Various

I haven't done one of these for a while — you can thank Twitter for that — but it seems vaguely warranted, since I'm having one of those phases of too much to see and too little time to write about it.

• The Manon I had planned for this evening didn't eventuate — it all just got too difficult — so the proper post I hope to write about it will have to wait. Not that I imagine anyone's desperately hanging out for it, but for my own peace of mind, I like to get these things written up. Eventually. And I will see it again, if for no other reason than the second half of this Mad Scene discussion.
  
• Opening night of La traviata was predictably successful; a lovely evening of excellent singing and visual overload. I might love the production less if the cast were less effective; but here, cast and staging complement each other very nicely, and the result, while hardly revelatory, is nevertheless far from dull. 
  
• Besides, this La traviata has Aldo Di Toro as Alfredo, a performance I'm hopelessly in love with. You just have to hear him. 
  
• Speaking of tenors, I feel I owe Rosario La Spina yet another word of praise. I went to the matinée of Tosca today — my third performance so far — and he was still sounding excellent, and still doing the best work I've seen from him. I don't know if it's I or he who has changed — or a bit of both, or just the repertoire — but I hope it's permanent. I could get used to Rosario giving performances like this.
  
• What is it with me and tenors at the moment?
  
• Not just tenors, though. Today's Tosca was further confirmation that every time I see this opera (and this staging) it belongs even more to Scarpia. John Wegner is amazing. This afternoon I even stood for him.
  
• I also stood for Takesha. Until a dessicated old man behind me poked me in the back and ordered me to sit down and stop blocking his view. I don't know about you, but I really don't consider this appropriate behaviour. I wimped out and sat down again, but I'm regretting it now, and if I find myself in his vicinity again, I might be tempted to stand just for the sake of it. 

Comments

[David]

Sarah, Don't wimp out again and stand your ground!!! Down with the miserable dessicated old grumpy men!!

[Deen]

Here, here David, down with crotchy old men and people who won't stand for an amazing performance...