Mary was enough of a drama Queen to understand her own iconic significance - at her execution she emerged on the scaffold wearing a white shift; at the last moment she discarded it revealing a red one underneath - red being the colour of Catholic martyrdom.
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Hello, I've been here for a couple of years just reading and learning. Musically I found it excellent and I have very little to add but here goes anyway. Comparing to my CDs I preferred it to either 1975 Sutherland or 1971 Sills studio recordings. That includes the orchestra and chorus. The prayer is stronger by both Sutherland and Sills, this could by style but the wall between Mary and the crowd certainly affected the sound balance in the theatre, the recording used dispersed microphones so it's not so noticeable recorded. My only other recording is from the 2013 Met and unsurprisingly the sound is roughly equivalent.Originally posted by kernelbogey View Post
The production. How much does one have to endure to hear live music? Most positive reactions I've heard are of the type "it didn't ruin my evening" and "not as bad as it could be". The contemporary relevance was lost on me and many others (I was at the first night). Dramatically the most arresting moment was Joyce DiDonato standing on chair and me visualising her falling and breaking her leg, the silliness faded and the drama was believable. I honestly would have preferred a concert performance. I got through a second performance by closing my eyes.
Toilets. I said if you like A try B, but white contract tiling and stainless steel fixtures sure looks like a public toilet to me. Don't take my opinion though I'm probably not qualified to comment here - and I'm happy for the record to state so - as I am not familiar with the interiors of public toilets.Comment
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That does remind me of WNO's Wozzeck, with Christopher Purves stepping carefully along a row of upturned baked bean tins - the sort of suspense, for no immediately obvious gain, that can distract from the action ...Originally posted by Giacomo View PostIt isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.Comment
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Or the ROH/R Jones Gotterdammerung, in which Brunnhilde (Anne Jones/Deborah Polaski) had to totter along a long row of dodgy-looking table tops, blindfolded with a brown paper bag over her head, guided only by the hands of the baying warriors.....Originally posted by french frank View PostComment
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In the ROH Wozzeck a few years ago I can remember wondering how Matthias Goerne spent five minutes under water in a tank with no visible means of breathing.Originally posted by french frank View PostComment
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Was he singing at the time? :smile:
(There were some Hollywood musicals starring Esther Williams, an ex-championship swimmer, & often featured her in 'underwater ballets'; every so often she would grab an air hose & take a deep breath)Comment
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I know that they are being closed by councils keen to cut costs, but have you never used one? If so, I congratulate you on your bladder control.Originally posted by Giacomo View PostComment
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Not sure whether he was singing or spreching at the time, but he does have his mouth open!Originally posted by Flosshilde View Post
It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.Comment
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The ROH has published an article explaining how the baritones playing Wozzeck managed to stay under water for over 7 minutes at the end of the opera:Originally posted by gurnemanz View Post
"I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes, and probably lead to acts of violence in Grosvenor Square."
Lady Bracknell The importance of Being EarnestComment
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