Metropolitan Opera - Peter Gelb

 

Just had to post this artcle in order to go back and review it. Am trying to get my head around it (suffering with horrid cold at mo so I hope to come back to it when head feeling a bit clearer). As I'm quite new to the world of opera, and also am not an American lover of opera I am not really qualified to judge whether Mr Gelb has been good or bad for The Met.

I find myself somewhat mystified at this article though. It appears to be having a massive dig at Peter Gelb but also quite fairly points out some of the massive coups that have taken place at The Met under his tenure, the current Ring Cycle to name just one, another being the introduction of Live in HD, the next best thing to being in the opera house, and, dare I say it, in some instances for those blinding close-ups, an even better experience. For me, having now enjoyed several stunning Live in HD screening, I would have to give Mr Gelb the big thumbs up for those alone!

At the Met, One Role Too Many for Its Boss

by Anthony Tomasini

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/arts/music/peter-gelbs-tenure-at-metropolitan-opera.html?_r=2

 (short extract here, please see link for comlete article)

"For some time now, most of the talk within and without the Metropolitan Opera has centered on how long the company can continue without a music director in place. James Levine, still grappling with multiple health problems, has not conducted since May. The recent announcement that he would withdraw from the new production of Wagner’s “Götterdämmerung,” which opens on Jan. 27, was sad news but not surprising."

The Hours

I wanted to see this film when it first appeared in the cinema aaaaaaages ago. I have now, at last, managed to watch it on TV!

The association with Virginia Woolf/Mrs Dalloway caught my attention, of course, being more than a little interested in the life of Virginia Woolf (and The Bloomsbury set) and her writing (which I confess I sometimes find makes for difficult reading, maybe that's just me though), plus that fact the she spent time in Sussex and it was here that she finally, successfully did away with herself fearing another onset of depression that she felt she could not endure, nor inflict it on her husband Leonard.

Why, oh why has it taken me so long to get to this, it is an absolutely incredible film and Nicole Kidman is just awesome in her portrayal of Virginia Woolf and I loved Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore also, brilliant acting all round, have to add Nicole was heart-stoppingly good as Virginia. Feel I now, soon, have to make a better attempt with Mrs Dalloway.

Handel : Tamerlano

 

Teatro Real, Madrid 2008

      

Overview (from dvd)

Teatro Real's majestic production of Handel's vivid tragedy, Tamerlano, stars a Lear-like Plácido Domingo as the Turkish Sultan Bajazet, caught between pride, love and loyalty. Displaying the uniquely heroic quality of his voice, Domingo heads a superb cast, including Sara Mingardo, Monica Bacelli and Ingela Bohlin, all magnificently responsive to Paul McCreesh's authentic and luminous interpretation of the score. The stunning theatrical staging by Graham Vick provides a splendid setting for the characters and for designer Richard Hudson's extravagant Baroque-Islamic costumes, emphasising the brilliance of one of Handel's finest dramatic achievements.
Bajazet: Plácido Domingo
Tamerlano: Monica Bacelli (mezzo)
Asteria: Ingela Bohlin (soprano)
Andronico: Sara Mingardo (contralto)
Irene: Jennifer Holloway (mezzo)
Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro Real
Conductor: Paul McCreesh
Stage Director: Graham Vick
Recorded live at Teatro Real, Madrid on 29th March, 1st & 4th April 2008.

       

Comment:
Making my way into this 4 hour Handel opera via tv broadcast that I have managed to record. Placido Domingo (WOW) is surrounded by gorgeous female singers, all with fabulous voices, particularly Monica Bacelli (mezzo) and Sara Mingardo (contralto) whose performances are just incredible; have never come across these two singers before but I will definitely look out for them in the future. Loving the incredibly sparse but artistic set, all that white with some outstanding bursts of colour - bright blue elephants - and the foot atop the sphere from where Bajazet emerges at the start of this opera and this remains centre stage throughout.

 Ingela Bohlin (Asteria) and Sara Mingardo (Andronico)

How lucky am I to be able to see this on my tv, am loving it so far, the set is wonderfully artistic in a very simplistic fashion and the costumes sensationally sumptuous (love Placido in his white long-coated suit-gorgeous!), so along with the glorious singing this production is a real treat .... not yet viewed the whole so hope to get back!

Well, I'm back having watched most of the opera now but feeling I probably need another viewing or two to really grasp the full story (subtitles not too good) but in having said that it is not necessary to grasp the full story to be able to say that from what I have seen I found this opera most enjoyable, the presence of the great man alone makes it special but as I have mentioned the ladies he is surrounded with are a bit special too, some beautiful singing from them, in particular Sara Mingardo, Monica Bacelli who both put in fabulous all-round performances, and also Jennifer Holloway as Irene, she has a lovely voice also. All in all a lovely production all-round for not only the singing and music but the great visual feast of costumes and staging. So pleased to have encountered this opera previously unknown to me.

Jennifer Holloway as Irene

 

 

reading Anna Karenina ....

"Spring is the time for making plans and resolutions, and Levin, like a tree which in spring-time does not yet know in which direction and in what manner its young shoots and twigs (still imprisoned in their buds) will develop, did not quite know what work on his beloved land he was going to take in hand, but he felt that his mind was full of the finest plans and resolutions"

loved this, beautifully descriptive, had to read it over and over, then decided I MUST record it in my blog (from Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy chap XIII) 

Faust Fun

Just a quick bit of fun. Having recently seen the opera Faust at The Royal Opera House and again (same production) in cinema, and with the Met Opera production due to be screened live in HD next month starring Jonas Kaufmann, was just thinking today who would feature in the perfectly cast production. For me, at the moment, I thiiiiink (lol) .....
  

       Faust = Jonas Kaufmann - Vittorio Griggolo was
       lovely but think Jonas may be even better

       Valentin=Dmitri Hvorostovsky, well you just have to
       put Dmitri into any Baritone role, there really is
       no-one else who shines like Dmitri and he was
       incredible in the ROH production

       Mephistopholes=Bryn Terfel/Rene Pape-this is much more difficult deciding between
       these Rene Pape was fabulous but I am sure Bryn would be also

    
       Marguerite=Now here I am a little lost, for although Angela G did a good performance
       but I am sure there must be someone out there better suited for this role (and eeekk,
       that hideous blonde wig she wore) ...... will have to ponder some more on who can
       fill the soprano role ....... OK, no more pondering, having seen The Met Opera
       production with Marina Poplavskaya I am now convinced she would be the best in
       this role

   
            

Art For Heroes: A Culture Show Special

Tim Samuels investgates:

Art Therapy In Treating Those suffering with PTSD
Watched this documentary tonight and found it left me incredibly moved. Described how so many of our soldiers had come back from various campaigns suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, many going undiagnosed for many, many years. It was quite shocking to come face to face with the pain these guys were still going through after so many years after leaving the services, and was further shocked to hear the statistic that more soldiers have committed suicide after serving in the Falklands War than actually died during that war. Horrific! As if the casualties of war are not enough. Was really struck by all the ex-soldiers who were interviewed who confirmed that the art therapy they had recived had given them a means to express themselves and aided in their coming to terms with their condition much more so than any other form of therapy they had received. Shocking to find that at present there is only one fully trained art therapist in this country treating these guys, but so heart-warming to see the results with those who had received the therapy.

BBC link to this program

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0175nz8
An examination of the role of art therapy in the rehabilitation of ex-servicemen suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Tim Samuels meets veterans of recent British conflicts in the Falklands, the Persian Gulf and Northern Ireland, who reveal their personal battle with PTSD as a result of their military career. They are now using an unlikely weapon to help fight the psychological wounds of war - art.

Visiting art therapy sessions, Samuels discovers how drawing, sculpting and painting are helping the veterans manage the symptoms of PTSD. Dr Lukas Konopka, a professor of neurology in Chicago, has investigated the effects of art therapy on the brain in the treatment of PTSD. The results provide strong evidence of art's potential to heal


Two vid clips are available here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00lr5nv

Tosca ROH Production in cinema

  
Jonas Kaufmann, a stunning Cavaradossi ...... swooooooon

Tonight I fell in love. Yes, I confess and no, I could not help myself .......

The long-awaited screening of ROH's Tosca arrived, really I have been counting down the the weeks, the days since I knew of its recording back in June of this year. With expectations very high on this particular cast, most especially Jonas Kaufmann and of course Bryn Terfel I felt sure I would be in for a treat. What awaited I could barely believe, these were performances way beyond what I could ever have hoped for, even Angela G, for whom I must confess I did not fancy her as Tosca and performing alongside these two very special guys, but she excelled herself and I have to say her Vissi d'Arte stunned me as she gave herself entirely to this.

      

Bryn Terfel's acting abilities shone out as the evil Scarpia, his facial expressions, his every movement spoke of his evil intent, he was simply stunning in this role. The performance of the evening though must go to Jonas Kaufmann, his portrayal of Cavaradossi made me melt, my legs go weak, I was totally lost in his mesmerising charm, it is a performance that will stand out in my memory for many years to come, I cannot see how this could ever be surpassed, he now owns that role, surely. So now having seen him perform as both Siegmund and Cavaradossi I am totally lost in admiration for him and the interview played during the interval only reinforced that with his obvious total dedication to his art, what a lovely guy. Bryn is lovely, quite adorable too but he does not get to play the romantic roles as Jonas does.

To sum up, have to say this Tosca, for me, was not about Tosca, how could it possibly be, it was the Cavaradossi and Scarpia show, and boy what a show, Tosca got somewhat overshadowed, she didn't stand a chance beside these two giants however hard she tried......

......OK, OK, update: 24.12.11 - having just watched this again on UK TV I've now changed my mind about Angela's performance, OK, I don't really have very much in the way of other Tosca's to compare her with but she was truly, for me, a great Tosca .... sorry Angela that I let those two guys distrct me first time around!

Opera and Art .... To London

Friday 4th November found me London bound and heading for a dose of art and opera ..... yum yum!!

                       

First up was the delicious Royal Academy's exhibition of Degas Ballet Dancers - Picturing Movement. I adore Degas ballet dancers, some of my fave works of art, so with this many all together just had to go see them as this will probably never happen again

      

So pleased I got to see the exhibition it was lovely to wander round and savour these beautiful works of art, many of which come from private collections or galleries in far-flung places around the world that I will never get an opportunity to see ever again. What a treat to be able see all of this and also to find that one of my favourites, Two Dancers, is normally to be found in the Courtauld Collection at Somerset House, so I can see that again!

Walked from Royal Academy along to National Gallery with a bit of time to fill - calling in for food stop on the way - famished after all that walking around! Only time for a quick visit around the gallery to say "Hello" to some of my faves, Henri Rousseau's "Surprise" of course figured as did the Impressionists Monet and Van Gogh, with a very quick "Hi" to Corot and then a browse around the shop which is quickly filling with Leonardo goodies in preparation for the up-coming exhibition of the century!

National Gallery, London

  

Walked on to Royal Opera House for the evenings performance of Der Fliegende Hollander, no idea what to expect from this as it's supposed to be a modernish set, so with a little trepidation awaited the performance.

Der Fliegende Hollander - Royal Opera House                     
All fears started to be washed away, almost literally, as lights faded and the overture began, we were treated to the lashing storm of the sea with water gushing spectacularly down a see-through curtain into a watery channel below, the same channel we later see used for the floating of the model ship which signifies the Dutchman's ship. This was an incredibly enjoyable opera, I have not seen this one before at all but Anja Kampe's singing as Senta was what impressed me the most, her voice was powerful yet very, very beautiful throughout, was also impressed with the singing of Eglis Silins (The Dutchman) and Endrick Wittrich (Erik). The duet between Senta and The Dutchman was truly a thing of great beauty, I was open-mouthed, it was incredibly moving and the singing just sublime between them. Would definitely see this again in the future if Anja Kampe plays Senta.