Urmana said she used to be a mezzo. How often do singers change voices? I had no idea it was common.

With Fleming, I think Zajick was trying to cut through the crap … the formal pleasantries of an intermission interview. But you’re right, that tension was palpable.

I see Botha as Otello on Dec 2. I think of this role as a dark tenor role (not because it was written that way — I have no idea about that — but because I’ve heard it that way in the past on CD).

Did your Turandot come from between daddy’s legs astride a jackass?

Then we had that stupid Turandot a la Fritz Lang’s Metropolis from Vienna with Gabrielle Schnaut(Shout!)and Botha where (in the Berio ending)Turandot : descended on that form of a 92nd floor elevator platform. As well, poor Liu become a corpse on a hospital trolley.

As for the others … pretty good voices, I thought. I didn’t notice Botha or Urmana straying wildly, vocally. Botha is better heard than seen, as his acting — as someone here said — is limited to “eyes open wide,” “point in that direction,” and “eyes open wider.”

I was very happy to see some darn animals. I saw what I thought were two donkeys backstage during the intermission, but the only animals I noticed walking onstage were horses. The animals did live up to the hype. Hahaha.

I’m debating whether to go tonight. I’m leaning toward yes but it’s 4 hours long! If I go, we’ll compare notes afterwards. You’re 3 hours ahead of me, I think, so you’ll see the rebroadcast first, and when I leave the theater, you’ll probably be asleep. More later!