A friend and I attended The Opera Orchestra of New York’s performance of I Lombardi at Avery Fisher Hall last night. The concert was fine but I was blown away by tenor Michael Fabiano. His performance was absolutely and thrillingly goose bump inducing. I so look forward to seeing him in the new production… [Read More]
A Catholic School Girl’s Musings on Parsifal at the Metropolitan Opera
We were particularly excited to see Parsifal this past week at the Met—as both Jonas Kaufmann and Rene Pape are in it and the production was getting rave reviews. And the Met’s Parsifal did not disappoint. This was my first time seeing Parsifal and Shawn’s first time seeing any Wagner opera and so we went… [Read More]
Carmen and Coach Croft: Carmen at the Metropolitan Opera
On my way into Lincoln Center Plaza for Carmen at the Met on Wednesday, I heard a scalper complaining loudly (to a group of well dressed opera going hopefuls) “When Pavarotti used to sing I got $400 for these tickets. $400 I would get!” I guess he didn’t like being lowballed by clients in black tie. … [Read More]
Opera Lady and the Zombie Apocalypse
During my time marooned in rural Iowa helping my mother at her isolated quasi-plantation last year, I had an excess of quiet time with which to think so therefore understandably spent a great deal of that time worrying about the house being attacked by zombies. True, watching excessive amounts of The Walking Dead alone late… [Read More]
Senior Dating Rituals of the Midwestern States
Last year, I spent the majority of three long months with my mother, Nancy, at her quasi plantation in wildly rural northeastern Iowa. I originally went to help her with the house and grounds, as her health while not yet failing is not the best. However when my own health started to fail the quasi… [Read More]
Swallows and Sweater Vests: La Rondine at the Metropolitan Opera
This week we saw La Rondine at the Met. We got last minute discounted tickets from a Met Opera email offering 25% off selected performances 26 hours before La Rondine’s curtain. A FULL 25% off, mind you. Not the “buy one get one 25% off” that we had received before. And thank god really as… [Read More]
Anvils and Infant Incinerations: Il Trovatore at the Metropolitan Opera
Somewhere in my extensive Internet search for a plot synopsis I could understand, I read Enrico Caruso once said all it takes for a successful production of Il Trovatore is the four greatest singers in the world. I don’t know if the Met had that but I thoroughly enjoyed the production I saw this week. … [Read More]
Twiddling Dials and Bulging Biceps: The Metropolitan Opera Renovations
It is always of great comfort to know one is accurate in one’s perceptions, even if they are relatively fleeting and meaningless. The case in point would be our perceptions of the various problems plaguing the Metropolitan Opera. Not artistic but technical. We have mentioned the weird freezing wind draughts, the peeling ceilings, audience blinding… [Read More]
You, In This Tomb?: Aida at the Metropolitan Opera
This week was my first Aida at the Met–my first Aida being in Syracuse, NY (it’s a long story). Aida is the third Verdi opera I have seen at the Met after Macbeth last year and Ballo last month. Both Macbeth and Ballo were notoriously “modernized” productions so Aida was the first period Verdi I… [Read More]
The Martina Arroyo Foundation Gala 2012
This week we were guests of Martina Arroyo at The Martina Arroyo Foundation Gala held at the lovely 583 Park Avenue. 583 is so lovely in fact, we’re considering having our wedding reception there. The mission of The Martina Arroyo Foundation is to prepare and counsel young singers in the interpretation of complete operatic roles… [Read More]
