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This is absolutely the right decision - judging by the Tosca HD transmission from New York (recently seen again on Sky Arts), this is simply NOT a role for her. She also made a hash of another Puccini heroine in her Manon Lescaut, also seen transmitted live from the Met. I am sure her considerable talents will be put to better use elsewhere, and I applaud her intelligence and her lucidity in making this choice. Others please copy.
Commented Aug 24, 2010 on no more Tosca for Karita Mattila - ever at Intermezzo
no more Tosca for Karita Mattila - ever
Intermezzo learns that Karita Mattila has abandoned the role of Tosca permanently for artistic reasons. Recent performances in New York and Munich suggested the part wasn't a great match for her talents, so this sounds to me like a courageous and sensible decision, the sort that more singers...
No too distant future...in case smoking is banned in open spaces too.
Commented Aug 19, 2010 on Francesca da Rimini at Holland Park at Intermezzo
Francesca da Rimini at Holland Park
Francesca da Rimini - Opera Holland Park, 7 August 2010 Overcooked and under-inspired, Zandonai's opera itself isn't exactly a lost masterpiece, but there's enough in the Wagneresque orchestration and frantic melodrama to make it worth staging. The Met clearly think so too; they're putting it...
The salt and pepper guy is Neil Shicoff, but cute and Shicoff do not belong in the same sentence. On the other hand, should have gone and Specsavers do...
Commented Aug 19, 2010 on kocht up special at Intermezzo
kocht up special
Before a crack team of professional chefs cooked up nice pretty photo-friendly versions, some of the many opera singers who contributed the recipes for new book Die Oper kocht had a bash themselves. See the video evidence below. Thank goodness someone had the wisdom and foresight to preserve R...
Nothing like bladder emptying to provoke comments...
Commented Aug 13, 2010 on beating the loo queues at the Royal Albert Hall at Intermezzo
beating the loo queues at the Royal Albert Hall
The queues for the ground floor ladies (and sometimes gents too) at the Royal Albert Hall can stretch yards down the corridor - most frustrating when there's only a twenty minute break. It's generally quicker to nip up to the first floor where there are more facilities for fewer customers, and...
The Kensington gore flowed a little too freely...I am just back from the performance and did enjoy the opportunity as I had never seen Francesca before.
Malatestino far too old but respectable performances from most of the cast. I never understood the point of the jester...
Commented Aug 12, 2010 on Francesca da Rimini at Holland Park at Intermezzo
Francesca da Rimini at Holland Park
Francesca da Rimini - Opera Holland Park, 7 August 2010 Overcooked and under-inspired, Zandonai's opera itself isn't exactly a lost masterpiece, but there's enough in the Wagneresque orchestration and frantic melodrama to make it worth staging. The Met clearly think so too; they're putting it...
Hear hear Vecchio John! And hope you too, Intermezzo, can hear the wonderful Forza. Even the peacocks stayed silent (if not a pesky helicopter on Saturday evening).
Commented Aug 1, 2010 on Wagner window: 13 at Intermezzo
Wagner window: 13
And so we come to my favourite Wagner window. This is Confiserie Klein of Richard-Wagner-Straße, and their yummy selection of Wagnerchocs - also available via their website .
Of course there is a connection between performances and cough sweets - I have a friend who takes them to the opera and doles them out to irritating consumptives in the neighbouring seats.
Commented Aug 1, 2010 on Wagner Window: 12 at Intermezzo
Wagner Window: 12
More Wagnerabuse. What's the connection between R. Wagner and the catchily-named cough medicines Isla and Silomat? Beats me.
I have just seen JDF in a Concert Lyrique with Natalie Dessay in Orange (programme here : http://www.choregies.asso.fr/gb/date2.html).
The Theatre Antique seats 8,500 people, and a fierce Mistral was blowing, so his voice did not really sound at its best. The partitions were blowing all over the stage (and it seems that Dessay still needs to read her music after performing the operas so recently). One of the French TV presenters later referred to Florez as "an up and coming Mexican-American young tenor"...Also heard in the crowd "J'ai été vraiment déçu par le ténor".
Of course the French all worship their very own Natalie, and no matter how squally and screechy she was at times, they applauded her to the heavens.
Commented Jul 27, 2010 on Juan Diego - going, going, nearly gone! at Intermezzo
Juan Diego - going, going, nearly gone!
Booking opened just a few minutes ago for Juan Diego Florez's Royal Festival Hall recital on 20 January 2011, and already all the best tickets are gone (held back for the organiser, Rosenblatt Recitals, I wonder?). Nice to see Juan Diego doesn't forget the people who gave him an early break, b...
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