parterre box

Though she has not made many in-person appearances on the weekend chat since the summer began, La Cieca has realized (or has been told, truth be told) that directing parterrians, even by means of a democratic vote, is not any easier than herding cats. Which is to say, you guys who are chatting on Saturday afternoon are listening to whatever you damn well please, and, on reflection, who the hell am I to be acting so authoritarian all of a sudden?

And so, at the suggestion of La Belle Betsy, La Cieca is going to encourage you to decide among yourselves during the chat what you will listen to, or not to decide, or not to listen to. Dear Betsy has compiled a few suggestions for jumping-off points for the listening party, but you are all encouraged to suggest alternative or supplemental listings.  The chat room will naturally be at the usual location.  And here is Betsy’s List:

1:00-5:00 CBC TWO  A double bill of Starmania and Notre-Dame de Paris.   These are two so-called rock operas by Michael Berger and Richard Cocciante, and they are billed as “concert versions” which pretty much suggests “a medley of my greatest hit.”  Marc Hervieux headlines.

1:00-5:00 BBC 3.  A production of Handel’s Tamerlano from the Royal Opera House starring world-renowned baritenor Placido – - -  nope, scratch that.  Starring sort-of famous Kurt Streit.  I recommend that as you listen, you imagine Placido with his ass hoisted in the air;  it helps.

1:00-5:00 WRTI. The Damnation of the Faust from Chicago.  Been there, done that.

1:00-5:00 NPR World of Opera, various times, various stations. La sonnambula from Paris with Nathalie Dessay and a supporting cast of extras from AVATAR.

1:00-5:00 WFMT Network various times, various stations. Le nozze di Figaro from Chicago with a starry, starry cast and a conductor who sounds like he was washed up on a beach in Alabama.

2:00-6:00 RADIO STEPHANSDOM.  Carlos Kleiber conducts Tristan und Isolde with Margaret Price and Rene Kollo.  Musically it’s a best thing on the docket, but ideally it should be listened to privately while wrapped in a Snuggie® of the finest cashmere over fragile silk undergarments.

2:30-6:00 KBA2.  The Bartered Bride from Prague.  This is a really nice performance, but Smetana just gets no respect these days.  Pardon me while I slip into Wladek mode.

RADIOCRAZY, a service out of Switzerland lists two things I’ve never heard before, but their times are totally unreliable, their service is automated so you have to figure out what’s going on without any spoken introduction (bad) or interruption (good).  Leonardo Leo’s Decebalo is listed from approximately 2:30 until 4:30 with Domenec Terradellas’ Artaserse following until approximately 7:00.