Jenna’s Comments (group member since Apr 05, 2008)

Jenna’s comments from the Opera: The Extravagant Art group.

Does anyone know if there is a filmed version of the Zeffirelli Traviata staged at the Metropolitan Opera House for many many years? I saw the production live at the MET (back around 2008) and I was very aware in terms of sets and looks it was very very similar to the film version Zeffirelli made with Doming and Stratas, but considering how long the MET used that production, I'm surprised they never filmed the stage version. (Like they filmed his Boheme twice and his Turandot twice). I also do have the filmed version of Zeffirelli's Traviata staged at Teatro Giuseppi Verdi with Renato Bruson as Germont and Scott Piper as Alfredo.
Just thought Id ask -- or even if there was a taped recording floating around from a MET PBS Broadcast that never made it to DVD. (When I look online/eBay/Youtube, I just get links to the Stratas/Domingo film, or someone that filmed it from their balcony seats illegally, or the Teatro Verdi production.)

The Met televised Verdi's Otello recently. has anyone read reactions to not portray Otello as an African Moor? Or what were your thoughts?

Another one is:

Carter, Alexandra. Dance and Dancers in the Victorian and Edwardian Music Hall Ballet.
Aldershot: Ashgate, 2005.

One I just picked up the other day that looks like it has great information on technique is:

Kirstein, Lincoln, et al. The Classic Ballet: Basic Technique and Terminology. Alfred A. Knopf,
1984.

Fiction or non-fiction?

Novel about Caruso a few years ago. Tenor in love?

Metropolitan Opera is slated to show new Rigoletto production Sunday (5/19). Check local listings.

Just saw a fabulous production of Turandot at the Minnesota Opera a few weeks ago.

Seeing Pique Dame would be interesting. Only know plot. A good production is worth seeing, though, even if no famous singers involved!

Yes, there is a new book called Butterfly's Child: A Novel that might be of interest. (As I recall, a sort of "what happens next"? book).

Iphigenie en Tauride and Nixon in China are both slated for PBS airing this summer, so watch your TV guides.

I just wanted to add that anyone (as far as I know) can start discussions. (If that's not the case, please let me know, and I'll see if I can change the setting, but I just looked at it, and I think that should not be a problem). My idea only was to create a forum for people to start discussing opera; as a moderator that keeps the actual discussion going, as you may have already discovered, I'm not very good. I go through phases of having loads of time, to having no time at all.

For that matter, if anyone wants to be a co-moderator, I'm totally open. Or if members would like to begin new threads, I'm fine with that.

Welcome, welcome, all. I hope some watched the recent TV showing of La Fanciulla

Just thought I'd start a thread on the Metropolitan Opera/other opera companies in the cinema/Live in HD/PBS. I see Nixon in China and Carmen (in theatres) are upcoming.

Rosie, that'll be a treat to see them live and I've heard great things about the Chicago Lyric.

Wow, Elektra strikes me as a difficult opera for a "first" -- I remember watching the film version when I was about 19 and feeling slightly traumatized afterward - it was either the Stratas (c. 1992) or the Leonie Rysanek (c. 1990)...

I have not had a chance to watch all of it, but what I saw of it struck me as quite minimalist compared to earlier productions of Carmen I have seen telecast from the MET.

M wrote: No Carmen on my DVR! I don't know what happened. :-(

Well, I got most of it...

I regret to say I've never made it to the MET HD Offerings; the theatre where it is held is not at all close or convenient to where I live. I am going to try to be better about it though.

When my TV/VCR works, I try to catch all the local PBS airings though.

Dottie wrote: Just wanted to say thanks for the heads up on the La Boheme film

You are welcome. Please feel free to start your own threads here as well. I'd love to get more discussion going...

I'm not sure it worked on mine either =(
I still haven't had time to check.
I'll let you know.

I am so annoyed my tape of that turned out so poorly. Bad reception or something that night...gah.

I hope I get to the see Carmen, too.