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Thursday, June 28, 2012

The Short Version

Annoying night at the opera:
  • Conducting crude (at least in Act I)
  • Translation jokey in dumb ways
  • Projections distracting
  • Shrader over-hyped
  • Gunn overparted. (Eugene B. was better at W.E.O.)
  • Sigmundsson aged
  • Shagimuratova pitchy
  • Audience chatty
Of the leading principals, Stober was best, though not really distinctive; among the smaller roles, Pittsinger was so good he should have been bumped up to Sarastro (really) and Fedderly was good. Sierra: adorable. The Three Ladies were fine and so were the Three Spirits.

7 comments:

  1. And what about the damned Wild Animals? I'm risking my life for your entertainment pleasure and not a mention?!

    It doesn't sound like you made it through Act 2. Neither have I. Agree completely about Pittsinger who sings while we're waiting in the wings in 10-foot costumes. That's a major voice.

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  2. The Wild Animals were adorable!

    I did make it through Act 2, as my mention of Sierra should signal.

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  3. Dear Lisa: Forgot that Papagena doesn't arrive until near the end. Gosh, I love Mozart, and gosh, I don't love this opera except for its perfect music.

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  4. Haha, yeah. The Papagena/Papagena interactions are my favorite scenes in the whole opera!

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  6. Thank God I'm not the only one who didn't like it.

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  7. Gosh, no - and I'll have more extensive comments posted later or this weekend, most likely.

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