Fidelio tonight (Monday 9 March 2020)

[underthecountertenor]

A word to the wise: if you would like a relatively cheap ticket to the ROH Fidelio, tonight is your chance, as long as your priority is not Jonas Kaufmann. He has pulled out sick, but is being replaced by the excellent David Butt Philip. Quite a few returns now from people who appear to have shelled out for the sole purpose of hearing about 20 minutes of Kaufmann. And Lise Davidsen is still on (at the moment anyway...)

[Dave2002]

Maybe he'll be well enough next week for the cinema screened showing. I hope so, though perhaps as mentioned, it's the music that counts.

[underthecountertenor]

Maybe he'll be well enough next week for the cinema screened showing. I hope so, though perhaps as mentioned, it's the music that counts.

David Butt Philip is phenomenally good. His performance in Iolanta at Opera Holland Park last summer was a revelation for me. I'd take him over an ailing Kaufmann any day (and possibly even over an in-form Kaufmann). I see that he first sang Florestan in Prague in January - the one review I have seen is laudatory.

[Ein Heldenleben]

A word to the wise: if you would like a relatively cheap ticket to the ROH Fidelio, tonight is your chance, as long as your priority is not Jonas Kaufmann. He has pulled out sick, but is being replaced by the excellent David Butt Philip. Quite a few returns now from people who appear to have shelled out for the sole purpose of hearing about 20 minutes of Kaufmann. And Lise Davidsen is still on (at the moment anyway...)

73 tickets available at the moment but none of them that cheap...

[underthecountertenor]

73 tickets available at the moment but none of them that cheap...

I did say 'relatively' There is one at £22, 3 at £39 and a couple at £57.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I did say 'relatively' There is one at £22, 3 at £39 and a couple at £57.

my eye was drawn to the four together in the stalls at £275 each- ouch . I decided not to go to this becuase I think the prices are pretty outrageous for an opera that should not be very expensive to mount and I suspected an ' in your face' production. I hear Lise D is very good though and I'm going to the Vue relay.

[underthecountertenor]

my eye was drawn to the four together in the stalls at £275 each- ouch . I decided not to go to this becuase I think the prices are pretty outrageous for an opera that should not be very expensive to mount and I suspected an ' in your face' production. I hear Lise D is very good though and I'm going to the Vue relay.

What astonishes me (although I should know better by now) is that the returns followed on from the news that Kaufmann would not be appearing. Which means that there are people who paid £275 a ticket solely for the chance of hearing Kaufmann sing for all of 20 minutes. I do wonder whether the opera house has had complaints from people about the fact that he didn't appear in Act 1.

[LHC]

What astonishes me (although I should know better by now) is that the returns followed on from the news that Kaufmann would not be appearing. Which means that there are people who paid £275 a ticket solely for the chance of hearing Kaufmann sing for all of 20 minutes. I do wonder whether the opera house has had complaints from people about the fact that he didn't appear in Act 1.

I remember going to see Stephen Pimlott’s production of Eugene Onegin when it was premiered with Dimitri Hvorostovsky. In the first half he wore a dark wig, only appearing with his trademark white hair in the later St Petersburg scenes. In the interval I heard a woman complaining loudly to her friend that the Opera House should have announced beforehand that Dimitri wasn’t singing that evening and had been replaced, especially as she had booked just to see him. I can only imagine how embarrassed she must have been when his white hair made its first appearance in the second half!

[Ein Heldenleben]

What astonishes me (although I should know better by now) is that the returns followed on from the news that Kaufmann would not be appearing. Which means that there are people who paid £275 a ticket solely for the chance of hearing Kaufmann sing for all of 20 minutes. I do wonder whether the opera house has had complaints from people about the fact that he didn't appear in Act 1.

It doesn't surprise me - all the Netrebko Tosca perfs had sold out last week at the Friends' package stage. No doubt there'll be a few at next week's Friends' booking and still fewer at the general stage. She and Kaufmann are just about the only singers that can do this these days - (Nina Stemme maybe -though more abtruse reportoire). I'm not criticising the Kaufmann fans . They could well be Germans reluctant to travel and who can blame them? Also I'm a bit starstruck myself. In fact last year I got a couple of stalls tickets for the Georghiu Tosca having seen an incandesecent performance of hers in the same role two years previously. The day before my wife injured herself . We offered them up as returns - they sold instantly and the next morning AG cancelled. It makes up for all the cancellations Ive had over the years - Pavarotti , Vickers - yes I've failed to see all the greats!

[Ein Heldenleben]

I remember going to see Stephen Pimlott’s production of Eugene Onegin when it was premiered with Dimitri Hvorostovsky. In the first half he wore a dark wig, only appearing with his trademark white hair in the later St Petersburg scenes. In the interval I heard a woman complaining loudly to her friend that the Opera House should have announced beforehand that Dimitri wasn’t singing that evening and had been replaced, especially as she had booked just to see him. I can only imagine how embarrassed she must have been when his white hair made its first appearance in the second half!

Given how wonderfully distinctive the late and great DH's voice was this is amazing....

[Lancashire Lass]

If Lise Davidsen is still on, it will be worth it (perhaps in the past tense now, looking at the time.) I was lucky enough to go on Friday and she was the undoubted star of the show, wonderful though Kaufmann was. TWhat that woman does with her voice is amazing, the changes in texture, the delicacy of phrasing .. ooh, and hitting the notes spot on helps!

[underthecountertenor]

If Lise Davidsen is still on, it will be worth it (perhaps in the past tense now, looking at the time.) I was lucky enough to go on Friday and she was the undoubted star of the show, wonderful though Kaufmann was. TWhat that woman does with her voice is amazing, the changes in texture, the delicacy of phrasing .. ooh, and hitting the notes spot on helps!

Unless my ears deceived me, there were a couple of dodgy moments from Davidsen on Monday, including her very first note in 'Mir ist so underbar' which sounded very flat. But 'Abscheulicher!' was terrific, indeed astonishing given the business she was required to do whilst singing it.

David Butt Philip was truly excellent, and deserved his plaudits. He's singing the role at Glyndebourne this summer, by the way.

Edit: *wunderbar* - I must have subconsciously moved on to the flatness.

[ardcarp]

...clearly a lingerie item neither of us is familiar with.

[underthecountertenor]

...clearly a lingerie item neither of us is familiar with.

I would say 'don't presume,' but on this occasion, quite right.

[cloughie]

If Lise Davidsen is still on, it will be worth it (perhaps in the past tense now, looking at the time.) I was lucky enough to go on Friday and she was the undoubted star of the show, wonderful though Kaufmann was. TWhat that woman does with her voice is amazing, the changes in texture, the delicacy of phrasing .. ooh, and hitting the notes spot on helps!

Her RSt 4 Last Songs is good!