What opera have you been watching lately?

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Thanks for posting; I've always liked this production, which, at least when featuring Garanca, becomes the Tragedy of Charlotte. I agree Polenzani is better, and it's interesting how his presence changes the dynamic. With him in the role, Charlotte's tragedy becomes about missing her chance with the right man; with Alvarez, it's more about throwing her life away on a smarmy, unworthy character.

Also interesting that, over time, the Viennese audience seems to have warmed at least somewhat to this production.

I think Garanča has grown even more into the role. Her acting was as good as her singing, which is saying something.

[Povero Buoso]

It is very upsetting that censorship may have stemmed a great genius. While I have not seen Lady Macbeth It is on my must see list, however at the same time I fear watching it just as I feared watching Turandot in case it is as good as I expect. If this is the case I will have no more Shostakovitch operas which given the status I give The Nose would be very upsetting indeed.

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

It is very upsetting that censorship may have stemmed a great genius. While I have not seen Lady Macbeth It is on my must see list, however at the same time I fear watching it just as I feared watching Turandot in case it is as good as I expect. If this is the case I will have no more Shostakovitch operas which given the status I give The Nose would be very upsetting indeed.

While The Nose is very interesting, Lady Macbeth is much better, both musically and in terms of plot.

[Florestan]

Just finished watching this one and loved everything about it. The singer/actors are excellent. If only I could get a soundtrack of it, but I don't see one available. It will be among my very favorite operas right up there with Fidelio, Cenerentola, L'elisir d'amore, La Fille du Regiment, and Martha. My son moved it up to his third favorite right after Fidelio and Cenerentola, and followed by Meistersinger.

[Clayton]

...My son moved it up to his third favorite... and followed by Meistersinger.

Ah, a gentleman of fine taste

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

Well after a long period without any new opera for me (might have been more than a week) I watched Shostakovitch's strange opera The Nose. Now normally on my what I've been watching posts I mark performances out of 10 in this case however I feel my usual scale is quite useless with an opera as delightfully absurd as the Nose. The production itself is amazing and is in brilliant marriage with the music and the story in the fact it is as absurd as the opera it is paired with. I liked the singing overall and when the singing was not as strong the acting of the cast more than made up for it. I confess that the music did not grab me as much as my favourite operas and I found it much less melodic than Written on Skin with it possibly being the hardest opera Musically I've tried to follow so far (I am not as caught up on the more contemporary operas to compare it with but I don't feel the Nose is similar musically to other works I've see of the same period such as Turandot and Bluebeard). In some ways however the relatively chaotic dissonant nature music was to the operas benefit. It is also very funny and passes my test for a comedic Opera (Did I laugh 5 times properly or have at least 1 minute long or more laugh/ chuckle).

*/* The Nose is too absurd for the typical Busoso scale but is definitely worth a watch especially this 2013 Met production although the music may be harder to follow than other opera fare. Prima un avvertimento! It is an Opera to be watched rather than heard to be appreciated and while this may stand for nearly all opera I feel this sentiment is no more true than with The Nose. Due to its absurd nature it could at times be hard to visualize mentally which as listeners we may otherwise attempt to do with other works using a libretto and a CD.

This 'futures' site is often wildly inaccurate but sometimes a contributor has inside info in which case it's correct.

The Nose is possibly be coming to ROH in 2016/2017 and if so, I'll definitely want to go.

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Don Giovanni from Vienna with a great cast. Mariusz is the sexiest Don Giovanni I have ever seen. Erwin Schrott was very funny. Benjamin Bruns sang his two arias unbelieveably beautifully.

Don Giovanni : Mariusz Kwiecien
Leporello : Erwin Schrott
Donna Anna : Marina Rebeka
Donna Elvira : Juliane Banse
Don Ottavio : Benjamin Bruns
Zerlina : Andrea Carroll
Masetto : Jongmin Park
Il Commendatore : Sorin Coliban

Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
Bühnenorchester der Wiener Staatsoper
Conductor : Adam Fischer

[Soave_Fanciulla]

This 'futures' site is often wildly inaccurate but sometimes a contributor has inside info in which case it's correct.

The Nose is possibly be coming to ROH in 2016/2017 and if so, I'll definitely want to go.

Some interesting casting choices in the other operas. My choice out of these would be Semiramide, Mitridate, the Nose, Königskinder and of course der Jonas' Otello.

[Festat]

Don Giovanni : Mariusz Kwiecien

I'm stopping everything right now.

[MAuer]

Some interesting casting choices in the other operas. My choice out of these would be Semiramide, Mitridate, the Nose, Königskinder and of course der Jonas' Otello.

The ROH has a real plum with that one. Ticket demand will no doubt go through the roof.

[Povero Buoso]

If that Otello exits it would be a crime if it weren't recorded for DVD.

[Amfortas]

The ROH has a real plum with that one. Ticket demand will no doubt go through the roof.

Esultate!

[Amfortas]

If that Otello exits it would be a crime if it weren't recorded for DVD.

ROH is pretty good about putting out DVDs these days. Unlike another major opera house that shall go nameless.

[Clayton]

This 'futures' site is often wildly inaccurate but sometimes a contributor has inside info in which case it's correct.

The Nose is possibly be coming to ROH in 2016/2017 and if so, I'll definitely want to go.

huh

no (ba)rock 'n roll on the list

[Soave_Fanciulla]

huh

no (ba)rock 'n roll on the list

Don't they do that in other venues? I can't remember details but I'm sure I've seen something about this.