Welcome! The latest passion in my life is opera - I will be sharing a lot of my amazing journey of discovery of the opera world right here, I make no claims of any great knowledge of opera-no high-tech appraisals here, plenty to be found elsewhere- I simply share what I enjoy-this is really just my online scrapbook of my mainly opera memories (some art and music too) and if you happen to drop by I'd love to share them with you.
A huge oversight on my part must now be rectified if only in a small way before the opportunity slips away completely .... it was only last month wasn't it.
Am hugely indebted to the winner of this competition, Laura van der Heijden, who was a well-deserved winner. I am no musician, nor am I hugely knowledgable on the subject of classical music but simply someone who is in the very early stages of gaining an appreciation for this music form having listened to rock and pop all of my life. It is thanks to Laura and her passion for the piece she performed, Walton's Cello Concerto that has brought this lovely piece of music to my notice and I have to add that I simply adored watching her performance, she was beautifully poised and to me it sounded wonderful, though of course I am in no way qualified to comment on her technical ability although I am sure she now has an amazing career ahead of her.
Laura playing Walton's Cello Concerto in the final. Enjoy!
My very first live La Boheme - YES!!! At last, it seems like forever I have been awaiting this opportunity and I can confirm that on this occasion it seems the Opera gods have conspired to fulfil my dreams for a beautiful experience as I follow the tweets on twitter and the posts/pictures on Facebook from Royal Opera House and La Boheme stars Joseph Calleja and Carmen Giannattasio during rehearsals it appears as if something magical and spellbinding it about to emerge, the obvious mutual respect, admiration and cameraderie of singers taking part and director John Copley, that I have witnessed in the build-up fills me with delight. What a glorious team!
The build-up has been agonizing as I am getting so excited, but seriously lovely to follow and my excitement has almost reached fever pitch as I head off to London for my chance to see this beautiful Puccini opera played out at The Royal Opera House. As I take my seat in the Amphitheatre the place seems to be buzzing with excited chatter.
Act I begins and we find the four young men trying to keep warm whilst trying to avoid the pressure from the landlord to produce the rent money, some lovely humour and general camaraderie with lovely genuinely nice vibes of singers obviously very comfortable with each other. All in good voice but I sit there stunned on hearing Joseph Calleja - our Rodolfo - sing live for the very first time. Having seen a couple of operas on TV in which he appeared I must confess I was not prepared for what I now heard - what an amazing voice! So rich, so warm, so, so beautiful, it filled the Opera House and could easily have filled a theatre twice the size, seemingly with little effort it was my best experience thus far of a live in-house opera for this voice alone-Joseph, I am in awe. Am also incredibly impressed with our Marcello/Fabio Capitanucci, always thrilled to see genuinely great singers whose live performance is new to me. As we move on and his Mimi (the lovely Carmen Giannattasio) appears - an extinguished candle, a lost key - I am truly transported to Opera heaven as I witness the very special chemistry between them and have to add that I just adore Carmen's beautiful soprano voice - definitely my kind of soprano, soft-sounding but at the same time rich and full-voiced, adoring her voice which fully reaches me up in the amphitheatre.
As each delivers their Act I arias, Che Gelida Manina/Rodolfo and Si, mia chiamano Mimi/Mimi, I cannot imagine a more fabulous pairing, my heartstrings feel a massive tug as Rodolfo, in the duet 'O soave fanciulla', sings "In you I see the dream I want to dream forever" - gulp - what girl could resist - it is a breathtakingly beautiful through to the end of the scene and I cannot suppress the tears that prick my eyes as the incredible music fades and the curtain falls I almost have to pinch myself to convince myself I am not dreaming. Our pair have met, introduced themselves and fallen in love and my breath has been well and truly taken away already, WOW!
Must just mention how touching it was during Act II as everything goes on around them, including Musetta's famous aria, how our Mimi and Rodolfo maintain their fond caresses and tender, loving looks with each other, think I may have said it before but it is truly magical. OK, so I confess now this is not my most favourite Act in this opera - bit too crowded, so shall swiftly move on.
Skipping on a pace as I fear I must to Act III we find Mimi seeking out Rodolfo and Marcello listens in turn to first Mimi who tells him of Rodolfo deserting her the night before and then as Mimi seemingly departs a fearful Rofolfo, who has realised his beloved Mimi is very ill and probably dying, confesses to Marcello that he is distraught at this and the prospect of losing her, and even more so as he sees that Mimi is still around and has heard his confession to Marcello. The next part moved me the most in the whole opera, as the snow falls and Mimi and Rodolfo sing of their lost love being too strong for them to part straight away, they must wait until the springtime, for the blossom to appear on the trees - again this is so moving and so beautiful, the combination of again the beautiful singing and chemistry between Joseph and Carmen, the mesmerising duet, the very moving words and incredible music of Puccini combine to produce such an emotion-filled scene which at the close I know I am not alone as the tears fall. Gulp, this is incredible, more that I could ever have dreamed of and we are not done yet. How lucky am I!
Act IV, the sad finale as Musetta arrives in the bohemians garret with the news she has found Mimi, now very sick, on the street and has brought her to the garret. The air of sadness is almost overwhelming as Marcello and Musetta leave to sell Musetta's earrings to buy medicine for Mimi and find a doctor, but then I cannot help but smile some and yet be incredibly moved as Colline/Yuri Vorobiev sings a beautiful aria, beautifully 'Vecchia zimara' (Old coat), to his favourite coat he intends to part with and will miss, hoping to get money in which to help Mimi, as he leaves he bids Schaunard/Thomas Oliemans to leave also in order to give Mimi and Rodolfo time on their own. The beautfiul duet, Sonno andati (Have they gone) in which the pair lovingly recall their first meeting - the candle, the lost key - it is achingly beautiful, again Joseph and Carmen's voices mingle amidst more of their tender chemistry. All too soon the others return, Musetta with a muff for Mimi's hands but the tragic conclusion plays out with Mimi falling into unconsciousness and dying as a stricken Rodolfo cries out in anguish.
So many different ingredients combine in this beautiful John Copley production, the music, the singers, the acting a very special pinch of magic, I just felt that all these elements and the cast themselves all pulling in one direction for the ultimate goal of perfection which was undoubtedly achieved-this experience will remain in my memory and my heart forever, I feel very privileged to have witnessed something so very special, so magical; I wanted my first live Boheme to be something dreamy and magical and
this was it and some, not a grain of fairy dust was needed as every
single ingredient that went into the mix produced more than enough magic
to keep me spellbound long, long after the music finished and the
lights dimmed I can't imagine there will be anything now to take it's place on this stage and in my heart...... sigh ...
footnote: as always with my visits to the opera I have yet more fabulous singers to add to the ever-growing list of artistes I love and wish to follow, so much wonderful talent out there
Joyce is currently appearing in Maria Stuarda at Houston Grand Opera in the title role, HGO have released a couple of stunning videos of her performance I have posted them below
By the way, Joyce is performing in this role at The Metropolitan Opera in New York at the beginning of 2013 - this will also be broadcast in cinemas around the world in HD and I can't wait to see it!
Overexuburance, hahaha, just have to add this exciting news -
Joyce's album Diva/Diva has been nominated today for a Grammy as has the
album of Vivaldi's Ercole on which she features!!!!
***LATEST***
JOYCE GOT HER GRAMMY FOR HER DIVA/DIVO ALBUM AND WALKED STRAIGHT INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS BY BECOMING THE FIRST CLASSICAL STAR TO PERFORM AT THE GRAMMYS
Here is her amazing performance at the Grammys
and then, gulp .... Joyce receiving her award and acceptance speech .... WOW!!!
The multi-faceted jewel that is Joyce DiDonato! Mezzo-soprano extraordinaire she never ceases to amaze me with the incredible beauty she emits with her singing, her amazing voice control, she simply has me in raptures watching and listening to her perform.
I first came across Joyce in the glorious, hilarious Met Live in HD production of Rossini's Le Comte Ory singing alongside the equally stunning Diana Damrau and Juan Diego Florez, such an enjoyable romp with fabulous singing and acting from all three stars, was in fact my first viewing of a mezzo in a trouser role, Joyce made an utterly gorgeous boy, lol!!!!
Just had to get some more of that voice, a little after that she released her Diva/Divo album which is wonderful, just had to have that as it includes her male and female roles, what a great mix! I'll let Joyce herself explain more and give a taste of this stunning album
Joyce being interviewed on BBC Breakfast just prior to the opening of the magical Massenet's Cendrillon at Royal Opera House in July this year
Only my second visit ever to The Royal Opera House and it's to see Joyce in Cendrillon - wooooohooooo - excited or what!!!! I was not disappointed, she looked and sounded magnificent, even though she had been suffering from some nasty bugs during her run in this production, I just sat open-mouthed all through, pure joy from start to finish and just adored her singing alongside that of Alice Coote, two mezzos singing together, just beautiful, I found their love duet just incredible. Go for it Joyce and Alice!!
amongst the rooftops of Paris Cendrillon and her Prince Charming sing a beautiful duet, even though they can't actually "see" each other most of the time - aaaahhhh blissful stuff!!!!
Now just Joyce on her own, near the beginning of the opera
Not only was Cendrillon live in the opera house the night I went to see it, it was also being transmitted live to BP Big Screens in Trafalgar Square and other city venues around the country - what a fabulous treat!!
and there's lots more of her inside in the article entitled The Sweet Voice of Reason - Joyce DiDonato — probably the most in-demand lyric-coloratura mezzo
in the world — has become a star by playing up, not down, to her
audiences. She tells BRIAN KELLOW how proud she is of opera — and how
proud she is to be an opera singer.
Going back just a little, although I wasn't into opera when this production of Don Giovanni was made I was lucky enough to catch it on TV, it has an amazing cast, including Joyce DiDonato as Donna Elvira with baritone Simon Kennlyside as Don Giovanni (why are there so many lovely baritones around-I adore Simon) and I loved Kyle Ketelson as Leporello - but hey this is about Joyce and here she is
23rd March 2012
(Exhibition continues until 9th April 2012)
No words can do full justice to the beautiful collection on display here, it's not quite all about trees, but can safely say trees do dominate in the incredible landscapes/big pictures on offer - and I love that in the main it's the landscape that fills these big pictures and not oceans of sky, along with glorious, glorious mouthwatering use of colour, no reproduction, not even the fantastic book that accompanies the exhibition can really show just how great the pictures are - you must see it for yourself, I do hope that for those in other countries that this show will tour different parts of the world.
This Channel Four interview video gives a nice taste of the show - the fabulous still of the vid is of the iPad drawings of spring, fifty-one in all - it's an amazing room to be in and one that is hard to leave, very hard
The range of media is phenomenal, from his photo collages of the eighties right through to his recent iPad drawings (my favourite room) and even film.
OK, as I already mentioned, words are really not enough, so will try to steal as many photos as I can to give a true feel of this stunning show, I list all the rooms/themes and guide you around giving a taste of my most favourite (in bold print) of the 13 rooms.
Thixendale Trees
This room contains both very large oil paintings, made up of a collection of canvases for each plus some of the sketches that went into the construction of these beautiful paintings of a stand of magnificent trees through the seasons - truly breathtaking
Earlier Lanscapes
First Yorkshire Landscapes
Watercolours and First Paintings From Observation
Tunnels
Woldgate Woods
More stunning trees, more fabulous big pictures and more stunning use of colour
Hawthorn Blossom
Deeeeeeeeeeeeelightful, what a fantastic subject - well for me anyway - I love hawthorn trees
Trees and Totems
The Arrival of Spring
My favourite room, although I think it may have to be joint favourite with Hawthorn Blossom - one painting and 51 iPad prints. This is a very large room and the walls are just filled with glorious colours depicting the arrival of spring, from January through to May we see the changes of season from winter through to spring on one small road in Woldgate, East Yorkshire, the changing hues in this beautifully presented .... well, it's just like a slideshow as you stand back and gaze around the room - this is just one of those incredible images
the whole room presented like this small corner
and the opposite corner ...... awesome eh? do you wonder I could hardly tear myself away from this incredible scene
and at the other end of the room, filling the wall is this painting made up of 32 different canvases
Sermon on the Mount
Film Work
Sketchbooks and iPads
Recent Work
Stunning iPad works feature in this room, mainly of Yosemite National Park. Almost floor to ceiling, they are breathtaking but sadly cannot find any photos of these.
The living, breathing English landscape, what a joyous experience to share in Hockney's beloved Yorkshire and beyond and marvel at, and to get to hug, well almost, the trees he so obviously adores.
So many people got to enjoy this, as I write many more are still enjoying this wonderful exhibition, sadly soon to close - but I must admit to being ecstatic at finding this exhibition is so popular. As usual I had to buy the book - paperback version (hardback also available, on Amazon too) - which is also stunning and a worthwhile investment if I may say so - it's packed with info and of course all the pictures which makes it an incredible heavy book but that will not deter me from picking it up ... frequently!!!
First posted 21.12.2011 - updated and re-posted 1st April 2012 with new vids/info bottom of page
Looks fabulous doesn't he. This is exciting young American tenor Noah Stewart, I can't claim to know an awful lot about what he's been up to in his career so far - have just been following him on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/noahstewartmusic?ref=ts these last few months, he's been over here singing and recording in the UK performing with Opera North - appearing in their production of Madama Butterfly as Pinkerton no less (wish I could have seen that, bet he was incredible). Well Noah has been a real busy guy during his time over here, can hardly keep up with that he's been up to. Do ya wanna hear what he sounds like .... yep so do I
Well I dunno about you but that sounds a bit of all right to me - what am I talking about, that sounds more than a bit of alright, sounds fabulous - think this new young tenor is a very exciting prospect. Ah yes, about that recording he's been doing, there's an album Noah by Noah coming out in February 2012 (update: album release date now revised to March 26th) and Noah will be returning to UK in 2012 I understand he is to appear in The Royal Opera House's new production Miss Fortune by Judith Weir in March, am very much hoping to go.
Noah Stewart's album Noah, due out in February 2012
Wanna hear a bit more of Noah, here he is singing The Star Spangled Banner at the start of the NFL at Wembley
And here's a bit more ....
Sounds fabulous doesn't he, I will be watching with interest as Noah's career develops, think we have another amazing tenor in the making here, sure there's so much more to learn about Noah Stewart so I guess the best place to go is the About section on his web page http://www.noahstewart.com/About.html
24th February 2012
Noah is well into rehearsals now for Miss Fortune by Judith Weir at Royal Opera House which opens on 12th March and here is a recent interview with him, he plays Hassan who owns a kebab stand, this should be an exciting new production
With Noah's album Noah just released last week, here is his appearance on release day on QVC - stunning stunning stunning performance!!!!
Noah performing Without A Song from the album Noah - WOW!!!
and now performing Hallelujah, what an incredible voice, awesome performance
well, based on that who can possibly resist the album currently riding high in the UK classic album charts. Congratulations Noah!!!!
Just have to add I was so so lucky, on 23rd March got to see him perform at Royal Opera House - his debut there in the opera Miss Fortune - you will not be surprised to hear he put in a fabulous performance as Hassan, just can't wait to see him back on that stage in future roles - he was made for that stage and other highly rated stages around the world. Mouthwateringly great, eagerly await more! Bravo!
..... as I do, and just reflecting that although at times I feel a little frustration (and just why aren't days 72 hours long to fit in everything I want to be consuming from the opera world!) that I am still so new and ignorant of this amazing world that is opera, so much to learn still and that in itself is indeed a doubled-edged sword of a position to be in, in that I also feel most highly privileged too, to be experiencing so many things for the first time, to me all so new and fresh-soooo exciting, the operas, the singers (oh thoooooose singers, did I really have no idea of that incredible beauty), it truly is a fantastic journey of discovery that I continue - the hunger and excitement I feel just seems to increase daily, just wanting more and more as singers new to me join the ever-growing list of my favourites who I must, just must see again-I get just as excited, if not even more so at "finding" these "new" (to me) singers as I do enjoying those I already know and love.
Just a little word in here in ROH's ear on something that would have been nice to experience for first time - Rusalka, would have loved that, but for my first taste, dished up in a brothel - erm, no had to pass on that one thank you - spending my hard-earnt cash on something visually noooot pretty, nooooo waaaay!!!
Having perused the offerings released by both Metropolitan Opera New York (their Live in HD broadcasts) and now The Royal Opera House for 2012/13 I can safely say that both these schedules excite me immensely, just can't wait to be in there feasting on the delights being served up, though at this point in time am more than somewhat bewildered/stunned/disappointed at no mention of Dmitri Hvorostovsky for ROH-hope there is something in the offing still to be confirmed there, my very fave baritone, well ony just there are so, so many fabulous and delicious baritones out there who appear on these two stages it is hard to be upset for too long, and there will be a Met Live in HD showing of Un Ballo in Maschera featuring Dmitri to look forward to, plus their premiere of Thomas Ades The Tempest which I am very, very excited about as this features baritone Simon Keenlyside (adorable) as Prospero (also appearing ROH Eugene Onegin as Onegin and Die Zauberflotte as Papageno-yippee).
Simon Keenlyside
I am finding it very hard not to be incredibly excited at just about everything on the menu from both Royal Opera House and The Met Live in HD for 2012/13 as I really love both the live in Opera House experience and the live in cinema experience, opera does translate so well to the big screen (though I am a tad bewildered, have to say, at the two 3D offerings by ROH-why 3D????), I get such a huge buzz watching my fave singers in those up close shots as they sing and breathe, sing and breathe .... ooohhhh just awesome!!!
Did I say meandering along the opera trail, hahaha - impossible, I am running headlong and enjoying every single moment!!!
Links to those delicious menus for 2012/13 - I can't possibly pick out all the high points for me as, well pretty much everything qualifies for that ..... the seed has been well and truly sown and the excitement grows and grows!!!!
OK, there are things from each of those mouthwatering menus that sent me totally dizzy with delight -
Dmitri Hvorostovsky
Met Opera -
Maria Stuarda ...... Joyce DiDonato
Un Ballo in Maschera ..... Dmitri Hvorostovsky
Parsifal ...... Jonas Kaufmann
Joyce DiDonato
can't help myself, they are my three fave singers!!!
Jonas Kaufmann
Royal Opera House
La Donna del Lago .... Joyce DiDonato
Don Carlos ...... Jonas Kaufmann
Sophie Bevan
am also delighted to see that soprano Sophie Bevan (she was a fantastic Sophie in ENO's Der Rosenkavalier) will be appearing in Die Zauberflotte (ROH) as Pamina - May 2013, can't wait to see her sing again ..... so much to look forward to can hardly catch my breath.
Not forgetting - how could I possibly - there is still Les Troyens to come from Royal Opera House this summer starring Jonas Kaufmann, having just booked my seat I so can't wait for that!
It's all happening, hot on the heels of the schedule announcements ROH deliver their cinema screenings listings for both opera and ballet - link below - yet more excitement as I note I will get a second dose of Les Troyens/Jonas Kaufmann in cinema (recorded) this time (swoon), along with both Eugene Onegin and La Donna del Lago, both live transmissions - so if I time my visits to the Opera House right could get to see the both of those twice over as well - oh greedy, greedy me!
Figaro Ildebrando d'Arcangelo
Susanna Alexandra Kurzak
Bartolo Carlo Lepore
Marcellina Ann Murray
Cherubino Anna Bonitatibus
Count Almaviva Lucas Meachem
Don Basilo Bonaventura Bottone
Countess Almaviva Rachel Willis-Sorensen
Antonio Jeremy White
Don Curzio Harry Nicoll
Barbarina Susanna Gaspar
Nobody died of consumption, no-one was murdered, no suicide took place .... this is my kind of opera. Don't get me wrong I adoooooore those gut-wrenching, emotional roller-coasters that pull relentlessly at the heartstrings I really do but this oh so delightful tale with such charming characters left me feeling so happy inside that I think Le Nozze di Figaro has just become my new favourite opera! I could not stop smiling with sheer delight all the way through, really I loved it so very much. Think the leading man might have a little (lots, if truth be told) to do with it as well, Ildebrando d'Arcangelo was just a too too gorgeous Figaro, he just lived the role, fitting into Figaro's shoes with seemingly effortless ease and his singing was just fantastic, that voice just wrapped it's deep velvety tones around me and I was lost in it's magic ..... oh you have to hear don't you it's so fabulous I have to share - here's a vid clip from a few years back in another Figaro but the voice remains ..... stunning
an aria from Nozze di Figaro, Se vuol ballare Signor Contino - Ildebrando D'Arcangelo
can't help it but for me he has just been propelled right up there alongside Jonas Kaufmann and Dmitri Hvorostovsky as yet another of my favourite male opera singers, right at the top of the tree perched right alongside the other two.
Aleksandra Kurzak and Ildebrando d'Arcangelo
There was so much on the night that I found enchanting, Cherubino for sure, what a simply divine impish character is Cherubino, you can't help but love him, a Mozart masterpiece of a creation - what mezzo worth her salt cannot help but throw herself into this delightful role and Anna Bonitatibus certainly did just that, a joy to watch.
Rachel Willis-Sorenson and Anna Bonitatibus
Jeremy White and Anna Bonitatibus
Applause all round to Royal Opera House for putting together an outstanding cast - just as exciting as seeing a wonderful world-renowned opera star such as Ildebrando sing is finding singers that one has never seen before put in stunning performances (all the others were new to me) and I would here like to give an extra special mention to Rachel Willis-Sorensen, she was a fabulous Countess Almaviva with a delicious soprano voice that held me spellbound, can't wait to see more of her in the future..... ok, yes you get to hear some of her too, this is Rachel in rehearsal, Detroit last year, sounds great but she sounded even better filling The Royal Opera House to the roof with her beautifully controlled voice
Rachel Willis-Sorenson
Rachel Willis-Sorenson and Lucas Meachem
Lucas Meachem, standing in for the indisposed Simon Keenlyside, put in a great performance as Count Almaviva and Alexandra Kurzak has to get a special mention too for her lovely portrayal of Susanna, and I liked very much Carlo Lepore's singing as Bartolo and Susana Gaspar (a member of Jette Parker young artists) a delightful-voiced Barbarina.
Susan Gaspar and Ildebrando d'Arcangelo
Rachel Willis-Sorenson Aleksandra Kurzak Ildebrando d'Arcangelo
Thank you Mozart/Lorenzo da Pointe, your beautiful masterpiece has won a very special place in heart and thanks to Royal Opera House for such a delightful production with great cast, this is the real deal! Really don't think it gets any better than this.
All there is left for me to do is give you a little look at my £13 bargain bench seat
with such a lovely view I could truly admire the beautiful ceiling
and the view of the stage and orchestra pit was darn good too - yes this really is The Royal Opera House, London - opera really is for everyone!!!!!!
