FroSch

[Belgrove]

Something of a treat for Strauss fans this afternoon (and tomorrow) with Christian Thielemann conducting the Vienna Philharmonic in this heavyweight phantasmagorical Freudian allegory. It is Strauss' most ambitious score and contains some stupendous sonic effects. The plot - well, don't bother - it makes the Magic Flute (which could be its model) appear to be an exemplar of clarity and enlightenment, just revel in the ambitious music. The Emperor's solo at the start of Act 2 seems to compress all of Siegfried into about 20 minutes (and contains glorious chamber scoring for the huge orchestra).

I understand that a co-production with La Scala is coming to Covent Garden in 2014.

[french frank]

A new title on me, so ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01jgd5c



I've only seen it once (WNO, I think) and the only memory that lingers is of a magnificent thunderstorm.

[Pianorak]

. . . The plot - well, don't bother - it makes the Magic Flute (which could be its model) appear to be an exemplar of clarity and enlightenment, just revel in the ambitious music. The Emperor's solo at the start of Act 2 . . .

I saw the opera at Covent Garden some 15 years ago. My mistake trying to keep up with the plot and not concentrating on the music. Strangely enough the Emperor's solo as mentioned by Belgrove is the only thing I remember (sung by Paul Frey), apart from the Hockney stage designs (vaguely remember there was a problem with those). Was listening to Act 1 of the Solti recording only last week which has two very high soprano parts (Amme and Kaiserin) going on a bit too long for my taste.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I shall be keen to hear this: I have "only" the Karajan Live recording, which is stunning, but which, apparently, mucks around with the order of the scenes. (I don't know this for sure - having never seen the score or heard any other recording.)

Thielemann should be good in this repertoire, too.

[Nick Armstrong]

I saw the opera at Covent Garden some 15 years ago. My mistake trying to keep up with the plot and not concentrating on the music. Strangely enough the Emperor's solo as mentioned by Belgrove is the only thing I remember (sung by Paul Frey), apart from the Hockney stage designs (vaguely remember there was a problem with those). Was listening to Act 1 of the Solti recording only last week which has two very high soprano parts (Amme and Kaiserin) going on a bit too long for my taste.

I was at that Hockney production, indeed the poster is framed in a room at home. Yes, quite a bit of padding and it's essential not to get bogged down in the ruddy plot (often the case in opera) - then just enjoy some of the sumptuous "good bits". That said, it's probably 10 years since the CDs have been off my shelf (Solti and Bohm)

[LHC]

At a performance in Zurich, Dame Gwyneth Jones memorably sang both the Dyer's Wife and the Empress!

Gwyneth had been engaged to sing the Dyer's wife, but for one performance the Empress, Agnes Habereder, was unwell. Zurich had been unable to find a replacement until Gwyneth said she was prepared to stand in as they only appear on stage together in one scene.

Gwyneth sang her role on stage and sang the Empress from the wings while Habereder mimed the part on stage. In their scene together Gwyneth simply turned away from the audience to sing the Empress's lines, turning back to the audience for her own.

Both parts are challenging enough, but to sing both in an evening is a phenomenal achievement.

[vinteuil]

Yes, quite a bit of padding and it's essential not to get bogged down in the ruddy plot (often the case in opera) - then just enjoy some of the sumptuous "good bits". That said, it's probably 10 years since the CDs have been off my shelf (Solti and Bohm)

je plussoie.*

(Tho' in my case, the CD is Sawallisch... )

* http://fr.wiktionary.org/wiki/plussoyer

[Nick Armstrong]

je plussoie.*

(Tho' in my case, the CD is Sawallisch... )

* http://fr.wiktionary.org/wiki/plussoyer

*wince*

*shudder*

For a neologism, it does have a strange parody mass quality, though...

e.g. Des Prez's recently discovered "Missa Amor me plussoie, doulce amye" .

[vinteuil]

For a neologism, it does have a strange parody mass quality, though...

e.g. Des Prez's recently discovered "Missa Amor me plussoie, doulce amye" .

je replussoie!

I like the thought that it might have an imperfect subjunctive...

"... il aurait fallu que nous plussoyassions!"

http://leconjugueur.lefigaro.fr/conjugaison/verbe/plussoyer_oblige.html

https://www.languefrancaise.net/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3650

[Nick Armstrong]

"... il aurait fallu que nous plussoyassions!"

I'm sure Madame Vinteuil would have had something to say, had we done so...

[Flosshilde]

I saw it in Edinburgh last year, with the Mariinsky conducted by Gergiev in a production by Jonathan Kent, & very good it was too - wonderfully rich staging, with good use of lighting & projection. Wonderful music too, of course.