Monday
Nov192012
OperaNow! #169:...And Oliver Wept
Monday, November 19, 2012 at 8:40AM 
Angela Gheorghiu gives too much in Tosca...David Alden's Ballo falls on blind eyes...Harry Bickett shows Clemenza at the Met...Lyric Opera Chicago chorus master resigns after a few brief months.
Oliver's Corner concludes his series on Mozart's Abduction with a breakdown of the Act 2 Quartet breakdown of the Act 2 quartet.
This week features Michael, The OC, Doug Dodson and Jenny Rivera.
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Reader Comments (7)
I'm so glad you all reunited to warm our holiday week.
I was at the performance in which Gheorghiu withdrew after act 1. Luckily, the small world of opera fandom resulted in my bumping into friends at the intermission, one of whom knows an SF Opera percusssionist. We sent him downstairs to chat with his friend about the REAL reason for her disappearance. The word came back: vomit. Just vomiting and vomiting backstage. She did look slightly uncomfortable during her one act on stage. I've seen her twice live and she was uncharacteristically subdued, IMO. Dehydration and fear of vomit would definitely explain a tentative peformance, I would think.
Thanks to the OC for a beautiful conclusion to the Abduction corner. I come out of these corners with greater appreciation for the work discussed. Abduction hasn't been one of my favorites but I'm ready to slap the CD into the player after your dissection.
I'm sorry that the "Dear Doug" segment was cut, or forgotten. I hope you put it near the beginning of the next show so that it doesn't get left behind again.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
I almost get the feeling that in trying to keep to your hour format, you might be almost rushing through some of the stories...but then again, I always like to err on the side of completely exhausting a topic before moving on! I just wonder what we all missed with the couple of references to bits that were cut out!!! As far as professional choruses go...here in Toronto at the COC, everyone is re-auditioned every single season. I think they get something like 200-300 people auditioning every year. It's highly competitive because, as the OC points out, these jobs are scarce. They're well-paid and goodness knows there are so many very good singers being turned out of programs all the time.
Bickett has done a great job with the COC orchestra on Orfeo ed Euridice and Ipigenie en Tauride - he does seem to have a knack for getting modern orchestras to play in period style. Will be looking forward to the Clemenza in HD this Saturday - one of my top 10 faves for sure. Maybe you guys could give your opinions if anyone sees it. Great to hear Jenny's voice again.
(Sigh) Gone are the days of Michael threatening to cut out the most entertiaining bits, and then not doings so.
What do you mean, Aaron?
nice episode, but you guys forgot the most important thing: how do you get it from youtube into your collection?
google "dvdsoft freestudio": this is a collection of great free apps that among other things you can use you download youtube to various formats, or even convert a video to any audio format to put on your ipod or whatever. these apps are integrated very well into google chrome.
you can also use real player to download youtube videos and convert them to various other video and audio formats.
from the clips my favorite was mariella devia. i have always been amazed by how great she sings that aria.
Interesting point...the main focus was just that the stuff is out there.
Loved this weeks podcast, love that Oliver is doing "Un Ballo" now. Got two out of 4 of the Oscars and am about to sit down and watch the '81 Ballo with Pav/Ricc/Blegen.