Is it wrong

[DesEsseintes]

Isabel Leonard.
I fell in love with her last night watching the opera.
Her beauty, her acting and mannerisms, but mostly her voice, playing Cherubino.
A woman playing a man who ends up dressing as woman.

I may have issues.


http://isabelleonard.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_2898.jpg

I saw her as Cherubino at Glyndebourne in 2013 (my sister and I took my mother for a significant birthday) - she was enchanting and somehow very boyish - not so much like a man, but very like a mid-adolescent boy. Susanna was superb too, as was Figaro - I wasn't quite so sure of the Count, but then I saw Fischer-Dieskau albeit only on video and have been spoiled, I think.

There is something delightfully pantomime about Figaro until the forgiveness scene, which is just perfect in every way. If you have issues then I suspect I have too. Do you think any shrink will do a BOGOF for us?

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

*shivers, at the sound of her voice*
A small box full of varied chocolate truffles, transformed into sound.

Each solo, another small box of seductive treats with another theme.

Her glances, are the wines, that are served, to accompany the sweet sounds

She has transformed her youth into a woman's lure.

Not merely pretty, she plays with her attractiveness

 

[Tathagata]

I saw her as Cherubino at Glyndebourne in 2013 (my sister and I took my mother for a significant birthday) - she was enchanting and somehow very boyish - not so much like a man, but very like a mid-adolescent boy. Susanna was superb too, as was Figaro - I wasn't quite so sure of the Count, but then I saw Fischer-Dieskau albeit only on video and have been spoiled, I think.

There is something delightfully pantomime about Figaro until the forgiveness scene, which is just perfect in every way. If you have issues then I suspect I have too. Do you think any shrink will do a BOGOF for us?

That was what I meant about her mannerisms. She did come across as an adolescent love struck boy. Androgynous in a way.
The version last night was set in the 1930's so the costumes were exquisite. Very art deco Hollywood glamor.
The harmonies and interplay with the vocals was, at time, breathtaking and yes, the forgiveness scene was soul stirring.
It was healing music, as was noted in the movie "Amadeus" and certainly Mozart's supreme achievement..other than the Requiem Mass.

I suspect a shrink would be converted and the three of us would be seeking treatment

 

[Tathagata]

*shivers, at the sound of her voice*
A small box full of varied chocolate truffles, transformed into sound.

Each solo, another small box of seductive treats with another theme.

Her glances, are the wines, that are served, to accompany the sweet sounds

She has transformed her youth into a woman's lure.

Not merely pretty, she plays with her attractiveness

Precisamente

 

[DesEsseintes]

That was what I meant about her mannerisms. She did come across as an adolescent love struck boy. Androgynous in a way.
The version last night was set in the 1930's so the costumes were exquisite. Very art deco Hollywood glamor.
The harmonies and interplay with the vocals was, at time, breathtaking and yes, the forgiveness scene was soul stirring.
It was healing music, as was noted in the movie "Amadeus" and certainly Mozart's supreme achievement..other than the Requiem Mass.

I suspect a shrink would be converted and the three of us would be seeking treatment

I like that last image - the three of us dancing down the yellow brick road to Salzburg, and singing as we go. The version I saw was 60s, so again the androgyny was rather implied by the setting - Cherubino as early Bowie, perhaps? But as for his supreme achievement except the Requiem...I probably agree with you, but would want a word put in for Magic Flute and Symphony No 40 in G Minor, and the Gran Partita, and some of the piano concertii...

 

[oggbashan]

that I'm excited about watching Mozart's "Le nozze di Figaro" on TV tonight?

No. I've just come back from a movie theatre after watching a live transmission of Lehar's The Merry Widow from the Met, New York.

That was one of many live transmissions I've been to in the last couple of years but The Merry Widow is probably the lightest. We've booked to see Iolanta and Bluebeard's Castle from the Met in a fortnight's time.

We have been to:

An incomplete list of Live transmissions and some recorded transmissions:

Rusalka; La Donna Del Lago; Turandot; The Marriage of Figaro.
Swan Lake; Giselle; La Fille Mal Guardée; The Nutcracker; Alice in Wonderland.
Shakespeare: Macbeth; Much Ado About Nothing; The Tempest.
Marlowe: Dr Faustus.

From - The Metropolitan Opera, New York; The Royal Opera House; Glyndebourne; The Bolshoi Theatre; The Globe Theatre, London; The National Theatre.

The prices are higher than normal movie seats but much less than reasonable seats at the Royal Opera.

If any live transmissions come to a movie theater near you - try something new to you. Even if you think you don't like Opera, Ballet or Shakespeare - you might be surprised and you won't have spent too much.

 

[Tathagata]

I like that last image - the three of us dancing down the yellow brick road to Salzburg, and singing as we go. The version I saw was 60s, so again the androgyny was rather implied by the setting - Cherubino as early Bowie, perhaps? But as for his supreme achievement except the Requiem...I probably agree with you, but would want a word put in for Magic Flute and Symphony No 40 in G Minor, and the Gran Partita, and some of the piano concertii...

The Magic Flute is my favorite...but it's almost pop music.
I don't think Bowie could quite pull it off, but I'd love to her him sing it. To me there are moments on the Diamond Dogs album where he sounds like Judy Garland. I think he, at one point, might have made a go of it.,

Certainly the G Minor Symphony as well.

Eine kleine Nachtmusik was the first piece I ever heard by him and it remains one of my favorites

 

[DesEsseintes]

The Magic Flute is my favorite...but it's almost pop music.
I don't think Bowie could quite pull it off, but I'd love to her him sing it. To me there are moments on the Diamond Dogs album where he sounds like Judy Garland. I think he, at one point, might have made a go of it.,

Certainly the G Minor Symphony as well.

Eine kleine Nachtmusik was the first piece I ever heard by him and it remains one of my favorites

Bowie in around 1970 doing the Queen of the Night's aria would have been quite the experience!

 

[Tathagata]

Bowie in around 1970 doing the Queen of the Night's aria would have been quite the experience!

Do you remember Klaus Nomi?

 

[DesEsseintes]

No. I've just come back from a movie theatre after watching a live transmission of Lehar's The Merry Widow from the Met, New York.

That was one of many live transmissions I've been to in the last couple of years but The Merry Widow is probably the lightest. We've booked to see Iolanta and Bluebeard's Castle from the Met in a fortnight's time.

We have been to:

An incomplete list of Live transmissions and some recorded transmissions:

Rusalka; La Donna Del Lago; Turandot; The Marriage of Figaro.
Swan Lake; Giselle; La Fille Mal Guardée; The Nutcracker; Alice in Wonderland.
Shakespeare: Macbeth; Much Ado About Nothing; The Tempest.
Marlowe: Dr Faustus.

From - The Metropolitan Opera, New York; The Royal Opera House; Glyndebourne; The Bolshoi Theatre; The Globe Theatre, London; The National Theatre.

The prices are higher than normal movie seats but much less than reasonable seats at the Royal Opera.

If any live transmissions come to a movie theater near you - try something new to you. Even if you think you don't like Opera, Ballet or Shakespeare - you might be surprised and you won't have spent too much.

Agreed - it's the only way I am ever likely to see The Ring, for example, since Bayreuthers and other Wagner devotees seem to snap up those tickets long before they go on sale to the general public.

 

[oggbashan]

The Magic Flute is my favorite...but it's almost pop music.
I don't think Bowie could quite pull it off, but I'd love to her him sing it. To me there are moments on the Diamond Dogs album where he sounds like Judy Garland. I think he, at one point, might have made a go of it.,

Certainly the G Minor Symphony as well.

Eine kleine Nachtmusik was the first piece I ever heard by him and it remains one of my favorites

One of my stories is:

http://www.literotica.com/s/the-magic-flute

Some people understood the references. Most didn't.

 

[DesEsseintes]

Do you remember Klaus Nomi?

Afraid not - I just had to look him up and he died when I was five. I wasn't quite that precocious...but he sounds amazing. I am sure he could have done it justice, as could Ian Bostridge.

 

[Tathagata]

Afraid not - I just had to look him up and he died when I was five. I wasn't quite that precocious...but he sounds amazing. I am sure he could have done it justice, as could Ian Bostridge.

Amazing man, amazing voice, I think he could have pulled it off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hGpjsgquqw

When he made this video he was incredibly sick with AIDS.
There are a few weak moments with his breathing..but the saddest part is, of course, what might have been

 

[DesEsseintes]

One of my stories is:

http://www.literotica.com/s/the-magic-flute

Some people understood the references. Most didn't.

I just read it: completely charming and very imaginative. Thank you.

 

[oggbashan]

Have you heard this from the Gerald Moore retirement concert?

Victoria De Los Angeles and Elizabeth Schwartzkopf (with Gerald Moore) Cat Duet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HuDcpRuJsk

 

[oggbashan]

I grew up with records of these singers:

Dame Nellie Melba in 1904:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPL4IOQYPYU

Classic recording of the "Lucia" Sextet featuring Galli-Curci, Caruso, Minnie Egener, Giuseppe De Luca, Angelo Bada and Marcel Journet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14tdvxUvxFU

Feodor Chaliapin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3SFejnWzws

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdGEtrpKlAw

 

[oggbashan]

I just read it: completely charming and very imaginative. Thank you.

Thank you. It had a limited appeal.

 

[Not Normal]

Why would it be wrong to be excited to see something you obviously love?

 

[Tathagata]

Why would it be wrong to be excited to see something you obviously love?

I was most likely looking for validation in a sarcastic and indirect way.
I was surprised and pleased to get it.

 

[MonaLittle]

Heh... Love your direct honesty.

 

[Tathagata]

Heh... Love your direct honesty.

yeah chicks dig that direct honesty stuff

 

[pink]

I feel like such a heathen.

 

[oggbashan]

I feel like such a heathen.

Why? Opera appeals to some but not to others. For decades it has been seen as elitist but that was mainly because it was so expensive to stage, and the ticket prices reflected that cost.

Because it was expensive, people used to dress formally for the occasion. Some still do but it depends on the location. Glyndebourne is dressy; Vienna is dressy; the New York Met not so much, particularly for matinees.

But now Opera (and Ballet and Shakespeare) are available at selected movie theatres throughout the world, the cost is reasonable, and you can go as you would to just another movie. Last night some people watching The Merry Widow were clutching buckets of popcorn and large Pepsi. Most of the audience had senior citizen discounts and there was a slow stampede to the toilets in the interval, buying Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream on the way back.

But there were children there too, and young adults.

If you go to the Metopera and Royal Opera House websites you can find which movie theatres are showing live transmissions and when. I don't recommend going to the first one - look for a popular opera for a first attempt. You can sample them on YouTube.

If there isn't a local movie theatre near you offering live transmissions, ask the largest multi-screen whether they might do them.

But if you try, and still don't like, don't feel a heathen. I don't like some forms of modern pop music nor some modern theatre - but I have tried both before deciding that I didn't like them. I would not go to an event featuring the most popular music acts of today because 1. the tickets are very expensive, and 2. the atmosphere is not something I want at my advanced age.

I don't feel 'left out' because I don't like some forms of entertainment, nor 'heathen', nor 'past it' - because I have tried them. Sometimes I find something new that I do like.

 

[Fata Morgana]

I feel like such a heathen.

Don't. I had one bash at opera and nearly opened a vein. We'll stick with Bon Jovi! Tommy & Gina are their own opera.

 

[girlsmiley]

Yes.

Sorry, I only read the title.

Yes just feels like the right answer.

Is it wrong? My answer, I mean.