Elizabeth – Wagner really outdid himself with Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Everyone knows Wagner is long; longer than most other operas. But Meistersinger’s season premiere began at 6pm and ended at 12:10am. I requested special dispensation from work to make the curtain time and dressed as though I was flying to London (because I may as… [Read More]
One Set to Rule Them All, And In the Darkness Bind Them: Gotterdammerung at the Metropolitan Opera
On the last day of the 2012-21013 Metropolitan Opera season, we saw the final performance of Gotterdammerung. Elizabeth – From the start of the prologue of Götterdämmerung, I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. Three Norns (whatever those are) are spinning the ropes of Fate, actual ropes, while giving the background of the ring—Wotan,… [Read More]
Leitmotifs: A Fun Game to Play with Your Fingers and Your Ears
This is no doubt at least in part due to our newly acquired Wagner Addiction and Uber Nerd-dom, but we found Metoperafamily.org’s Ring Cycle personal Leitmotif generator really fun and diverting. Answer a series of questions and you will hear an audio clip of the Ring Cycle Leitmotif that best suits you and a short… [Read More]
Money for Nothung: Siegfried at the Metropolitan Opera
We attended the Met season premiere of Siegfried this weekend. Perhaps Wagner has a unifying effect on us. Elizabeth – The Met’s season premiere of Siegfried appeared to go off without a hitch on The Machine’s part. This installation of The Ring had a good deal of levity and some physical humor that I greatly enjoyed. … [Read More]
Mid-Scene Replacements and The Machine Triumphant (Almost): Die Walküre at the Metropolitan Opera
We went to the Met’s season premiere of Die Walküre this weekend with great trepidation. After the epic set fails of The Machine at last Saturday’s season premiere of Das Rhinegold we were prepared for the worst. BUT The Machine executed it’s morphing set changes without a hitch….almost. Perhaps the multi million dollar reinforcements of the stage… [Read More]
Wagner and The Machine Infernal: Das Rheingold at the Metropolitan Opera
We saw the season premiere of Das Rheingold at the Met this weekend. I had never seen it and neither of us had seen the Met’s Robert Lepage production. While there was much fine singing the series of onstage technical snafus made for an interesting matinee. Elizabeth – This was the first time attending any… [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]
RICK SANTORUM TAKES OVER AS GENERAL MANAGER OF THE METROPOLITAN OPERA
Largo al Santorum After James Levine’s health problems and Peter Gelb’s upcoming tragic accident in an abandoned pool, a power vacuum has been left at the Metropolitan Opera. Rick Santorum has stepped in to fill the vacuum as new General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera. “We’re shocked to get him. That he was available… [Read More]
