1,064 posts
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Post by bellboard27 on Jun 10, 2016 15:13:17 GMT
Went last night. Obviously the main draw was Placcido Domingo. Reading reviews on his voice at age 75 I wondered what he would be like, but I needed not to worry – rich, beautiful and powerful enough immediately to fill the house. Hearing him sing (as the old king) about whether the king was perceived as an old man who was past it (I of course paraphrase!) was particularly touching.
The ENO chorus has rightly come in for praise recently (Olivier award, etc.), but I want to highlight the ROH chorus on this occasion. Nabucco has lots of opportunities for the chorus to shine and they did – no more so than their rendition of Va, pensiero, which certainly got a strong response from the audience.
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391 posts
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Jun 10, 2016 15:45:12 GMT
I was at the opera last night and I have to say that Domingo was ok, but that is all. I felt the real strengths were liudmyla monastyrska as Abigail (surely the best soprano alive) and Leonardo Capalbo making a wonderful house debut. Otherwise it was rather average.
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1,064 posts
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Post by bellboard27 on Jun 10, 2016 15:56:30 GMT
Yes I agree about Luidmyla Monastyrska, but was not taken so much with Leonardo Capalbo myself!
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391 posts
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Jun 13, 2016 11:07:48 GMT
Yes I agree about Luidmyla Monastyrska, but was not taken so much with Leonardo Capalbo myself! Did you manage to see Luidmyla as Lady Macbeth a few years back? She was utterly thrilling!
Oh, I'm sorry you didn't like Leonardo I've liked his voice for many years. I feel he will be wonderful as Hoffman in Les Contes D'Hoffman in the next season.
I'm seeing the opera again next week with the cast headed by Dimitri Platanias who is a fabulous singer, but rather wooden!
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1,064 posts
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Post by bellboard27 on Jun 13, 2016 16:01:42 GMT
No I didn't see her in Lady Macbeth - hence very pleased to have caught her this time. I didn't not like Leonardo - just something didn't grab me. Maybe my ears were not tuned up that evening!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2016 20:37:33 GMT
If it helps, you can get that Macbeth on DVD - that's how I saw it.
But sorry, everyone, I thought Monastyrska's acting was embarrassing in it; especially compared to Simon Keenlyside, who is generally so good in that respect. It meant I couldn't fully enjoy all of the music.
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391 posts
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Jun 13, 2016 20:41:34 GMT
I think Monastyrska's acting was very appropriate for the part. Simon Keenlyside unfortunately couldn't match her finesse vocally.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2016 22:17:47 GMT
Yes, a common criticism when it comes to him singing Verdi, I gather. I'm not a huge opera buff so he sounded fine to me - it's not like he can't hit the notes, after all.
And I'll trade it for convincing acting in this case! ;-)
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391 posts
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Jun 14, 2016 7:09:08 GMT
And I'll trade it for convincing acting in this case! ;-) 
On a side note, I think it's a shame the Simon Keenlyside isn't appearing in the next ROH season.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2016 7:40:54 GMT
And I'll trade it for convincing acting in this case! ;-)
On a side note, I think it's a shame the Simon Keenlyside isn't appearing in the next ROH season.
Me too. After his prolonged period of illness/voice trouble, I'm fairly certain there's a rapturous reception waiting for him from Covent Garden audiences. On the plus side, it gives me time to save some pennies so that when he is back, I can afford a ticket! |
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391 posts
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Jun 14, 2016 8:54:02 GMT
If Simon is back...
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