Comments on: A Fly in Her Ear

Harry commented

Harry — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 05:14:36 +0000

If ever there was a fly in the ointment of an opera production…it is this production. It is S##T! I saw it a few years back and I hope to rid my mind of it one day. Dessay’ antics remind me of someone needing medication to calm down real quick. Sorry to rain on those whose parade is praising the stupid thing.

Sanford commented

Sanford — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:15:42 +0000

It couldn’t possibly be as provocative as this:

lorenzo.venezia commented

lorenzo.venezia — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:08:16 +0000

Doesn’t hold a candle to the stunning and truly hilarious Gerald Scarfe production of the late 80’s…

The Logical Tenor commented

The Logical Tenor — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:33:39 +0000

Dessay runs the whole acting gamut from A to B. She is completely uninteresting, unless you’re into shallow histrionics. As far as ‘dancing’ to the galop infernal… the less said, the better. I would at least expect a little decadence, but what we got was a choreography reminiscent of “Mr. Roboto”. As for the cunnilingus, I do realize this is an Offenbach operetta full of debauchery… but honestly, there is funny and then there’s classless and crass.

Besides, if I *were* straight and I wanted to see some good ol’ cunning linguists at work, the last person I could ever have in mind would be Dessay, who is only a 2% off from being a full Olive Oyl. I’d pocket the money and save it for a porn DVD – at least there you have classless and crass people not trying to pretend they’re art.

Indiana Loiterer III commented

Indiana Loiterer III — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:37:45 +0000

Glad to see it’s finally available in the US. I’ve had to content myself for years with the 1998 EMI recording with the same principals, orchestra & conductor (with Podles in for Olmeda)

DottoreMalatesta commented

DottoreMalatesta — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:46:52 +0000

This DVD is available in Europe for a couple of years now. IT’S ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!

operablogger commented

operablogger — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:41:43 +0000

Thanks for a delightful review. I was vacillating over whether or not to add this piece of Offenbachia to my DVD collection (I already have “Helene” and “Gerolstein”). I’m now convinced to take the plunge — no small decision these days for someone who is both naturally penurious and currently unemployed. I think Minkowski is a terrific conductor of French opera, and I’d love to see him do a “Live in HD” performance one of these days. [He hasn't ever conducted at the Met, has he?]

Central City Opera is putting on this opera next summer, although I don’t know which production they’re using.

Sanford commented

Sanford — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:39:34 +0000

I thought that was one of the best user-submitted reviews we’ve seen. I loved the review.