… I do believe this is a record for the number of reviews Opera San Jose has received. The majority of reviews have been quite positive.
Today, I’m going to play my poor, neglected oboe.
Scales and Arpeggios The Aristocats
If only I was as passionate about oboe as I am about photography. It would make school so much easier.
… gee, they keep on coming!
Scot MacClelland writes this one. Check it out!
Mozart’s Idomeneo, redi Creta, as witnessed in Opera San Jose‘s opulent new production last Sunday, sheds far more light on the 24-year-old composer’s progress than this stage work might suggest at first glance. But as sheer operatic spectacle, this OSJ triumph should keep audiences buzzing for weeks.
Oh … and operagasm liked it too!
The following is just the very end of a Mercury News article you might want to check out.
Q Will you underwrite another production for the company?
A You probably have no idea how much stress goes into producing an opera. There’s one crisis after another. I don’t rule out doing something else, but you have to think of what you can do to make a contribution.
I didn’t want to do this just to do it. I wanted to do it because I saw a way of doing a really good job of it. My motives in doing it were the real joy in seeing something like this done well, and all the people who participate in it — they love it! So I’m glad that I was in a position that I could do it. Sometimes you need to have a crazy person around to do things.
Do you know Satyajit Ray’s film, “The Music Room”? It’s about an old guy who wants to put on a really beautiful music concert. He wants to get all the best musicians. The world is collapsing around him; the modern world has caught up with him. And he wants to do one glorious gesture just to show that beauty still exists in the world, so he can go out in a burst of glory. Sometimes I feel like the crazy guy in that movie.
I’m very thankful to be doing the opera. So many many thanks, Mr. Packard!
How fun is this? And hey … Mike is a great oboist (and great reed maker too!).
The reviews are unanimous: Opera San José’s Idomeneo is a “must-see production”, so here’s an offer that will be hard to refuse:
This Saturday, September 17, at 8 p.m., grab your significant other, best friend or Mozart-lover and head on down to the California Theatre because for just $60, the two of you can enjoy this mythical tale set in Crete that critics are raving about. Tickets can be ordered on-line via tickets.com; use coupon code “Crete” when ordering. This offer is good for JUST this Saturday, and is restricted to Section 4, orchestra sides seats.
“this Saturday” is tomorrow, so you have to grab the deal quickly!
Been practicing the oboe, its harder than i thought! XD My lip feels like its guna burst but i learned nine notes on the fingering chart :) I know i’ll be able to learn this beauty! I HAVE FAITH! XD
Dave Camwell brought this to my attention … that’s a lotta saxophones!
…for Mozart lovers, this is a one-time “Idomeneo” drama to treasure.
Cleve conducted the orchestra, showing spirit and vitality that carried the opus forward, aided by a harpsichord and cello playing the continuo (recitative-accompaniment) parts. The two storm sequences were every bit as electric as Elettra’s mad scene itself, and the animated, augmented chorus provided extra heft to the show.-D. Rane Danubian
(My Note: The instrument used is actually a fortepiano, not a harpsichord.)
now would be a terrible time to decide to buy an oboe…
This is what we have so far for Idomeneo:
Examiner.com
Mercury News
Milpitas Post
Not For Fun Only
The Opera Critic
Opera Novice
Out West Arts
San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Classical Voice
I was hoping they’d get something up!
That’s one crazed Elettra, eh?
It’s always good for me to hear these … things I think are “all oboe” are so clearly not. Go figure!
Should I be ashamed that I didn’t know Fromental Halévy until I heard the work below sometime in August?
TWO English horns?! How cool is that? So rare ….
