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[thislittlerose]

I think I received a left handed compliment at the Staatsoper last night. One of the Stehplatz regulars started talking to me. In Viennese, mind you. She lives at the Staatsoper, having said she attends 4 times a week. She was disappointed that she would miss Tristan on Sunday because of Mother's Day festivities. I said I wouldn't be able to see

Comments

[anne_elizabeth]

Youre going to see Susan Graham on Thursday? In an opera or in recital?

[thislittlerose]

Since it's at the Musikverein, i am going to assume it's recital material. She's performing with Martin Martineau. I'm not sure what's on the Programm.

wilkomen, bienvenue, welcome!

[bass_baritone]

glad to hear that you made it safely and without drama.

very jelous about terfel (having just missed him here). i would be shocked if she didn't catch your american accent. you speak quite well, but native speaker is a whole 'nother realm. i would take it as the typical wien compliment. you went and saw jakobsleiter again?... belgh... 'had enough the first time. i'm still coming to terms with atonality and opera... tone-rows just don't convey the meaning of the text to me somehow. *shrug*...guess that's my fault.

have you had a chance to hear quasthoff live yet? not sure if i mentioned it or not, but todd is doing a masterclass with him in the fall. i love that man's voice... esp for lieder.

last night was my last bit of performing for the semester, so i shaved my hair down to 'bout 1/4 of an inch today. :)

so the sheepie is shorn....

[thislittlerose]

Glad you answered ;) You're right about the German bit. Somewhere between American and Viennese is Hoch Deutsch. That's where I'm aiming

Re: so the sheepie is shorn....

[bass_baritone]

yeah, we went to the schoenberg/puccini thing. the whole gs production took place in a dumped over suitcase/trunk and the schoenberg was this big, silver, broken double helix in the center of the stage and a staircase/ramp combo a la m.c. escher. the schoenberg, as you said, was dramatically wonderful. and while i'm sure that dr. cherlin would tell me that schoenberg is just as sensitive as any composer to the text, the failing is that most people (save music theorists or someone sitting with a full orchestral score) can't tell. i suppose you see so much opera that after a while you can't remember individual productions ;)

[thislittlerose]

Bryan, since when must composers fall at the feet of the uneducated audience? Don't say Copeland. That's too easy. Audiences of the Gabrielis or even Gesualdo would react to something like Wagner with the same confusion as a modern listener to the 2nd Viennese School because the theory at hand was so far removed from that which they understood. I guess the question here would pertain to the level of prior knowledge with which an audience member is required to enter the hall. The music of Schoenberg is horribly complex. So are many of Bach's inner voicings. I cannot analyze them on the fly. Does that mean they should be pared down? Where does the line lie?

Yes, I do see many productions. The only one I remember seeing with you was that wacked out version of Der Nussknacker. You have to remember, the last four weeks I was in Vienna, I had three sets of guests, two concerts and a birthday party. At least I remember who was with me!

check your email, 'kay?