When I grow too old to scheme
The full-figured, frizzy-haired guardian of the status quo once more mounted the chariot to lay down the law earlier this afternoon. No, it wasn’t Stephanie Blythe as Fricka, but rather that other divinity, James Levine, who—La Cieca hears—postponed his well-deserved five-month rest and relaxation regime long enough to call the Met’s musical staff on the carpet.
Conducting the meeting from the vantage point of his mobility scooter, the now and (apparently) future music director informed his minions that John Fisher, formerly the company’s Director of Music Administration and more recently chief honcho of Welsh National Opera, will return to the Met as Principal Coach. (Photo: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera)
Deborah Voigt, Eva-Maria Westbroek -- Die Walküre -- Schu?tzt mich…O hehrstest Wunder!
Is there no juicy gossip on how well or badly the SF RING is going, or not going ? come insider/s speak up !
Heidi Grant Murphy, Eva Lind and Daniil Shtoda have been flown in as Bruennhilde, Sieglinde and Siegfried because THEY WANT SMALL VOICES.
Footage from the Siegfried dress with Stemme et al is now on the SFO website (but not yet on Youtube, as far as I can tell); here’s the link:
http://sfopera.com/Season-Tickets/The-Ring-of-the-Nibelung/Siegfried.aspx#media-videos
My friend was raking in overtime on the Gotterdammerung tech rehearsals last week, was either on the job and unable to talk, or trying to get some sleep between 14-hjour shifts, but no reports of disaster.
I will be at the pre-Cycle Siegried premiere on Sunday afternoon, and will report back afterwards.
Thanks for the heads-up! I’m going to be at the first cycle and am very excited, especially since it looks like most of the singers are new to their roles or making their house debuts. I hope stemme is finding the entirety of brunnhilde to be congenial….her walkure brunnhilde was astonishing, but GD is quite another story!
Also, there’s a blog on the SF website too…not in-depth or particularly insightful but it does whet one’s appetite.
The SFO Ring blog:
http://sfopera.com/Season-Tickets/The-Ring-of-the-Nibelung/Notes-From-Valhalla.aspx
See also Opera Tattler’s tweets at #operatattler
See also Jumping Clappiing Man’s blog:
http://jumpingclappingman.wordpress.com/2011/05/28/a-journey-into-the-fire/
Jonas Kaufmann, Eva-Maria Westbroek, Hans-Peter König -- Die Walküre Act 1 Scene between Siegmund, Sieglinde and Hunding
Deborah Voigt, Bryn Terfel -- Die Walküre -- Schlimm, fürcht’ ich schloss er Streit!
and now the floaty lieder part is done how does it continue ? notice how all recording levels are the same FF to pp nothing about this show is real and the stage eye a stupid film for the non libretto readers. Sad.
The eye didn’t bother me because this is the part where I fell asleep. All that “whispering.” Anyway, I already knew about Alberich and the ring…
Bryn Terfel, Deborah Voigt -- Die Walküre -- Der entgegen dem Gott fur mich föchte