Operas Online (Arte Concert Edition) – Some Last Chance Opportunities

Arte Concert has some goodies for us online this summer; and some are going away very soon or sooner. Take some time to enjoy these while they last. In order of disappearance: 

06/21/2019 – Benjamin: Lessons in Love and Violence

07/10/2019 – Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos

07/10/2019 – Stravinsky: The Rake’s Progress

08/20/2019 – Leoncavello: I Pagliacci

08/20/2019 – Montemezzi: L’incante Simo

08/30/2019 – Gluck: Alceste (not available in U.S. but can be viewed using VPN)

10/26/2019 – Mercadante: Il Bravo

12/13/2020 – Mozart: Thamos

A Tale of Two (or Three) Zerbinetti

Classic Zerbinetta

Reri Grist at Salzburg, 1965

Karl Böhm

21st Century Regie Zerbinetta

Elena Moşuc at Zürich, 2006

Christoph von Dohnányi

Malibu Zerbi

Natalie Dessay in Paris, 2003

Michel Plasson

Stupid Reviewer Comments

Amazon reviews can be the source of thoughtful insights. If undecided about purchasing a particular recording, I will often consult the customer reviews. Frequently I find the negative reviews, if not helpful, at least infinitely entertaining.  

Usually they tell us a lot more about the reviewer than about the music. What they sometimes tell us is that the reviewer is kind of stupid. 

This type of comment is one of the reasons I started a blog! Here are some of my recent favorites:

I am not a particular fan of Dorothea Röschmann, who nevertheless gets a lot of plum jobs in opera and choral works nowadays. (Brahms Requiem)

Lucky for her he's not her manager!

Ariadne Auf Naxos – Zürich 2006 (Part 3: More Questions than Answers)

When the curtain opens on the “Opera” proper, we are in a replica of an actual Zurich restaurant.

• Are we literally in the restaurant, or is this the set for the Opera?

• Do we feel sad for Ariadne’s plight, or do we admire the Prima Donna’s artistry?

• Are we supposed to know that the servers are the comedians and nymphs? Is that part of the Opera or is it "opera"?

• The nymphs later are patrons in the restaurant. Is this literal, or are we supposed to understand this as part of the theatrical experience?

• The comedians each play three roles in the Opera (or opera.) Do we take note of this, or are we not supposed to realize they are the same people?

• It's played very realistically. but just how literally are we supposed to be taking this restaurant scene?

Tuesday Late Edition – The Complete 2012 Salzburg Ariadne

Someone has uploaded the entire performance from last Sunday!  The opera proper starts at about 1 hour, 30 minutes, should you wish to skip the play portion. No subtitles, but a chance to see an interesting staging and hear some wonderful singing.  Check it out!

Salzburg August 5, 2012

Emily Magee - The Prima Donna/Ariadne
Elena Mosuc - Zerbinetta
Jonas Kaufmann - The Tenor/Bacchus

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Daniel Harding music director
Sven-Eric Bechtolf stage director

Ariadne Auf Naxos – Zürich 2006 (Part 2: They Shoot Composers, Don't They?)

<rant> People who complain that Ariadne is not regal enough, or Zerbinetta isn’t perky enough make me nuts.  It’s an opera about mythical and theatrical characters. For that matter, it’s an opera about opera.  So, how would one propose a literal staging or interpretation?  OK, that was rhetorical, although if anyone has some ideas, I welcome them.  Ariadne is supposed to be on a deserted island. If there are some paper maché rocks and cliffs on stage, does it suddenly become more believable? I suggest for the perfect literal/realistic interpretation, the entire audience be flown to an actual deserted island with real rocks and caves. </rant>

Sunday Extrablatt – Salzburg Ariadne 2012

I just watched the "original" Ariadne auf Naxos live online from Salzburg, and I really enjoyed it. Although I have to admit the play section left me a bit cold, in great part because there were no subtitles. I know enough German to get the gist of what is going on, but not the nuances. Though I am not sure there were many nuances, judging from Zerbinetta's (the blogger, not the character) review, which is quite detailed and perceptive.  

Ariadne Auf Naxos – Zürich 2006 (Part 1: Is this the real life?)

 “Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? 

Caught in a landslide, No escape from reality…”

- Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody

I keep trying to write my review of the 2006 Zürich Opera performance of Ariadne auf Naxos (staged by Claus Guth). But my notes continue to be no more than a series of questions. Questions are good, but I am not sure a list of questions actually constitues a review. Though now that I think if it, that could be a great new approach...or not.

A Tale of Two Ariadnes: Richard Strauß Preview

I am getting ready to review this DVD:

Emily Magee @ Zurich Opera 2005

In preparation, I decided to re-view this one first:

Jessye Norman @ the Met 1988

I figured it would be a good idea to revisit a "traditional" production (first seen at the Met in 1964) before re-watching, then writing about Claus Guth's version.   

I'll post my Ariadne review sometime in August. Next week I’ll be considering some Gluck and Mozart operas.

Ariadne mit dem Panther

Johann Heinrich von Dannecker (1758-1841)