MET DELAY
posted by James Reel
If you were wondering why the Metropolitan Opera performance began (and ended) about 35 minutes late last Saturday, here's why. It was yet another problem with the Ring cycle's elaborate stage machinery.
If you were wondering why the Metropolitan Opera performance began (and ended) about 35 minutes late last Saturday, here's why. It was yet another problem with the Ring cycle's elaborate stage machinery.
I've gotten way behind in posting reviews and features I submit to various print publications, so let me now reach back a couple of years to a pair of my Fanfare reviews of video productions of not-quite-standard-repertory operas.
MOZART La finta giardiniera • Nikolaus Harnoncourt, cond; Eva Mei (Violante/Sandrina); Isabel Rey (Arminda); Julia Kleiter (Serpetta); Liliana Nikiteanu (Ramiro); Rudolf Schasching (Don Anchise); Christoph Strehl (Belfiore); Gabriel Bermudez (Roberto/Nardo); Zürich “La Scintilla” Op O • TDK DVBD OPFINT (Blu-ray Disc: 187:00)
Christopher Williams reviewed the conventional DVD version of this, along with a competing Salzburg Festival DG issue under Ivor Bolton, in Fanfare 31:1. Williams found that this Harnoncourt performance on TDK offered “a fulluer text, tighter ensemble, and more ‘traditional’ stagecraft,” but less dynamism in individual roles. Still, wrote Williams, “Harnoncourt delivers a lively and captivating performance with that characteristic Harnoncourt ‘bite’ and penchant for surging hairpin dynamics.” That Harnoncourt “bite” is difficult to discern on the DTS-HD audio track, which softens the orchestral attacks and puts the singers at a great distance; they’ve got less volume to cut through the swimmy acoustics than in the closer, clearer PCM stereo version, which presents everyone to much better advantage.
I agree with Williams that Christoph Strehl displays “a voice of spun (and occasionally crooning) gold,” but with the exception of Eva Mei, whose performance is notable for its balance of warmth with lightness and delicacy, the other singers fall a bit short of perfection. Liliana Nikiteanu lacks the stamina to carry her all the way through some phrases, and Rudolf Schasching can be a little coarse, vocally. Furthermore, the cameras aren’t always pointing at the right character. Even so, it’s overall an enjoyable performance, for more details on which you should consult the earlier review.
About this Blu-ray version, I’ll say that the picture is very crisp, with subtle gradations and shadings of color. There are no extra video features, though, and no onscreen scene selection menu beyond the division of acts; on the other hand, individual numbers are indexed, and listed in the booklet, which also includes a little multilingual essay by director Tobias Moretti on his concept—and that’s about it. So in terms of both packaging and performance, this is a very good release that could have been better. James Reel
PUCCINI La rondine • Carlo Rizzi, cond; Fiorenza Cedolins (Magda); Sandra Pastrana (Lisette); Fernando Portari (Ruggero); Emanuele Giannino (Prunier); Stefano Antonucci (Rambaldo); George Mosley (Périchaud); Iorio Zennaro (Gobin); Giuseppe Nicodemo (Crébillon); Andrea Zoppa (Majordomo); Sabrina Vianello (Yvette); Giacinta Nicotra (Bianca); Annika Kaschenz (Suzy); La Fenice O & Ch • ARTHAUS 101 330 (Blu-ray Disc: 106:00) Live: Venice 2008
Joel Kasow reviewed the DVD release of this production in Fanfare 32:3. My colleague is generally intolerant of updated stagings and Regietheater in general. Unlike Kasow, I believe that the story of Magda, a kept woman in fairly high society, still makes sense when transferred to the 1950s, so director Graham Vick has done absolutely no harm there. Some of his blocking, though, does the singers a real disservice. Fiorenza Cedolins has to sing the first half of her second major aria lying on her back on the floor, which does her tone and support no favors. Similarly, roly-poly Fernando Portari looks unintentionally comic when he’s playfully rolling around in the sand in the resort scene near the end (if he dropped a few pounds he could be a matinee idol, which is what every lead tenor should be). Kasow couldn’t warm up to most of the vocalism in this production, and indeed it’s competent but not special. The singing on a recent Naxos video of this opera (not issued on Blu-ray) is apparently quite mediocre, judging from Ray Tuttle’s review in Fanfare 33:1. This Arthaus release is clearly preferable. Alas, the surround-sound mix is cavernous and unpleasant, so stick to the PCM stereo. There were apparently no microphones in the audience, so during the applause we hear more chatter from the pit than clapping from the hall. There are no special video features, and the printed booklet consists only of a brief synopsis and background essay. Still, if you have Blu-ray capability, get this version, because the colors on the women’s party dresses in the first act really pop. James Reel
In case you missed the announcement in the newspaper last week, here's the press release. I'd like to see how they calculate that dubious figure in the last sentence, by the way.
TUCSON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA NAMES ANDREW BIRGENSMITH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Kansas City Symphony General Manager to Assume Post August 1
(Tucson, AZ)—The Tucson Symphony Orchestra has named Andrew Birgensmith as the next Executive Director of the 83-year old orchestra. Mr. Birgensmith comes to the TSO after a decade with the Kansas City Symphony, where he has held the post of General Manager for the past eight seasons. Mr. Birgensmith was chosen after a year-long, nationwide search that yielded 40 candidates. The TSO brought five candidates to Tucson for meetings with Music Director and Conductor, George Hanson, orchestra representatives, board members and senior staff.
“Andrew has had tremendous success as an arts administrator, fundraiser and project developer,” commented Tucson Symphony Society Board of Trustees President Erwin Kratz. “It is a testament to the vitality of the TSO that we are able to attract candidates of Andrew’s caliber, and we are looking forward to working with him to continue building on our recent successes.”
Mr. Birgensmith moved to Kansas City in 1996 to open Station Casino where he served as Entertainment Manager for two years. His time there was spent overseeing the construction of the various performance venues and booking and producing entertainment for the entertainment facility. In 1998 Mr. Birgensmith joined the Union Station/Science City project where first he oversaw the construction of the entertainment district and later managed and created shows for the large format theater, planetarium, and City Stage while also supervising all special events.
In 2001 Mr. Birgensmith began working for the Kansas City Symphony as Associate Director of Marketing and then as Operations Manager. In 2003 Mr. Birgensmith was promoted to General Manager overseeing the day-to-day logistical operation of the business and seeking ways to increase business and revenue through community partnerships. Most recently his primary function was to serve as the principal liaison between the Symphony and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts to ensure a smooth transition into the new facility opening in September 2011.
Mr. Birgensmith attended Shenandoah University and Conservatory of Music in Winchester, Virginia where he received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Trombone Performance. He later attended Florida State University for Arts Administration.
“I can't wait to begin working with the staff, musicians, and board of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra,” said Mr. Birgensmith. “I have gained a lot of leadership experience while working for the Kansas City Symphony and now it is time to share what I learned. Last season the TSO had to make some painful financial adjustments. As a result, the future of the organization is much brighter. I am impressed with the work that has been done. The foundation of the organization is strong and clearly in place. I look forward to the opportunity to continue to build the TSO.”
George Hanson commented, “I am very much looking forward to working with Andrew to enhance and strengthen the TSO’s presence in our community as we fulfill our mission to serve Tucson and southern Arizona communities with performances and education programs of the highest caliber.”
Mr. Birgensmith and his fiancée, Holly Swangstu, plan to live in Tucson. He will assume his post with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra on August 1, 2011.
The Tucson Symphony Orchestra will open its 83rd season on October 14, 2011. It is the oldest symphony orchestra in the Southwest and the oldest continuously performing professional arts organization in Arizona. The concert season extends from October through April with more than 70 orchestra and 260 chamber ensemble performances each year. Each concert season offers Classic, TSO Pops! and MasterWorks Series, Classic, MasterWorks and TSO Pops! Specials, Moveable Musical Feasts and a series of free chamber ensemble performances for families entitled Just for Kids. In 2004, the TSO received the Governor’s Arts Award recognizing its 75 years of significant community impact.
With an annual budget of $3.6 million, the TSO pumps more than $20 million into the Southern Arizona economy each year.
Finally, somebody expresses an opinion I have long kept to myself: "Let's be clear: Bruckner is not the next Mahler. He enjoys some popularity among contemporary conductors because he's a heavyweight romantic tonal composer whose music can, from a certain angle, be viewed as a sort of forerunner of the non-sonata, "rotating chunk" modern school of musical form. He's an easy read for conductors with basic time-beating skills and a good brass section. In music, a cold and lazy lack of expressiveness can pass itself off as "spirituality". Hence the current Bruckner glut." That's David Hurwitz, who actually likes Bruckner, in a review of the latest poorly conceived Bruckner CD.
On KUAT-FM, we're celebrating two April 29 occasions: Zubin Mehta's 75th birthday, and Arbor Day.
Mehta was a glamor boy in his Los Angeles Philharmonic Days--and you thought that started with Gustavo Dudamel--and made a few recordings there that caused quite a stir in the years on either side of 1970. When he moved on to the New York Philharmonic, though, his performances were often criticized as shallow and glib, although they were never less than professional. Since he left New York, Mehta has continued to perform and record elsewhere, notably with the Israel Philharmonic. Through the day, we'll be sampling each phase of his career, via the music of Liszt, Ravel, Smetana, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky, Richard Strauss, Beethoven, Bruckner, Verdi, Mozart and Stravinsky.
But it's not all Mehta all the time. The rest of the schedule is devoted to music in honor of Arbor Day, including tree-hugging pieces by the likes of Johann Strauss, Dvorak, Sibelius, Wagner, Hovhaness, Byrd, Bax, Shostakovich, Elgar, and many composers of lesser repute.
And in one case, we're getting double duty out of a piece: Zubin Mehta conducting Smetana's From Bohemia's Woods and Fields.
While you're listening, check out this online slideshow of the most famous trees in the world.
Barack Obama presented his legal birth certificate for all to see three years ago. William Shakespeare would not be able to do the same. There's no record of his birth, although there is a baptismal record, dated April 26, 1654. It was customary to baptize a child three days after birth, so we can guess at his birth date, but all we have for sure is his baptismal date, and that's why we're devoting April 26 entirely to music inspired by Shakespeare.
We have at least two days' worth of Shakespeare music in the KUAT-FM library, so I arbitrarily decided to feature all the music we have associated with select plays (and a few sonnets), and save the other plays for another year. We'll begin at 6 a.m. with that lighthearted trifle Macbeth as treated musically by Verdi, Sullivan (of Gilbert-and fame) and others. After the 7:01 news we'll check in briefly with The Taming of the Shrew before moving smartly along to As You Like It (scores by Walton and others). After the 8:01 news it's a Coriolanus overture--Castelnuovo-Tedesco's, not Beethoven's, which is not related to the Shakespeare play. And then, it's hour after hour of Romeo and Juliet, including Prokofiev's complete ballet score on that subject, the Berlioz "dramatic symphony" inspired by the play, a certain Tchaikovsky concert overture, the Symphonic Dances from Bernstein's West Side Story (the R&J story moved to 1950s New York City), and stray pieces by the likes of Svendsen, Bellini, Diamond, Delius, Lyatoshinsky, Kabalevsky, Gounod and even Liszt. That segment will stretch all the way to 4 p.m. After that, it's a close encounter with Sir John Falstaff, dalliance with a few other works, and finally a look at A Midsummer Night's Dream courtesy of Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Satie, Purcell and, of course, Mendelssohn.
James Reel's cranky consideration of the fine arts and public radio in Tucson and beyond.
