Prom 19 - 27.07.13: Wagner – Tristan and Isolde

[EnemyoftheStoat]

The BBCSO and the Staatskapelle are quite different bands. Hearing the latter play Tippett (HOW many rehearsals?) would be most interesting...

[opera lover]

Let's not forget Tannhauser next Sunday, which I am lucky to be going to. (Donald Runnicles conducts the BBC Scottich SO.) With tenor Dean again, I believe.

You could hear the storm during the second act even inside the RAH last night. It was very, very hot throughout. And I hope the female who swiped my left-behind programme and libretto at the Ladies after the 1st act has had some sort of an unpecified accident with it/on it. What happened to handing things in? I could ill afford bying it in the first place and so was left libretto-less for the rest of the performance. Luckily I had my Wagner guide with me (as one does...well, no, I had brought it in case they run out of programmes) and so at least could read the synopsis and about the motives, which are less crucial in T & I anyway.

Librettos are available for the Kindle for very little, by the way, but of course I did not know that I would lose mine in this way. A few brave people could be seen to be reading the libretto on their e-readers or iPads but the glow disturbs and it is still unusual to do so.

[gurnemanz]

Librettos are available for the Kindle for very little, by the way, but of course I did not know that I would lose mine in this way. A few brave people could be seen to be reading the libretto on their e-readers or iPads but the glow disturbs and it is still unusual to do so.

Before Siegfried started the other night, a chap near us was told quite forcefully by an attendant to put his i-pad away. While my wife had the official programme text, I was using my trusty reprint of a 1913 edition of the text with (leitmotivs).

[Petrushka]

Before Siegfried started the other night, a chap near us was told quite forcefully by an attendant to put his i-pad away. While my wife had the official programme text, I was using my trusty reprint of a 1913 edition of the text with (leitmotivs).

I like the libretto with the Proms programmes on account of the larger print size and use them at home.

[PhilipT]

There was a wide variety in use at Götterdämmerung. Quite apart from the usual electronic devices and what was sold on the day, one lady had brought the libretto from a previous Proms performance, and one gentleman had brought the libretto from a Decca LP set.

[Petrushka]

There was a wide variety in use at Götterdämmerung. Quite apart from the usual electronic devices and what was sold on the day, one lady had brought the libretto from a previous Proms performance, and one gentleman had brought the libretto from a Decca LP set.

The gentlemen sitting next me was using the libretto from the Solti set but I think he was having problems with the rather tiny print. I could have used the previous Prom libretto from 2007 but in the end coughed up £5 for the programme on the night. Fortunately, due to knowing the piece since 1970, I know quite a few chunks off by heart so I was at least able to look at the stage for fairly long stretches. Like it or not, the future must be via 'the usual electronic devices'. There would certainly be a saving on paper and printing!

[Flosshilde]

Like it or not, the future must be via 'the usual electronic devices'. There would certainly be a saving on paper and printing!

I think I probably wouldn't like it - the glow from hundreds of screens would be most distracting. I don't see why the BBC/RAH management can't devise a means of showing surtitles - after all, they can manage garish lighting effects!

[Petrushka]

I think I probably wouldn't like it - the glow from hundreds of screens would be most distracting. I don't see why the BBC/RAH management can't devise a means of showing surtitles - after all, they can manage garish lighting effects!

While in the hall I did wonder how this could be possible. Logistically, and to remain audience-friendly as well as viewable by every concert-goer, I'm afraid surtitles look like a non-starter.

[Barbirollians]

It's as well they didn't do Tristan in the midldle of Friday's perdormance.

With Craig Revel Horwood conducting !

[Flosshilde]

While in the hall I did wonder how this could be possible. Logistically, and to remain audience-friendly as well as viewable by every concert-goer, I'm afraid surtitles look like a non-starter.

They could have three screens above the platform - one facing straight ahead, & the others to the sides. I assume that the stalls seats still swivel, so that audience members can turn to face the appropriate screen. They could even have some suspended above the arena so that they would be closer to the section of the audience seated directly opposite the stage.

[gurnemanz]

In general I like surtitles but in a concert performance, I enjoy the opportunity of being able to follow the original text as well as the translation and it is less essential than in the opera house to be watching the performers all the time. With surtitles, as with subtitles in foreign films, I find myself irresistibly reading them even when I don't need to. I don't know how practicable the installation of subtitles would be in RAH and whether the expense would be justified.

[Flosshilde]

I know what you mean about the irresistibilty of them - even when the opera is sung in English it's difficult not to read the surtitles if there are any. It can make one lazy - one stops trying to hear what's being sung.

[Resurrection Man]

They could have three screens above the platform - one facing straight ahead, & the others to the sides. I assume that the stalls seats still swivel, so that audience members can turn to face the appropriate screen. They could even have some suspended above the arena so that they would be closer to the section of the audience seated directly opposite the stage.

And there are many instances where seats are advertised as having a restricted view. No reason why the same policy couldn't apply to areas of the RAH where surtitles on any of the three screens might not be visible. Anything has to be better than 100 iPads glowing away.

[Resurrection Man]

.....even when the opera is sung in English it's difficult not to read the surtitles if there are any......

Put that down to poor diction !

[amateur51]

In general I like surtitles but in a concert performance, I enjoy the opportunity of being able to follow the original text as well as the translation and it is less essential than in the opera house to be watching the performers all the time. With surtitles, as with subtitles in foreign films, I find myself irresistibly reading them even when I don't need to. I don't know how practicable the installation of subtitles would be in RAH and whether the expense would be justified.

I recall that when the Royal Opera House was being refurbished, there was a semi-concert Ring cycle at the RAH with Haitink. The house lights were kept half-up during the performance so that one could follow the libretto should one wish to. It was a wonderful experience