The Opera thread

Mr. Checks · Mar 15, 2006

Opera lovers unite here on SF!

Making the pilgrimage to the Met in April for Fidelio and Don Pasquale, the latter with the lovely Anna Netrebko. http://www.universal-music.co.jp/cla...etrebko01a.jpg

It will be my first Met opera since its touring days of the early 1980s, when I heard several performances in the Midwest (including Milnes in Boccanegra).

Not my favorite two operas, but I'm hoping to add Traviata when I get to NYC. I've seen a video of Netrebko in some minimalist set performing E Strano, which was stunning; not sure if that's what's being staged in NYC.

I'm anxious to see how the Met stacks up against Chicago Lyric, which I'm more familiar with.

Please share your opera thoughts, on-stage or in-home listening.

von Rothbart · Mar 15, 2006

Met's La Traviata is a Franco Zeffirelli production, it's a complete opposite of minimalist. It's huge, extravagant. The ball scene in 2nd act will knock your socks off, you gotta see it to believe it. I am a sucker for FZ productions.

Uncletoad · Mar 15, 2006

I'm envious. Our Opera company is going down in flames. They scheduled Madama Butterfly for two weekends this month and are now truncated down to a single Friday night performance and the following Sunday matinee. I have tickets but I suspect it will be the last opera performance in central Ohio. Not to many opera fans here obviously.

My grandmother lived in Brooklyn from 1908 to 1981. She regularly went to the met and had tons of stories about it. She listened to the Sunday afternoon radio broadcast from there when she moved here to be with the family. My affection for opera came from her passion for it.

Tell us all about it after you go.

GQgeek · Mar 16, 2006

I love opera, although the only one I've seen to date has been Carmen. I plan on seeing Aida in June and I have tickets to go see Pavarotti as well. Does anyone else have tickets for his farewell concerts? I'd be interested to see the program but it's not posted on his website.

Mr. Checks · Mar 17, 2006

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

I'm envious. Our Opera company is going down in flames. They scheduled Madama Butterfly for two weekends this month and are now truncated down to a single Friday night performance and the following Sunday matinee. I have tickets but I suspect it will be the last opera performance in central Ohio. Not to many opera fans here obviously.

My grandmother lived in Brooklyn from 1908 to 1981. She regularly went to the met and had tons of stories about it. She listened to the Sunday afternoon radio broadcast from there when she moved here to be with the family. My affection for opera came from her passion for it.

Tell us all about it after you go.

That's a shame. I imagine there's some student opera at The OSU and Hiedelburg College, yes?

Uncletoad · Mar 17, 2006

Originally Posted by Mr. Checks

That's a shame. I imagine there's some student opera at The OSU and Hiedelburg College, yes?
OSU's student stuff is an interesting idea. I'll have to look into that. Heidelburg is about 100 miles away and about the same distance as Cincinnati where they have an excellent opera company. I imagine I'll spend some time there.

Handlethevibe · Mar 17, 2006

I'm going to see some opera at the met in april too. What are you supposed to wear?

whoopee · Mar 17, 2006

Lounge suit or black tie.

Handlethevibe · Mar 18, 2006

Really? Cause my sisters friend in college used to go to the met like every other week and he said you really didn't have to dress up that much. BTW, I'm 15...

whoopee · Mar 18, 2006

Oh you don't have to. I see people dressed in a shirt and jeans. But you are supposed to.

GQgeek · Mar 18, 2006

Originally Posted by whoopee

Oh you don't have to. I see people dressed in a shirt and jeans. But you are supposed to.

I don't expect people to wear a tuxedo anymore, but it would be really nice if people made a little bit of an effort. It's a sad reflection of the times when people wear jeans to the opera.

whoopee · Mar 18, 2006

The worst I've ever seen, albeit to the symphony orchestra and not opera, was tattered jeans, birkenstocks, and a tee - on a middle-aged man.

Kai · Mar 20, 2006

We are lucky. Colorado has a very nice opera company, and Denver just built a beautiful new opera house. My wife and I are long time season ticket holders.

This year's operas were Carmen and Norma, with The Abduction from the Seraglio coming up.

adambparker · Sep 1, 2009

Reviving this instead of starting a new thread. Hopefully there are enough opera-lovers on SF to make this a somewhat lively discussion!

Now that I'm settled in Chicago, I've subscribed to the Lyric for the upcoming season. They have a great season, although no Germans this year, which is fine by me, since I'm a bigger fan of the Italians anyhow.

I'm seeing Tosca opening night with Deborah Voigt and James Morris (won a "new subscriber contest," got free tickets!) and again (regular subscription) with the second cast in January (Violeta Urmana, Lucio Gallo, Marco Berti). Has anyone seen Voigt sing Tosca since her weight loss? Curious to hear people's opinions of her singing.

Also very excited for Piotr Beczala in Faust and Sondra Radvanovsky in Ernani.

Any exciting opera plans out there for the upcoming season?

aportnoy · Sep 1, 2009

Marriage of Figaro with Bryn Terfel at the Met was outstanding last season.

The Opera thread

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