tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18540063.post5444824620570390153..comments2024-03-16T08:02:38.070-04:00Comments on wellsung.blogspot.com: TchaikovskyAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15748408812275965064noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18540063.post-60256212114162052612007-10-24T00:39:00.000-04:002007-10-24T00:39:00.000-04:00No further comments of Maid of Orleans, but, yeah,...No further comments of Maid of Orleans, but, yeah, Queen of Spades is fantastic. The current SFO production has some astonishingly stupid features, but I loved the opera so much I went back for seconds anyway. Robert, do you agree with that? ;-)Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18540063.post-39961742945541754662007-10-23T19:22:00.000-04:002007-10-23T19:22:00.000-04:00I have to disagree with Lisa Hirsch: I thought Mai...I have to disagree with Lisa Hirsch: I thought Maid of Orleans was just fine, a terrific score (very Tchaikovskian and almost completely unfamiliar) attached to a flawed but workable libretto: just like a lot of our other favorite operas. Having seen and greatly enjoyed Mazepa and Iolanta (concert performance of the latter), I agree with Alex's original post -- we really need the lesser Tchaikovsky works.<BR/><BR/>What damages Maid of Orleans is also what is particularly fascinating about it. Just like in Queen of Spades, the composer has altered his famous literary source in order to shoehorn in his favorite theme: the sexual awakening of a young girl. Short, butch Delora defeats a helmeted English soldier on the battlefield, and when the helmet comes off, its -- Rodney Gilfry! So she completely loses it, as who wouldn't. Then a chorus of invisible warrior maidens appears to her and warns her that if she compromises her mission by loving a MAN, she will die! This was obviously important to Tchaikovsky but provokes titters in the audience.<BR/><BR/>I don't know why people try so hard to find the gay subtext in Tchaikovsky when it's usually sitting in plain view.<BR/><BR/>Alas, there's apparently no recommendable recording -- somebody call Gergiev!<BR/><BR/>As far as Iolanta goes, there may not be many recordings, but the Gergiev/Gorchakova/Gregorian CD is great. Get it if you don't have it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18540063.post-32044563162519942432007-10-22T15:42:00.000-04:002007-10-22T15:42:00.000-04:00zajick did joan of arc at carneige last season. a...zajick did joan of arc at carneige last season. and pique dame, his greatest opera is coming up in a seaon or two at the met. now, they just need to get heppner out of the cast. god, that man plagues me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18540063.post-27272739294665538592007-10-22T10:35:00.000-04:002007-10-22T10:35:00.000-04:00That is a bummer...I suppose when one listens on t...That is a bummer...I suppose when one listens on the radio one selectively notices the nice parts. I am still holding out hope for "Yolanda" however.Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15748408812275965064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18540063.post-67506656034718970142007-10-21T23:49:00.000-04:002007-10-21T23:49:00.000-04:00Oh, now that would be great.I saw that Maid of Orl...Oh, now that would be great.<BR/><BR/>I saw that Maid of Orleans and am sorry to report that however it sounds without the visuals, it is a total suckass opera. Insanely stupid plot, mostly not such great music, etc.Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18540063.post-23247660234004836752007-10-21T19:07:00.000-04:002007-10-21T19:07:00.000-04:00Holy mole poblano. Dolora=Ortrud. Best of all is...Holy mole poblano. Dolora=Ortrud. Best of all is if she does it in the Wilson production and doesn't have to act.Maury D'annatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14136129943169313348noreply@blogger.com