almost fainted in my oboe lesson – cool. becoming an annual occurrence this is.
Operaphile has a review of Sunday’s Anna Karenina up.
We now have three more performances, and then it’s time for symphony. This week and next are incredibly busy. Hard to imagine getting through it, but I’m sure I will!
Brian, of Out West Arts really didn’t like Anna Karenina.
BUT …
For a company its size, I wasn’t expecting an ensemble that sounded as warm and on target as they did. Which I suppose says more about my shortsightedness than their significant abilities, which were under the guidance of Stewart Robertson. The orchestral performance was undoubtedly the highlight of the evening. It was clear that a lot of time and money had been lavished on this good-looking and sounding production.
… and …
The vocal performances themselves were professionally done by the members of Opera San José’s cast of resident artists. On Friday’s performance Jouvanca Jean-Baptiste sang Anna Karenina with her dueling paramours Karenin and Vronsky performed by Isaiah Musik-Ayala and Torlef Borsting respectively. All were watchable performers who projected well with good clarity and stability. I also rather liked Steven Kemp’s romantic, if minimal, sets that were evocative without being fussy.
So while he didn’t like the work, he seemed to think we did our jobs well. I think. If I’m reading correctly.
Me? I really love playing this opera and, at the same time, I sigh before I leave for work because it really drains me — more than you can imagine, really! It’s not an easy opera, I am playing the majority of the time (I have to write in “swab” so I know when I have time to do that!). It’s got some really challenging parts, and uses the full range of the oboe. (Yes, I play down to a low B flat, even on principal oboe, and I also play up to a high G.) I think Carlson writes some really lovely things for oboe. And I do like the vocal stuff I can hear. (Granted, I can’t hear it all.) I do think pulling something off like Tolstoy’s novel is a huge feat. I’m sorry Brian sees it as a failure. But that’s the risk when doing something new.
Still, he did give the company kudos for doing it:
However, you cannot fault the company for giving it their all for a strongly made case of a losing argument. For a recent opera, that’s a sizable risk for an American company these days and they should be acknowledged for it.
Sooooo … any readers out there attend the opera and want to give me your opinion?
Mendelssohn: Psalm 42 “Meine Seele dürstet nach Gott”
Thomanerchor Leipzig, Gewandhausorchester; Thomaskirche Leipzig; Christine Wolff, Soprano; Georg Christoph Biller
This is My Father’s World
David Summerford on Mountain dulcimer
JS Bach – An Wasserflüssen Babylon, BWV 267
I’m too tired to think, much less blog, but I just wanted to say we are home from San Francisco Opera’s Werther. So just a couple ‘o things:
- I don’t completely enjoy Werther, no matter the production. It’s pretty much how I feel about most French opera, for some reason. I’m not sure what that’s about. Maybe I’ll have to figure that out someday!
- I loved what the director did with most of it. I think it worked quite well. Now I couldn’t see what Opera San José did with it when we performed it last, but in the past I had seen it and it was done more with Charlotte truly falling for Werther. In this production much of that is in his imagination. She reads his letter right in front of her husband, Albert. He is obviously frustrated or annoyed, but it’s not like she is hiding anything from him and she seems more concerned about Werther than in love with the guy. I thought the set design was also very nice.
- AND … of course I thought the orchestra was great! Oboist Mingjia Liu, sounded fabulous, just as he did for Aida. What a warm rich sound! The rest of the orchestra sounded great s well. I’m always so impressed with the opera orchestra!
- I loved the voices. I’m especially taken with Alice Coote. There’s something about the timbre of her voice that really moves me. But they were all so strong, and it was wonderful to finally get to hear Ramón Vargas!
So now off to bed with me. I need some rest before Anna Karenina jumps in front of a train again. (Gee, a Werther suicide tonight and a Karenina suicide tomorrow? It’s a rough time in opera land.)
I’ve certainly read mixed reviews of this production, but considering the hostile reviews of Anna Karenina I will wait and see what I think. Ya just never know ….
… which is always better than being depressed, right?!
im so skilled at playing the oboe now…..
I normally just trash spam and don’t pay attention, but this one was so darned detailed I simply can’t resist! (But no, I’m not a sucker!)
Hello,
My name is Busayo Green, I search and saw your email address on the internet, i want you to know that i have a Mercedes-Benz that i want to give out but i don’t know if you will be able to take good care of the Mercedes-Benz for me. i have some problem with me that is why i want to give out the Mercedes-Benz because of the promise i have made to my husband before he pass away.I lost my Husband in car accident, he was on his way to pick up my Daughter from school that was where the accident happen, but police said that he might have lost his mind before the crash occurred. His car ran off the road and hit a tree.the driver of the car that is coming at his back said the vehicle veered off the road and struck a tree, “No other vehicles were involved. There was no illegal or unsafe operation.he was going along just fine, but then veered into the median strip.”Before he die he brought a Mercedes-Benz for us, He want us to go on a long travel, with the Mercedes-Benz,he want all the family to go together, so before he pass away he said i should come and meet him at the hospital he told me that i should give the Mercedes-Benz out to someone i don’t know, so that is why i am sending you this email, Let me know if you are going to take good care of the Mercedes-Benz for me.i know it will be hard for you to believe me. i want to give it out because i have promise my Husband that i will give it out, the more i see the Mercedes-Benz the more i think about him because i love my Husband so much i could not stand it anymore. pls take the Mercedes-Benz away from me and take good care of it. if you are interested let me know.
The Mercedes-Benz is in perfect working condition with nothing mechanically wrong – like new! The title is clear and I have already signed a release for the title to be transferred. You’ll also receive all the papers required for registration , owner manual, keys, a give contract already signed by me. I must inform you that currently I’m in texas where I’m staying. my daughter Sandra is schooling in florida. 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS E280 4 Doors, Automatic, Saloon, Petrol, ABS, Adjustable seats, Air conditioning, Alloy wheels, Computer, Cruise control, Driver airbag, Electric mirrors, Electric windows, Fog lights, Front armrest, Electrically adjustable seats, Headlight washers,Immobilisers,, Passenger airbag, Power assisted steering, Rear armrest, Remote locking, Radio/Cassette, CD changer, Side airbags, Rear headrests, Traction control, Private number plates, One year M.O.T, NEW Battery, Car do not have any scratch or dent’s, car is in very good condition, clean in and out
E-mail me for Pics.
I did immediately note that not a single oboe reed was offered.
This is us … in all our splendor. I can’t say the picture is perfect, but at least we mostly look awake! ;-)
I always feel like I’m on a secret mission or off to bomb a place when I carry my oboe case around…
(Gee, what kind of case does this person have?!)
Four female musicians were filmed playing in three different outfits: a concert dress, jeans, and a nightclubbing dress. They were also all filmed as points of light, wearing a black tracksuit in the dark, so that the only thing to be seen – once the images had been treated – was the movement of some bright white tape attached to their joints.
RTWT. I’m not at all surprised with the outcome. I don’t believe it has to do with sexism and discrimination in that realm. I think it has more to do with how we hear when we also see the performer, be the performer male or female. (And maybe that’s what they were actually saying too … you know me and my skimming techniques!) I would have liked it if they then did this same experiment with male musicians, putting them in jeans, something hip, and a penguin suit.
I was watching E! True Hollywood Story’s episode on the Kardashians. At the end of the show, classical music with hip hop beats were played but I can’t seem to find this type of music online. Does anyone have any recommendations on finding classical pieces of Mozart or Beethoven (for example) mixed with modern hip hop or dance beats?
Well here ya go … not Mozart or Beethoven … but everyone’s favorite, Mr. Pachelbel:
As I was looking around I found something claiming to be Mozart + back beat … anyone have a problem with this? ;-)
(Hint: Where do I begin ….)
