I've been mulling over this performance for the past several days trying to figure out how to put my impressions into words. But in short - raayat and I were both totally enraptured by it. I think it is possibly one of the best examples of the magic of theatre generally, something that was only enhanced by the sneak peek we got backstage before the show ( Read more... )

I managed to catch the podcast in which the director discussed some of her thoughts and background of her thoughts to the production, which turned out to be a really good thing, otherwise I think it would have been rather easy to get lost. The show itself is pure 20th century, no doubt about it, with sparse very fragmented music and singing that ( Read more... )

As my darling husband pointed out the other day, I have a tendency to deal with major life shifts by cramming as much as possible into the month or so surrounding one. An avoidance tactic? Probably, but by running a gazillion miles a minute, it keeps my brain sharp and panic at bay and for now, I'll take it ( Read more... )

I've been a bit slow getting this review up, partially because of the usual busyness, but mostly because I just don't have much to say about it. It was what I would call an average performance. The energy was very upbeat, appropriately enough for the show, but the acting and the musicality was just so-so; nothing to write home about, as they say. ( Read more... )

Un Ballo in Maschera at the Royal OperaWe booked this one before our trip, but while travelling discovered it was based on the death of one of the kings of Sweden, Gustav III. Unfortunately, mid 19th century politics meant Verdi had to reset the plot to 17th century Boston, which caused me no end of cognitive dissonance. Fortunately, references to ( Read more... )

So, in case you missed it raayat really didn't enjoy it, and I must admit the same, although significantly less vitriolic, sentiment.

In short:

• very interesting premise (a woman who conceives through parthenogenisis)
  
• potentially good use of flashback (story told from the daughter's perspective)
  
• composer conducting himself (doesn't happen often, was ( Read more... )

Last night we saw Die tote Stadt (The Dead City a good synopsis can be found here) by Korngold at the Royal Opera. I'd never heard anything by this composer before, so it was something of a potluck experience for us. We had fab seats thanks to work sponsorship and went in with an open mind. One of the nice things about seeing new or unusual works ( Read more... )

Geez, I'd forgotten how long it had been since I've updated you guys on this.  Better get started then eh?

Lord of The Rings, The MusicalOver all - really quite terrible, especially the singing and what passed for Elven dramatic sign language.  Fortunately, it was also a good bit of fun if you weren't interested in taking it seriously, which we ( Read more... )

and unfortunately a bit of a let down compared to last week, as I wasn't terribly impressed with either Legal Fictions nor The Minotaur.

Legal Fictions was a bit of a mix. The high point was definitely seeing Nicholas Woodeson (you, know Posca) in person. An absolutely fantastic actor, who totally outshone his counterpart in both works. Which ( Read more... )

What artsy things we've been up to lately. . .

Last night, for instance, we went to see the ENO's production of Lucia di Lammermoor. ( The Great, the Odd and the downright Weird )