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A Night at the Opera

Post Script: After seeing that photo of Andy Garcia in a white dinner jacket with shawl lapels - and a slim black bowtie and shirt with covered placket front like mine - in today's 'Post', I've decided to get mine done as originally intended. Back it goes on Monday.

But first: The Saturday concert! This time I'm at Orchestra level, one seat in, side row, 2/3 of the way back. It'll be interesting to compare the sound from that location. Stay tuned ...
 
Post Script: After seeing the photo of Andy Garcia in a white dinner jacket with shawl lapels - and slim black bow tie and shirt with covered placket, like mine - in today's 'Post Movies', I've decided to take my jacket back on Monday and get it done properly.

But first: The Saturday concert, where I'm at Orchestra level. I'll report back if anything of interest transpires.
 
Someone who I chatter to on the TSO site confirms that his friend - who was also in Row D of Ring 5 - confirms my belief that the male voices didn't carry as well / sound as clear as the female voices.

Hmmmm ....

What did you think, ap? Did you, or your dates, notice anything like this in Row 2?
 
... and - almost two years on - I assume that "friend" was our very own TonyV, who also sat in Row D of ring 5.
 
Ever diminishing circles. Yes I passed that comment on to my buddy.

A little segue here -- we almost didn't renew our opera subscription, having seen too many duds this season. We did renew after all, in the hopes that they will pick up the pace next season. It will be interesting to see / hear what a new director can do once he/she finally arrives, likely a season later. Not to push the point too far but next season is full of chestnuts again at the COC and I am starving for something more meaty -- and interesting -- a Kurt Weill, or perhaps Lulu (Berg) anyone?

I am off to the TSO tonight. Will furnish a review in the US' special section for that. Tchaikovsky's 4th on the menu.
 
I'd love to check out the new Opera house. Don't know a thing about opera though, so could anyone here recommend something worth going to in the near future? It would be nice to try something new!

Wouldn't mind going to TSO either. In order to tame my incessant road rage, I have started listening to 96.3 FM, and I'm actually really enjoying it. When driving, I usually switch between 102.1 and 96.3 - my two favourite radio stations.
 
Chuck: The opera house is such a success that it's difficult to get a ticket if you're not a subscriber. However, there are reduced price tickets for day-of performances, and some reserved for students.

http://www.coc.ca/purchase/newage.html

The symphony has a similar ( and popular ) thing called Tsoundcheck for people between 15 and 29 ( tickets are $12! )

http://www.tsoundcheck.com/

You too can become an operaqueen ... if you're not careful.
 
Why not jot down the name of pieces of music that you like when you hear tham on 96.3 ( and CBC Radio 2, which has classics in the morning ), and note the name of their composers? Then check the concert listings ( on the Toronto Symphony and Canadia Opera Company websites, and in the free Wholenote Magazine, for instance ) ... and then go to a few concerts?

Just like going to an art gallery or a museum, or seeing a play, or movie etc. ... immerse yourself in it.
 
Saw Pelleas and Melisande on Tuesday night (opening night) and mostly loved it.

If you are passive about art and want it served to you on a silver platter, you won't enjoy this, and you should just skip it -- it is not a jock opera; no sustained high c's or fabulous shiny tunes to take home.

If however your art appreciation is dynamic, and if you have the ability to interact emotionally with it, by all means hear this. It is best described as a huge chamber opera with extraordinary acting demands placed on its lyric singers. All principals really shone.

This opera is about a situation which may be an everyday one -- a marriage that was wrong in the first place -- but the composer has a superbly sensitive approach to depicting the emotional consequences of the situation. Best of all, Debussy was really adept at portraying the ambiguities (and whatnot) that make up the enigma of Melisande. It's sort of "breathtaking" in a different sort of way. I think Debussy liked Wagner, as his ways and means are not unlike one of the slower Wagner operas (think Siegfried) -- it's about what goes on inside the head. The music coming from the pit is absolutely sublime. I liked the conductor.

About the stage sets -- thumbs down. Another COC industrial two-decker. Enough of that.
 
Seeing Pelleas on Saturday night. I agree, it has been a rather conservative season.

Someone I know went online recently planning to become a new subscriber for next season - all that's left are Ring 5 and most expensive seats downstairs.
 
I wonder if that will open up a bit - I have heard from two longtime subscribers now that they will not be renewing for next year, and those can't be the only two. The general satisfaction level with the COC seems to have dropped a notch...

42
 
08/09 will be the final season of Bradshaw's casting choices - a fondness for bargain basement singers from Eastern Europe - thank goodness.

More Canadians!

More contemporary opera!

Much depends on the new CEO.
 
The Barber of Seville was fabulous last night. In short, I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this. Everyone was fabulous, great singing, orchestral playing and conducting. The conductor, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, is so hot he could melt a cheese sandwich from across the room.
 
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