|
|
|
reiner_torheit
|
 |
« Reply #1 on: 14:23:58, 13-02-2007 » |
|
It's a super piece, one of Handel's finest :-) The production has been praised to the skies, and moreover it has Sarah Connolly in the lead role  Could you enable your email, Lord B, so we can exchange mobile phones for Sat? I've booked now. 17:30 start! I predict some rumbly tums by Act IV! |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
They say travel broadens the mind - but in many cases travel has made the mind not exactly broader, but thicker.
|
|
|
|
Lord Byron
|
|
« Reply #2 on: 16:51:27, 13-02-2007 » |
|
it should now be enabled
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
SimonSagt!
|
|
« Reply #3 on: 16:53:47, 13-02-2007 » |
|
I don't know this, but there again, Handel didn't actually write that much rubbish, did he?  I'm rather fascinated by the title, as my only previous connection with the name was when I went out briefly with a French girl called, of all things, Agrippine. We got on quite well, but my fellow students took the Michael and I could hardly ever say her name without a silly grin, which she found, unsurprisingly, annoying after a couple of weeks. She ditched me. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
The Emperor suspected they were right. But he dared not stop and so on he walked, more proudly than ever. And his courtiers behind him held high the train... that wasn't there at all.
|
|
|
|
Lord Byron
|
|
« Reply #4 on: 16:59:04, 13-02-2007 » |
|
reiner, emailed you my mobile number, we could do a late lunch .... my plan for the day is national gallery talk, handel museum, opera someone [Edited], everyone else looks busy I have a cheapy tkt but will upgrade at the tkts booth if some available http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/tkts/leicestersquare |
|
|
|
« Last Edit: 20:25:10, 01-10-2007 by John W »
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
reiner_torheit
|
|
« Reply #5 on: 20:42:49, 14-02-2007 » |
|
Sorry to hear of your romantic mishaps, SS! But it sounds like you were well shot of her Handel's AGRIPPINA involves a great deal of backstabbing in Ancient Rome... Agrippina's husband (the Emperor) is off conquering some unruly mob known as the Ancient Britons. A false rumour (possibly concocted by Agrippina herself) is heard that the Emperor has been slain by the Brits (or died of eating spam fritter and deep-fried Mars Bars) and Agrippina rushes to put her son by a former marriage, a young chap called Nero, on the throne. Her husband comes tearing back in a rage, but whilst all this is going on all the men in the opera are busily trying to get into the underwear of a prostitute called... yes, it's Poppea (again). Any opera which really has a baddie named Otto is already off to a good start |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
They say travel broadens the mind - but in many cases travel has made the mind not exactly broader, but thicker.
|
|
|
|
oliver sudden
|
|
« Reply #6 on: 20:44:33, 14-02-2007 » |
|
died of eating spam fritter and deep-fried Mars Bars You have a staging already planned by the sound of it? |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
oliver sudden
|
|
« Reply #7 on: 21:44:30, 14-02-2007 » |
|
Handel didn't actually write that much rubbish, did he? I've yet to hear any. By the way, what's the connection between Agrippina and The Fiery Angel (another opera Reiner saw recently)? Answers on a postcard to... |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
harpy128
|
|
« Reply #8 on: 15:28:25, 17-02-2007 » |
|
Have you been to this yet (can't find any dates on the posts), Lord B et al? I absolutely loved it - great fun and superb singing - and will be interested to hear what other people think.
The programme says it will be broadcast on radio 3 on 19th May by the way.
Harpy (glad to have discovered this board)
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
harpy128
|
|
« Reply #9 on: 15:29:58, 17-02-2007 » |
|
By the way, what's the connection between Agrippina and The Fiery Angel (another opera Reiner saw recently)? Answers on a postcard to...
Both feature characters who appear to have obsessive/compulsive disorder, but I don't suppose that's what you mean? |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
George Garnett
|
|
« Reply #10 on: 17:03:38, 17-02-2007 » |
|
Our man in the raincoat writes: I don't mean to trespass into Lord Byron's territory here but a number of the publicity stills for the production are quite, ahem, alluring. Similar, um, mis en scene and artistic vision to the same director's Julius Caesar by the looks of it - which made an old man very happy in a number of respects. Any info from those who have seen it on whether those of us in the back of the stalls in our macs would be disappointed? (What?! If it's allowed for Thomas Hampson.... ) |
|
|
|
« Last Edit: 22:57:50, 17-02-2007 by George Garnett »
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Tantris
|
|
« Reply #11 on: 19:24:22, 17-02-2007 » |
|
Lucy Crowe as Poppaea:-  I'm sorry I'm going to miss this production. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
reiner_torheit
|
|
« Reply #12 on: 13:59:23, 18-02-2007 » |
|
Fresh from the Coli last night... and Harpy, I agree with everything you've said. McVicar has achieved a magnificent success with this production. The sexual frisson is absolutely justified - how could you stage an opera whose turning-point is the rival affections of three men of power for the attentions of the juiciest prostitute in town without it? Sarah Connolly was in top form (despite a pre-overture announcement asking for our understanding as she recovers from trachiasis), but without any sleight to her, she is by no means the only vocal attraction of this show. Reno Troilus sings a super Ottone, with a vigorous and masculine quality to his countertenor voice. There is excellent work from the baritones and basses too, Henry Waddington makes an appropriately spineless Narciso... but for me, the stars of the show are the two sopranos, Lucy Crowe as Poppea could easily have ridden the show on the basis of her sexual shenanigans alone (including stripping to her undies twice), but she backs up a super dramatic performance with immaculate coloratura to boot. Christine Rice's job is even harder - playing a spoilt adolescent spotty teenage boy, and she does it superbly well... I haven't seen acting as good as that in the straight theatre for a long time, let alone on the opera stage - and once again, she has the vocalism to match. This is really the best show I've seen in London for 2-3 years, and if you can possibly get along to it, you won't regret it. Musically rewarding, dramatically compelling, sumptously beautiful, and very easy on the eye indeed. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
They say travel broadens the mind - but in many cases travel has made the mind not exactly broader, but thicker.
|
|
|
|
Lord Byron
|
|
« Reply #13 on: 16:06:26, 18-02-2007 » |
|
was a lot of fun |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
harpy128
|
|
« Reply #14 on: 20:46:06, 18-02-2007 » |
|
McVicar has achieved a magnificent success with this production. The sexual frisson is absolutely justified - how could you stage an opera whose turning-point is the rival affections of three men of power for the attentions of the juiciest prostitute in town without it?
Yes, anyway the Roman imperial family at that period wasn't exactly known for its restraint and abstemiousness was it? Think I might actually go again - hope Sarah Connolly isn't going to have a relapse  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
