Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Gimme Those High Cs, Baby!
So, given the choice of Turandot performances, should I see fall's fully-staged Hockney production in San Francisco (which I've seen twice), with Irene Theorin (Nicola Luisotti conducting), or summer's Hollywood Bowl presumably-concert performance with Christine Brewer (Gustavo Dudamel conducting)? Hmmm!
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7 comments:
For me that's a no brainer- LA.
West Bay Opera is performing it in a 400-seat theater in Palo Alto next month. It's an unusual chance to see it in such an intimate venue rather than the big barns and bowls.
Yes, that is unusual. I have mixed feelings; an interesting experiment (presumably they're using a reduced orchestra) and yet it's an opera that truly calls for a big-gun soprano with killer high notes.
For me: Brewer yay! But classical singers at the Hollywood Bowl?, Bleaah.
Festival Opera did Turandot in 2009 with a reduced orchestra and it sounded great. The Turandot, Othalie Graham, was fabulous.
The Lesher Center's main hall seats 900 people, twice as many as where West Bay Opera performs. It's a great place to hear opera because it is so small. I'm faintly worried about getting my head blow off by Turandot in a tiny theater!
Having heard Alexandra LoBianco's Turandot in two rehearsals now, I think the fear of getting your head blown off has more substance than the fear of absent killer high notes! But isn't one of the themes of Turandot about overcoming our fears?
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