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David_Underdown
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« Reply #75 on: 11:15:32, 11-04-2008 » |
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Been past it many times, but never in it.
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David
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oliver sudden
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« Reply #76 on: 11:23:10, 11-04-2008 » |
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Is anyone else going to be at the general tomorrow?
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George Garnett
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« Reply #77 on: 12:42:55, 11-04-2008 » |
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I'm sure you are sworn to secrecy, Ollie, but is there anything you would like to tell us? It's gonna be quite something, yes?
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« Last Edit: 23:01:20, 12-04-2008 by George Garnett »
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Il Grande Inquisitor
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« Reply #78 on: 22:54:51, 12-04-2008 » |
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How was it, Ollie? We're all ears....
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Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency
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time_is_now
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« Reply #79 on: 23:03:07, 12-04-2008 » |
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It's gonna be quite something, yes? So I hear, from my spy who was there this morning. But I too would like to hear the Ollie report. |
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The city is a process which always veers away from the form envisaged and desired, ... whose revenge upon its architects and planners undoes every dream of mastery. It is [also] one of the sites where Dasein is assigned the impossible task of putting right what can never be put right. - Rob Lapsley
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opilec
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« Reply #80 on: 23:08:13, 12-04-2008 » |
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Me too! And here's the grumpy old rant: having booked for the first night some time ago, I now CAN'T GO!!!  Will certainly be going later in the run, possibly Monday 21st. Which will allow me to do a bit more homework on it, and possibly enjoy the opera in a slightly less stressed state.  |
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oliver sudden
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« Reply #81 on: 23:09:15, 12-04-2008 » |
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George, my modest allocation of 1 ticket was already taken, alas... Reluctant to post too much on the subject lest it deter fellow Members from finding out for themselves! First and second of all (not in any order): Christine Rice and John Tomlinson. Oh my goodness. Hats off. Lovely to see Philip Langridge as well in a little cameo - I hadn't bothered reading the synopsis because I do prefer at the opera not to know what's coming unless I'd be lost without that information. Basically a very strong piece I think. Mostly pretty simple structurally speaking - story with beginning, middle and end in that order. Some particularly strong moments when the minotaur is musing on what in him is human and what animal - that for me is the finest stuff in the opera and those moments are those which take the piece furthest away from narrative and closest to those inner explorations which opera can do so well. There are some bits which strike me as miscalculations but I won't write about them just yet. Partly because Lurker Knoop is home and it's time for a scotch. ...but an opera with so much for contrabass clarinet and for cimbalom can't be all bad  |
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« Last Edit: 23:17:59, 12-04-2008 by oliver sudden »
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Il Grande Inquisitor
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« Reply #82 on: 23:22:10, 12-04-2008 » |
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Thanks for that, Ollie - it's whetted the appetite nicely. I had picked up on the significant role for the cimbalom. I'm really looking forward to the first night on Tuesday, but disappointed I shan't now meet opilec. Another time, maybe.
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Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency
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opilec
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« Reply #83 on: 23:42:15, 14-04-2008 » |
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Thanks for that, Ollie - it's whetted the appetite nicely. I had picked up on the significant role for the cimbalom. I'm really looking forward to the first night on Tuesday, but disappointed I shan't now meet opilec. Another time, maybe.
I'm disappointed too, IGI. Hopefully another time. Was so looking forward to the performance too, but work on another opera has to take priority this week.  |
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Reiner Torheit
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« Reply #84 on: 11:03:05, 15-04-2008 » |
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work on another opera has to take priority
Alas, The Prisoner of Duty! Such are our sacred callings |
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"I was, for several months, mutely in love with a coloratura soprano, who seemed to me to have wafted straight from Paradise to the stage of the Odessa Opera-House"
- Leon Trotsky, "My Life"
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Ruth Elleson
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« Reply #85 on: 11:05:28, 15-04-2008 » |
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So who's going tonight, then? I am!
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Oft hat ein Seufzer, deiner Harf' entflossen,
Ein süßer, heiliger Akkord von dir
Den Himmel beßrer Zeiten mir erschlossen,
Du holde Kunst, ich danke dir dafür!
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opilec
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« Reply #86 on: 18:24:01, 15-04-2008 » |
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work on another opera has to take priority
Alas, The Prisoner of Duty! Such are our sacred callings I'm not sure about sacred, Reiner! I've been spitting profanities since I realised that I wouldn't be able to get along to it this evening. |
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Reiner Torheit
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« Reply #87 on: 19:47:27, 15-04-2008 » |
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I'm not sure about sacred, Reiner! I've been spitting profanities since I realised that I wouldn't be able to get along to it this evening. I know the feeling, but it goes with the territory sometimes  I'm sure the material you're working on has its own merits, and will bring pleasure to someone somewhere  Everything about it is appealing. Nowhere could you have that hap-py fee-ling, when you are stea-ling, that ex-tra etc etc....  |
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"I was, for several months, mutely in love with a coloratura soprano, who seemed to me to have wafted straight from Paradise to the stage of the Odessa Opera-House"
- Leon Trotsky, "My Life"
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Il Grande Inquisitor
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« Reply #88 on: 00:08:41, 16-04-2008 » |
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Just got back from London. The Minotaur got a very good reception and it makes a very powerful impression. Like Ollie, I shan't post too much before others have had a chance to see it for themselves, but I felt that the entire cast were outstanding. Christine Rice, as Ariadne, is on stage for much of the time and had much to do throughout the opera - a tour de force. For me, the finest moments were the minotaur's 'dreams' when he is finally able to verbalise his thoughts and feelings to his 'mirror image'. Simple, effective set and I liked the hint we had of the labyrinth. The orchestra, conducted by Pappano, was great - the side stalls were removed to fit in the percussion sections, two players on each side of the stage with a plethora of instruments to play. Quite a buzz in the auditorium afterwards. I was trapped in the middle of a row, so took some time to get out (although I'd better not mention which diva started chatting to me about the performance, or else George might go weak at the knees.... ) |
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« Last Edit: 00:16:27, 16-04-2008 by Il Grande Inquisitor »
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Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency
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George Garnett
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« Reply #89 on: 00:16:43, 16-04-2008 » |
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I'd better not mention which diva started chatting to me about the performance, or else George might go weak at the knees.... ) Blimey! You're not serious, IGI! You lucky ... chap. Thanks for the Minotaur report as well.  It sounds as if it is quite something. I'm really looking forward to it. |
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