Live from the Met 2.04.11 - Wagner: Das Rheingold

[DracoM]

How about dud 'Victoria!' from an Otello? Once heard such at La Fenice and the guy never came out for the Act 1 curtain.

[Flosshilde]

That's a reasonable and balanced view, Flosshilde,

Goodness, that must be a first for me !

I think it also depends where you are. In Italy a singer would probably commit suicide if they didn't get thunderous applause at the end of an aria; in colder climes (Scotland, for example) they would be surprised if they did.

[Don Basilio]

Rossini wanted applause at the end of certain arias - that's why he wrote them with thumping endings. That was just the sort of thing Wagner did his best to discourage.

If a schools matinee applauded during music at a touring opera, that would be wonderful. For (some) of the Met audience to do so implies it is just the corporate entertainment crowd, who would be just as happy with Katherine Jenkins.

[vinteuil]

the corporate entertainment crowd, who would be just as happy with Katherine Jenkins.

... ouch!!

[doversoul1]

I am not an opera enthusiast but being prompted by the Orlando Furioso thread, I watched some of the youtube videos. Almost all arias (of what I watched) are met by applauds, some thunderous, some less so but all add excitement to the performance and the performers seem perfectly comfortable with the ‘freeze-time’. The expression ‘show-stopper’ readily came into my mind while I watched. I think Flosshide is right. It’s all depends on the context or the type of the work. .

[Flosshilde]

Meanwhile, back to the substantive topic, like Kernelbogey I'm sorry I missed the videocast last September, & I shall certainly book up for Walkure.

[kernelbogey]

Must be a bit like digging out the family photo album for you?

[Zucchini]

How about dud 'Victoria!' from an Otello?

..or 'Esultate' from a Cavaradossi after he's been tortured

[Bert Coules]

Thanks to friends on the humanities.music.composers.wagner Usenet group, I can offer the following relevant story: at an early performance of Parsifal, an excellent rendition of the flower maidens scene in act two was greeted by a loud cry of "Bravo!". The rest of the audience hissed the offender.

The venue was Bayreuth, the year was 1882, and the miscreant was one Richard Wagner.

[Flosshilde]

but it doesn't mean that other people should do it

[Bert Coules]

Oh, you've got an answer for everything!

[Mr Pee]

Thanks to friends on the humanities.music.composers.wagner Usenet group, I can offer the following relevant story: at an early performance of Parsifal, an excellent rendition of the flower maidens scene in act two was greeted by a loud cry of "Bravo!". The rest of the audience hissed the offender.

The venue was Bayreuth, the year was 1882, and the miscreant was one Richard Wagner.

Well, it's not exactly a secret that- for all his musical genius- RW was never overly concerned with other people's feelings. And as you say, the rest of the audeince hissed him.

Point proved, I think.

[Flosshilde]

Oh, you've got an answer for everything!

[Bert Coules]

My dear Rhinemaiden: no offence meant (or taken, I hope). Thanks for the (rather wet) hug.

Mr Pee: point most definitely not proven, on either side...

[Mr Pee]

Mr Pee: point most definitely not proven, on either side...

Well all I can say is that if somebody near me broke into applause or shouted "Bravo" during a Wagner opera, I'd wallop them over the head with my hardback full score of the Ring Cycle.

That'd learn 'em.