tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949086046279498177.post4605359312472887977..comments2023-12-27T09:38:56.562+01:00Comments on Opera Cake: New Otello premiered in Berlin: Kriegenburg and Harteros rocked -- Cura and Lucic were great too!Opera Cakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08940773671378765685noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949086046279498177.post-10893517941808017942010-06-25T00:41:38.457+02:002010-06-25T00:41:38.457+02:00I saw this production tonight with a completely di...I saw this production tonight with a completely different cast, an I have to say what a superb piece of opera directing it is: perhaps at times a little busy, and I could have done without the interpretive dance (which to me really just seemed to be there to fill that corner! That said, at least it was only a few and not on a La Scala scale...) <br />But so many memorable touches: the stunning moment of closing the curtains, a refugee child stroking Otello's head, Emilia with the tissues... and, while I most honestly say I don't know the singers - Frank Porretta, Ivan Inverardi, Michaela Kaune - beautifully and impressively sung!!Cloud in Trousersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949086046279498177.post-30261795650654864632010-06-21T14:46:31.117+02:002010-06-21T14:46:31.117+02:00I saw Otello 10 June and can only say Cura is in t...I saw Otello 10 June and can only say Cura is in technical trouble and knows it. He rewrites the music to get around the music , is wooden on stage and has a dry bark ofa vocal prduction. Liane Keegan has great vocal and arresting stage prowess conviction to the drama and plotting she witness between the protagonists, Cura should take note but obviously won't because he he caught up in his own illusion of being the 4th tenor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949086046279498177.post-89565721725433003052010-06-16T16:19:16.667+02:002010-06-16T16:19:16.667+02:00Cheers!! :)Cheers!! :)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14344864493596982336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949086046279498177.post-48824245383062402072010-06-16T12:43:54.542+02:002010-06-16T12:43:54.542+02:00You wouldn't want to see the director sticking...You wouldn't want to see the director sticking solely to what's written in the libretto?! That would completely kill the live theater and opera would die out. <br /><br />All that crowdedness and the violence that surges in such confined spaces, despite the overall tragedy, is to be described by all theatrical means and that one was one way to do it and I liked it :) <br /><br />But I understand you don't so there we go :) <br /><br />CheersOpera Cakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940773671378765685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949086046279498177.post-84422913261049914362010-06-16T12:38:10.054+02:002010-06-16T12:38:10.054+02:00As I said before...less is more. We really do not ...As I said before...less is more. We really do not need to see another homicide other than the one of Otello/Desdemona. In fact, I was in Tier 1 for Tues and in the Orchestra for Thurs. It was TOTALLY blocked in the Thurs perfomance...and someone next to me asked why the woman was dead (as we could not see it). Another bit of "business" that was totally unnecesaary for the opera.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14344864493596982336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949086046279498177.post-22280409642711344812010-06-16T12:31:52.624+02:002010-06-16T12:31:52.624+02:00Ron, I want to make sure you didn't get me wro...Ron, I want to make sure you didn't get me wrong and my post wasn't meant (at all!) to be patronizing or condescending. What I was trying to tell is that we're all often enveloped in our habits and it takes some time to adjust to this kind of productions.<br /><br />Why did you thing that homicide was stupid beyond belief? I thought it was reflecting perfectly well the violence in the confined space. In the refugee center you have the concentration of all good and bad in human behavior, but since the conditions are extreme and the space confined, it all resurfaces fast and the violence is atrocious. Didn't Othello kill Desdemona for similar reason too?Opera Cakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940773671378765685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949086046279498177.post-11829282492173792802010-06-14T14:38:51.975+02:002010-06-14T14:38:51.975+02:00I saw it twice and saw enough details that I liked...I saw it twice and saw enough details that I liked and didn't like: Otello's ripping Desdemonda's handkerchief into pieces and then using it to bind her before killing her was masterful; the "couple" who danced and then the lover who put the plastic bag over the girl's head during the act 3 concertante was stupid beyond belief. The children hidding Otello in act 3 was good...but the throwing of paper at Cassio in act 1 was another stupid idea that went nowhere. It seemed that this director was trying to "fill every moment" with something going on; he needs to learn that "less is more"...and sometimes standing still works wonders (like Harteros in the beginning of act 4).<br />Still I am very glad to have been there for this opera.<br />RonUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14344864493596982336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949086046279498177.post-60217031207249199942010-06-13T23:13:45.679+02:002010-06-13T23:13:45.679+02:00Hey Ron! Arabella is not a good opera anyway. I...Hey Ron! Arabella is not a good opera anyway. I'm glad you enjoyed Otello. Coming from the US you're not used to this kind of productions, and you don't look into details. If you stayed a little bit longer and had an opportunity to see the show again (and if we talked in between and you were mentally ready to be challenged!) I'm sure you'd start seeing wonderful things. ;) Not that I guarantee you'd have liked the production -- but it would have tickled your curiosity, that I'm pretty sure would be the case ;) <br /><br />Anja the world<br />s best singer right now [OK, Joyce is very close too ;) ]Opera Cakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940773671378765685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949086046279498177.post-59632095920826403782010-06-13T22:38:44.270+02:002010-06-13T22:38:44.270+02:00I saw the June 8 & 10th performances of OTELLO...I saw the June 8 & 10th performances of OTELLO and just loved the musical side of the production: Principal singers/chorus/orchestra. I wasn't wild about the physical production or the director's concept...but the singers swept everything out of their way musically. Highest honors go to Harteros who was just superb as Desdemona. Cura and Lucic matched her in strength and the surrounding cast was excellent. A very enjoyable evening in the theatre...which I cannot say for the ARABELLA which I saw last night at the Deutsche Oper.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14344864493596982336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949086046279498177.post-21927335525513213572010-06-10T19:04:27.934+02:002010-06-10T19:04:27.934+02:00Merci pour la partie Kriegenburg. Je ne pense pas ...Merci pour la partie Kriegenburg. Je ne pense pas que je pourrais aller à Avignon cet été (malheureusement). J'imagine que tu y iras -- l'année Marthaler à Avignon oblige. ;)<br /><br />J'ai lu pas mal d'articles sur Kriegenburg. A Berlin en ce moment il y a même un festival de ces spectacles (non-opératiques)<br /><br />Sur Anja Harteros je suis évidemment entièrement d'accord. C'est tout simplement incroyable ce qu'elle fait en ce moment. Là, ce qu'elle fait de ce rôle de Desdemona est très comparable a ce qu'elle a fait d'Elsa l'année passée à Munich. Époustouflant, imbattable... En plus elle est très low-key et très gentille.Opera Cakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940773671378765685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949086046279498177.post-71569453098237996782010-06-09T18:05:01.686+02:002010-06-09T18:05:01.686+02:00Harteros, c'est vraiment terrible...Moi qui ne...Harteros, c'est vraiment terrible...Moi qui ne suis pas bon pour repérer les talents montants, je suis tombé sur le charme en l'entendant en Freia (!). Le charme, pour moi non plus, ne s'est pas atténué depuis... Freia, Elsa, Violetta, Mimi, Eva, Alcina, Fiordiligi...<br />Kriegenburg a la particularité d'avoir commencé au théâtre -en DDR- par le côté technique (il a une formation de menuisier, je crois), ce qui peut justifier qu'il soit parfois un peu mal à l'aise face au monde du théâtre. En Allemagne, il est connu, mais pas universellement apprécié, il faut bien en avoir conscience.<br />Par ailleurs, un de ses spectacles (Le procès d'après Kafka) est invité à Avignon cet été : très recommandable !Rameauhttp://musicasola.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949086046279498177.post-1385779751523219862010-06-01T01:29:49.939+02:002010-06-01T01:29:49.939+02:00Anonymous - going to the prima I expected nothing ...Anonymous - going to the prima I expected nothing and everything from Cura. Was it the night of the premiere or he wanted to prove that he still has it -- it's anybody's guess. The truth is - he was excellent, the role is difficult and he didn't show any fatigue in his voice in the last part of the show. <br /><br />If he wasn't this good, I most probably wouldn't say anything ;)Opera Cakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940773671378765685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949086046279498177.post-84444932425930712592010-06-01T01:25:36.947+02:002010-06-01T01:25:36.947+02:00Hey Ron! I hope Cura and Lucic will keep this ultr...Hey Ron! I hope Cura and Lucic will keep this ultra-high level of singing they showed at the premiere. Anja Harteros is always this good. The auditorium is humanly sized so you'll have your fix of good singing - I'm sure! Do let us know what you thought of the show ;)Opera Cakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940773671378765685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949086046279498177.post-84203274601058474872010-05-31T22:59:29.975+02:002010-05-31T22:59:29.975+02:00So looking forward to seeing this. I am flying in ...So looking forward to seeing this. I am flying in from NYC next Sunday (June 6)and will see the June 8 and 10 performances. I adore Harteros and glad she was SUPERB (as always).Thanks for the great review.<br />Best..<br />RonUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14344864493596982336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949086046279498177.post-38009497058919428372010-05-31T18:43:01.300+02:002010-05-31T18:43:01.300+02:00Hard to imagine seeing positive comments about Cur...Hard to imagine seeing positive comments about Cura lately. In the two Stiffelio Met radio broadcasts I heard in January, he sounded so awful it had to be heard to be believed. Or, not even then. <br />Glad you enjoyed it, here's hoping hew as just out of form a few months ago and is getting better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949086046279498177.post-16537299496126908192010-05-31T15:31:13.540+02:002010-05-31T15:31:13.540+02:00He was definitely in super-form last night. I expe...He was definitely in super-form last night. I expected him to get tired and struggle through Act-4, but nothing of that sort happened -- he was really wonderful last night.<br /><br />Tonight la prima of Die Walküre ;)Opera Cakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940773671378765685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949086046279498177.post-85334409966816509102010-05-31T15:10:58.525+02:002010-05-31T15:10:58.525+02:00I'm glad Cura was great last night as Otello.....I'm glad Cura was great last night as Otello... It's so hard to find a good Otello nowadays...Meihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00716612124717913648noreply@blogger.com