Arise Sir Bilbo Pappano

[VodkaDilc]

Thanks Simon. It's not easy to see from higher up in the theatre.[ Upper circle if I was paying, box if comps were given]

Am I the only person who goes for the seats marked "No view of surtitles" when booking in certain theatres? These things are a real blight on modern opera-going. I am convinced that their presence leads to undue concentration on the words - only one aspect (often not the most important) of the opera. I write as a very limited linguist, but one who was brought up to do my homework before going to see a production.

All this is obviously "in my opinion" - I don't expect agreement.

[Prommer]

The only opera conductors at the ROH who conduct from a seated position these days are Colin Davis and Mikko Franck.

[MrGongGong]

I always stand at the ROH

[jayne lee wilson]

And was Franz Welzer-Most truly "frankly worse than most?"

Anyone here ever play under him? So to speak...

A colleague drove me nuts by referring to Placido Domingo as Plastic Dominoes.

[Chris Newman]

And was Franz Welzer-Most truly "frankly worse than most?"

Anyone here ever play under him? So to speak...

No, I never played in any orchestra, but a friend in the LPO says that FWM was a bit too young and big-headed when he took them over and by the time they said goodbye to him at a Viennese Prom with Dame Felicity Lott many players were wishing they had been nicer to him. He is making waves in Europe and America...after all, he is effectively the boss of the Vienna Phil under its daytime-job's name.

[jayne lee wilson]

Yes, and his (1993!) LPO Bruckner 5 isn't bad at all!!

No, I never played in any orchestra, but a friend in the LPO says that FWM was a bit too young and big-headed when he took them over and by the time they said goodbye to him at a Viennese Prom with Dame Felicity Lott many players were wishing they had been nicer to him. He is making waves in Europe and America...after all, he is effectively the boss of the Vienna Phil under its daytime-job's name.

[Prommer]

Terrific performance by Bilbo of the Mastersingers yesterday - he really is inside this score now. A knight to remember?

[gurnemanz]

And was Franz Welzer-Most truly "frankly worse than most?"

Anyone here ever play under him? So to speak...

You deny him his "s" and his umlaut - Welser-Möst, and he did get his own back:

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/damianthompson/100003104/franz-welser-most-returns-to-london-in-triumph/

[Richard Tarleton]

And was Franz Welzer-Most truly "frankly worse than most?"

Anyone here ever play under him? So to speak...

I'm just an audience member (and keen Wagnerian), but heard two tremendous concert performances in the RFH with Zurich Opera - a fine Tannhauser, and a heartstopping Meistersinger. I think he's OK.

Prommer


Terrific performance by Bilbo of the Mastersingers yesterday - he really is inside this score now. A knight to remember?