As Simon Cowell might say, “Absolutely dreadful.” This opera is so bad I’m having a very hard time leaving it on once, let alone twice. La finta giardiniera (“The Pretend Garden-Girl”), written by Mozart when he was a few days shy of his 20th birthday, should never have been written at all – except as […]
Entries Tagged as 'Leopold Hager'
Of Oil Spills and Last CDs (Early Italian Operas, Box 13)
May 3rd, 2010 · No Comments · Arleen Auger, Aufidio, Box 13: Early Italian Operas, Cecilio, Celia, Edith Mathis, Giunia, Gulf Oil Spill, Helen Donath, Julia Varady, K135, K135 (Part III), Leopold Hager, Lucio Cinna, Lucio Silla, Mozarteum-Orchester Salzburg, Obama Administration, Peter Schreier, Salburger Rundfunk-und Mozarteumchor, Salzburg or Milan (Autumn 1772), Werner Krenn
I wonder what the Obama administration was thinking while the oil slick approached the Gulf of Mexico? I mean, why wait over 10 days to take action? I remember how the media came unglued when former President George Bush took two days to act on Katrina. And here the Obama administration took nearly two weeks […]
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Of Long Walks and Roman Generals (Early Italian Operas, Box 13)
May 2nd, 2010 · No Comments · Arleen Auger, Aufidio, Box 13: Early Italian Operas, Cecilio, Celia, Edith Mathis, Giunia, Helen Donath, Julia Varady, K135, K135 (Part II), Leopold Hager, Lucio Cinna, Lucio Silla, Mozarteum-Orchester Salzburg, Peter Schreier, Salburger Rundfunk-und Mozarteumchor, Werner Krenn
What a gorgeous day! My wife and I spent the day walking nearby rail trails, stomping through the woods, turning over logs to find salamanders, watching ducklings and goslings, and soaking up some sun. We were headed to Pickerel Lake to walk through the woods. But an early-morning rain storm prevented that. So we improvised. […]
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Of Rainy Saturdays and Un-Cared-For Music (Early Italian Operas, Box 13)
May 1st, 2010 · No Comments · Arleen Auger, Aufidio, Box 13: Early Italian Operas, Cecilio, Celia, Edith Mathis, Giunia, Helen Donath, Julia Varady, K135, K135 (Part I), Leopold Hager, Lucio Cinna, Lucio Silla, Lucius Sulla, Mozart at 16, Mozarteum-Orchester Salzburg, Peter Schreier, Salburger Rundfunk-und Mozarteumchor, Salzburg or Milan (Autumn 1772), Werner Krenn
As usual, I liked the Overture best of all. And this Overture was the best to date. It was very lively, very Mozart. It was delightful. Then the singing started. And it all went downhill. But not so far downhill that I can’t appreciate the talent involved with this piece of music. I can appreciate […]
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Of Ducklings and Drama (Early Italian Operas, Box 13)
April 30th, 2010 · No Comments · Box 13: Early Italian Operas, Claes H Ahnsjo, Costanza, Ducklings, Edita Gruberova, Edith Mathis, Emilio, Fortuna, Il sogno di Scipione, K126, K126 (Part II), Leopold Hager, Licenza, Lucia Popp, Mozart at 15, Mozarteum-Orchester Salzburg, Peter Schreier, Publio, Salzburg Kammerchor, Scipione, Thomas Moser
It’s duckling time in Michigan! Is there anything cuter than ducklings skimming across the surface of a lake, chasing bugs, their mom floating watchfully nearby, no doubt wondering how to keep a half dozen swiftly moving balls of fuzz in line? Every year, my wife and I look forward to the birth of a new […]
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Of Malaise and Dreams (Early Italian Operas, Box 13)
April 29th, 2010 · No Comments · Angel, Box 13: Early Italian Operas, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Chorus: Heroes, Claes H Ahnsjo, Costanza, Edita Gruberova, Edith Mathis, Emilio, Firefly, Fortuna, Il sogno di Scipione, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, K126, La Licenza, Leopold Hager, Lucia Popp, Mozart at 15, Mozarteum-Orchester Salzburg, Peter Schreier, Publio, Salzburg Kammerchor, Scipione, Thomas Moser
I always enjoy something different – whether it be a different key within a composition, an unexpected high note from a soprano, or particularly interesting passage of music. That works for just about anything, really. Some of my favorite movies were ones I didn’t regard very highly (or about which I had no expectation at […]
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Of Winds Gone and Mythologies Here (Early Italian Operas, Box 13)
April 27th, 2010 · No Comments · Aceste, Agnes Baltsa, Arleen Auger, Ascanio, Ascanio in Alba, Box 13: Early Italian Operas, Clark Gable, Edith Mathis, Fauno, Genii, Gone With the Wind, K111, K111 (Part II), Leopold Hager, Lilian Sukis, Milan (October - November 1771), Mozart at 15, Mozarteum-Orchester Salzburg, Olivia de Havilland, Peter Schreier, Salzburg Kammerchor, Silvia, Venere, Vivien Leigh
Tonight, my wife and I get to experience something we never have before: Gone With the Wind on the big screen. Yes, that Gone With the Wind. Rhett Butler, Scarlett O’Hara, Ashley, Prissy, and the rest – all set against sweeping backdrop of the Civil War. The Hollywood movie to end all Hollywood movies is […]
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Of Saws and Seeing (Early Italian Operas, Box 13)
April 26th, 2010 · No Comments · Aceste, Arleen Auger, Ascanio, Ascanio in Alba, Box 13: Early Italian Operas, Diana Damrau, Fauno, Genii, Jimmy Page, K111, K111 (Part I), Leopold Hager, Lilian Sukis, Milan (October - November 1771), Mozart at 15, Mozarteum-Orchester Salzburg, Peter Schreier, Saw as instrument, Se il labbro più non dice, Silvia, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Theremin, Venere (Venus)
I had another epiphany yesterday. Operas were never intended to be disembodied and heard apart from their live stage performance. I wonder what Mozart would have thought if someone approached him and said, “Wolfie, sweetie. Tell you what I’m gonna do. I can record your opera on this gadget, make copies of it, and sell […]
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Of Feelings and Failures (Early Italian Operas, Box 13)
April 25th, 2010 · 1 Comment · Agnes Baltsa, Alois Aigner, Arbate, Arleen Auger, Aspasia, Box 13: Early Italian Operas, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Christine Weidinger, David Kubler, Edita Gruberova, Farnace, Ileana Cotrubas, Ismene, Joss Whedon, K87, K87 (Act III), Leopold Hager, Marzio, Mitridate, Mitridate re di Ponto, Mozarteum-Orchester Salzburg, Once More With Feeling, Phil Keaggy, Sifare, Werner Hollweg
I just realized something. I don’t like musicals. No, that’s not quite right. I loathe musicals. I’d rather have pointy sticks jabbed into my eyes than watch West Side Story again. And a pack of wild dogs couldn’t chase me into the theatre to watch a musical – unless (ironically enough) it’s a community theatre […]
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You can call me Amadeus. But don't expect me to answer to that.