdammerung that I might try and check out. I've not experienced much of the German rep before, but I'm finding I really enjoy it. This was my first time out w/ the opera so I had nothing to compare it to, but I felt that her Ariadne was quite lovely, though there were some moments when she sang too softly that she was a bit covered by the orchestra. Overall, it was a very enjoyable performance! She’s singing Brunnhilde in WNO’s concert performance of Gotterdammerung that I might try and check out. I’ve not experienced much of the German rep before, but I’m finding I really enjoy it.

]]> By: squirrel http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-4/#comment-104354 squirrel Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:21:51 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104354 We had a lot of her Brünnhilde last season, which was a huge stretch. Lots of hurling of sound (which she didn't have to spare) out toward the audience. I suppose Isolde would suit her more. Ariadne... can't imagine, but maybe! We had a lot of her Brünnhilde last season, which was a huge stretch. Lots of hurling of sound (which she didn’t have to spare) out toward the audience. I suppose Isolde would suit her more. Ariadne… can’t imagine, but maybe!

]]> By: CL in DC http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-4/#comment-104353 CL in DC Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:08:29 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104353 Has anyone ever heard the Isolde of Irene Theorin? I just saw her Ariadne at Washington National Opera, and it was a performance that makes me very interested in hearing more of her. Has anyone ever heard the Isolde of Irene Theorin? I just saw her Ariadne at Washington National Opera, and it was a performance that makes me very interested in hearing more of her.

]]> By: marisol http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-4/#comment-104349 marisol Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:04:05 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104349 I wept, the last act was wonderful. I wept, the last act was wonderful.

]]> By: MontyNostry http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-4/#comment-104347 MontyNostry Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:52:10 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104347 I've only seen Salminen once. He was pretty much phoning in Rocco in Valencia three years ago. Still, the production was dreary as hell, as was most of the rest of the singing, so one couldn't blame him too much. I’ve only seen Salminen once. He was pretty much phoning in Rocco in Valencia three years ago. Still, the production was dreary as hell, as was most of the rest of the singing, so one couldn’t blame him too much.

]]> By: Regina delle fate http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-4/#comment-104346 Regina delle fate Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:46:03 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104346 Jay - I first heard Salminen's Marke when he was a youngster in Germany to the Isolde of Helga Dernesch - majestic if short up top - and the Tristan of Hermin Esser - a horrible noise - in 1975. He is simply a phenomenon. His Hagen is still the best in the world. Jay – I first heard Salminen’s Marke when he was a youngster in Germany to the Isolde of Helga Dernesch – majestic if short up top – and the Tristan of Hermin Esser – a horrible noise – in 1975. He is simply a phenomenon. His Hagen is still the best in the world.

]]> By: MontyNostry http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-4/#comment-104343 MontyNostry Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:41:40 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104343 Mags would find her true home in the notorious Microsoft 7 'party' infomercial ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cX4t5-YpHQ Mags would find her true home in the notorious Microsoft 7 ‘party’ infomercial …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cX4t5-YpHQ

]]> By: 79CXR http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-4/#comment-104339 79CXR Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:26:53 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104339 "The give and take, the disagreements, during the Act II intermission chats is great, enlightening. Oy vey, can you imagine Margaret J. and Will discussing opera at this level?" Will gets a hard time. he does know what he's talking about, it's just the muppet MJ that he has to work with that spoils things. Last night for Foost,Mags only managed to get one thing right. HER NAME I love it when she says, of course, oh really, I was just thinking about that.... Yeh Mags, of course you were my dear. “The give and take, the disagreements, during the Act II intermission chats is great, enlightening. Oy vey, can you imagine Margaret J. and Will discussing opera at this level?”

Will gets a hard time. he does know what he’s talking about, it’s just the muppet MJ that he has to work with that spoils things.

Last night for Foost,Mags only managed to get one thing right. HER NAME

I love it when she says, of course, oh really, I was just thinking about that…. Yeh Mags, of course you were my dear.

]]> By: Jay http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-4/#comment-104338 Jay Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:25:55 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104338 I've heard the "dumbing down" as well, MontyNostry, on the BBC lunchtime concerts, etc. At least they're racheting it up for this broadcast I’ve heard the “dumbing down” as well, MontyNostry, on the BBC lunchtime concerts, etc. At least they’re racheting it up for this broadcast

]]> By: MontyNostry http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-4/#comment-104337 MontyNostry Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:17:18 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104337 You are right, Jay, but a fair degree of dumbing-down still goes on on BBC Radio 3 these days. And most of the announcers are pretty appalling with foreign languages. You are right, Jay, but a fair degree of dumbing-down still goes on on BBC Radio 3 these days. And most of the announcers are pretty appalling with foreign languages.

]]> By: Jay http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-4/#comment-104336 Jay Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:11:05 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104336 The give and take, the disagreements, during the Act II intermission chats is great, enlightening. Oy vey, can you imagine Margaret J. and Will discussing opera at this level? The give and take, the disagreements, during the Act II intermission chats is great, enlightening. Oy vey, can you imagine Margaret J. and Will discussing opera at this level?

]]> By: lenski http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-3/#comment-104332 lenski Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:51:52 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104332 I have to agree about Salminen. Amazing indeed. What a smart singer he is to achieve such longevity. My favorite Salminen performance/moment. I flew to Chicago to attend one of the Götterdämmerungs before the complete Ring. At the end of Act 2, Hagen (Salminen, duh) starts singing and sits on a long table facing the audience. The lights dim and only his silhouette is visible, dark, menacing. We were all spellbound. Weise von neuem der Niblungen Schar, dir zu gehorchen, des Ringes Herrn! That is why I go to the Opera.... I have to agree about Salminen. Amazing indeed. What a smart singer he is to achieve such longevity.

My favorite Salminen performance/moment. I flew to Chicago to attend one of the Götterdämmerungs before the complete Ring. At the end of Act 2, Hagen (Salminen, duh) starts singing and sits on a long table facing the audience. The lights dim and only his silhouette is visible, dark, menacing. We were all spellbound.

Weise von neuem
der Niblungen Schar,
dir zu gehorchen,
des Ringes Herrn!

That is why I go to the Opera….

]]> By: Jay http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-3/#comment-104330 Jay Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:50:22 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104330 Oops, Berkeley Steele, not Berkley-Steele (who in any case sounds like an over-the-hill Herod). Oops, Berkeley Steele, not Berkley-Steele (who in any case sounds like an over-the-hill Herod).

]]> By: enzo http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-3/#comment-104329 enzo Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:46:27 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104329 Heppner sounds as though he's nearing the end. Heppner sounds as though he’s nearing the end.

]]> By: Jay http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-3/#comment-104328 Jay Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:42:55 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104328 Was Berkley-Steele covering for Heppner? Salminen is amazing; hard to believe I first him as Marke in 1981. He's lost some resonance but he sings, rather than barks, his music. Was Berkley-Steele covering for Heppner? Salminen is amazing; hard to believe I first him as Marke in 1981. He’s lost some resonance but he sings, rather than barks, his music.

]]> By: Often admonished http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-3/#comment-104327 Often admonished Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:40:06 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104327 Stemme is extraordinarily good. She is a musician. But the Melot was cast to make Heppner sound good. Stemme is extraordinarily good. She is a musician. But the Melot was cast to make Heppner sound good.

]]> By: Joe Conda http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-3/#comment-104326 Joe Conda Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:36:38 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104326 Finally, an Isolde doesn't jsut get through the role by the skin of shortened intestine. And you can actually tell what pitch she's singing. What a concept. Finally, an Isolde doesn’t jsut get through the role by the skin of shortened intestine. And you can actually tell what pitch she’s singing. What a concept.

]]> By: lenski http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-3/#comment-104325 lenski Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:30:20 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104325 This Tristan seems to be dying during Act II This Tristan seems to be dying during Act II

]]> By: Often admonished http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-3/#comment-104323 Often admonished Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:27:54 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104323 Agree, that is the preferred route. But it seems harder and harder to train reliably now. So I am looking at the virtues of tenors (Heppner, Gambill) who move into heroic roles. Agree, that is the preferred route. But it seems harder and harder to train reliably now. So I am looking at the virtues of tenors (Heppner, Gambill) who move into heroic roles.

]]> By: Zerbinetta http://parterre.com/2009/10/31/love-in-the-afternoon/comment-page-3/#comment-104322 Zerbinetta Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:26:51 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=9086#comment-104322 Now I'm wishing I had left the thing on for the intermission. I missed part of the beginning of Act II because I was thinking of Met intermissions too. I can't tell how he would sound in the house but there are a few really lovely moments from Heppner, mixed with some not so good ones. I guess he's always like that. Now I’m wishing I had left the thing on for the intermission. I missed part of the beginning of Act II because I was thinking of Met intermissions too.

I can’t tell how he would sound in the house but there are a few really lovely moments from Heppner, mixed with some not so good ones. I guess he’s always like that.

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