A fright at the opera?

[Flosshilde]

Did anyone listen to L'Elisir d'Amore from the Met this evening? Anna Netrebko used to be notorious for cancelling, & anyone booking for a performance where she was scheduled to appear would worry if she would turn up. After hearing her this evening I think they'd be hoping that she wouldn't.

[french frank]

Nice title, Floss! But I didn't hear it.

[DracoM]

Oh, yes, Floss, I certainly did, and she was DREADFUL. Off pitch too many times, and squally too. Hmm. And the tenor - can't recall his name - but his singing of the big tune was poor and it got a standing ovation!! That Met audience, I just do not understand it.

[verismissimo]

... his singing of the big tune was poor and it got a standing ovation!! That Met audience, I just do not understand it.

I think that New Yorkers (and Americans more generally) think it's rude not to give standing ovations on all possible occasions. Indeed it seems to have become the norm at musicals even in more reserved Britain.

[amateur51]

I think that New Yorkers (and Americans more generally) think it's rude not to give standing ovations on all possible occasions. Indeed it seems to have become the norm at musicals even in more reserved Britain.

At theatrical performances in London's West End too. If you're a shorthouse like me, you stand (hoho!) no chance of seeing actors taking their bows for the forest of legs, bums & shoulders that greets the actors' return.

[arthroceph]

Well it's not so much they themselves, but rather the conventions of US society, that they happen to be very given to overstatement. And anybody living there or partaking in business with them, would have to adopt the same expressive style. It also happens to be the ascendent style (for the past 100 years since they became the world's most powerful nation.

However, that's a huge disgression right there, the problem really is, what expression can show more approval than a standing ovation? I suppose the length of it might decide the difference. As in, 3minutes=disapproval 6min: respectable approval 10mins: genuine approval.

[Flosshilde]

And the tenor - can't recall his name - but his singing of the big tune was poor and it got a standing ovation!! That Met audience, I just do not understand it.

The two principals were well-matched, vocally . The standing ovation for him could have been because he was (I think literally) a last-minute stand in for the scheduled singer; but that's very little excuse for his singing (it might have been if he'd improved as the evening wore on, but he didn't).

[Honoured Guest]

... the problem really is, what expression can show more approval than a standing ovation?

Tweet your appreciation!

[amateur51]

Tweet your appreciation!

[PhilipT]

.. the problem really is, what expression can show more approval than a standing ovation?

We stamp. If someone is really good, two stamps.

[Flosshilde]

First class or second class?