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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Jun 21, 2016 14:58:50 GMT
Oh hell. It's going to be ridiculous having a load of nuns who can't sing, all being fantastic musicians. I couldn't agree more!
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Jun 21, 2016 9:49:21 GMT
wasn't Michael Bauer STILL Max? Not a lot wrong there. He was indeed, he did the role from the beginning of the West End production (albeit as a understudy). I was surprised he didn't do the ENO run!
I loved Earl Carpenter as Joe.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Jun 21, 2016 7:12:31 GMT
It's nice to hear that you had a good experience at Chichester Joem, it's a lovely venue (the Minerva too opposite). I agree with your comments about the play, it's more a historical story as opposed to a play with insight.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Jun 15, 2016 18:53:24 GMT
I've just seen the trailer...lots of very nice looking topless men!
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Jun 14, 2016 8:54:02 GMT
If Simon is back...
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Jun 14, 2016 7:11:33 GMT
As always Southampton missed out on the better casting for touring productions, I felt her replacement was very average.
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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 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 Distant Dreamer... on Jun 13, 2016 11:44:25 GMT
On another note...I'm really looking forward to this production
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Jun 13, 2016 11:42:56 GMT
(I was covering my eyes for long periods as a result and I wasn't the only one). You were clearly in the expensive seats which the lights seemed to target hehe!
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Jun 13, 2016 11:41:32 GMT
Does anyone know when Louise Dearman will be returning to the touring production to play Miss Adelaide?
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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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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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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Jun 3, 2016 11:00:28 GMT
talkstageytome I agree I saw them a few weeks ago and they were excellent. cathyfromlex Thanks for the update, I will let you know who I get!
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Jun 3, 2016 10:33:56 GMT
I'm going to the matinee tomorrow, I really hope that at least Gina, Sandra and Rebecca are on!
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Jun 3, 2016 9:49:42 GMT
Does anyone know if there have been any understudies on recently?
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 21, 2016 12:00:08 GMT
There are quite a few London Theatres where the balconies are closed off. Off the top of my head I can think of: -The Garrick Theatre -The Dominion -The Duke of York's
Can anyone think of others?
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 21, 2016 11:58:21 GMT
I saw the opening night of this production and I thought Kirsty was incredible, I hope you find her performance the same. Her Hedda was very unnerving, as well as passionate and scary.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 4, 2016 19:53:37 GMT
Having recently seen the London production I'm intrigued to know, how much of the show is actually sung live as from here I was sat it defiantly wasn't 100%?
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 4, 2016 19:46:37 GMT
I'm not only a fan of theatre, but the London Theatres themselves. I thought I'd create this topic so we can share our experiences and share information about the theatres. I don't mean best view seats or how to get to them, but the architecture and stories of the buildings themselves which hold so much history. I'd like to begin with an oddity. I was recently at The Piccadilly Theatre and I was looking for a historic magicians prop which used to reside at the theatre, but I couldn't find it and the staff didn't know either. ..so I'm appealing to you theatre fans, have you ever seen this at the venue? Sorry for the poor quality image as I'm on a tablet. Also I'd really like to know where it ended up.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Feb 19, 2016 8:25:59 GMT
They did go for a star... But he turned it down! do tell!
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Feb 18, 2016 10:24:57 GMT
What are the general views on this show? I love farces, but my impression of this is that it seems to be trying too hard. It didn't come across well on the royal variety show, but I'd like opinions of those who've seen it...is it funny or trying too hard?
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Feb 18, 2016 10:22:43 GMT
As I'm intrigued, what's been happening this week with the phantoms?
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Feb 18, 2016 10:21:59 GMT
Great cast for the UK tour, but am so annoyed that Louise Dearman is not doing any venues in the south.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Feb 16, 2016 8:22:57 GMT
Isn't opera just musical theatre in a different language? No...opera is a completely different art form, and one which precedes musical theatre. So musically to begin with it is deeply rooted in music, crafted with great care. The whole "feel" of an opera is different, many were based upon plays or stories of the day which do not reflect in comparison to musicals.
They were the "musicals of the day" however, so perhaps that's a good way of viewing them.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Feb 15, 2016 16:03:25 GMT
If you enjoy it, it's all down to me, if not, blame emcee Have fun! Reviews are mostly pretty positive for this production. Assuming you're seeing it in Cardiff, worth getting there early for a wander around the building if you've not been there before.
Yes, if you've not been to the Millennium Centre before it is well worth walking around, a rather unusual building.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Feb 15, 2016 13:21:59 GMT
Personally, I am very fond of Juan Diego Florez and Ermonela Jaho, of Joseph Calleja and Elina Garanca, of Bryan Hymel and Sonya Yoncheva, and despite his now shrunken voice, the sheer passion of Rolando Villazon is magnetic for me. Villazon in "Tales of Hoffman" is still one of my favourite opera memories, as in Juan Diego Florez singing to the brilliantly game and injured Joyce DiDonato in her wheelchair in "The Barber of Seville" (another excellent starter opera). Have fun! I remember that performance of Barber well!
Make sure you see Ermonela as Suor Angelica if you haven't already seen it a few years back.
Any news when Elina Garanca is due back at the ROH? There were rumours of her doing Anna Bolena with Netrebko, but nothing happened.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Feb 15, 2016 13:19:16 GMT
I've booked to see WNO's Barber of Seville, xander1 and emcee! Looking forward to seeing my first one next month. That's a good opera for your first, I would really like to hear your comments afterwards.
It's quite easy to follow, however I'd recommend you read the plot beforehand just so you know
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Feb 15, 2016 13:16:49 GMT
Does anyone know if Scott Davis has any planned dates coming up? Nothing against Ben, but I've never seen Scott before.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Feb 5, 2016 14:03:50 GMT
I absolutely adore opera, I'm actually going to the Royal Opera House tonight to see 'Tosca' to see Maria Guleghina.
The best opportunities to see opera are Covent Garden (Royal opera house), WNO, ENO, Glyndeboure and Opera North.
I would never ever recommend Ellen Kent to anyone with an interest in opera: cheap values and gimmicks (you always see them with "featuring a magnificent golden eagle" or something along those lines on the posters. Bottom line, don't do it!
Just off the top of my head here are some good first time operas I'd recommend: Tosca - Puccini Madama Butterfly - Puccini La Boheme - Puccini The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflote) - Mozart La Traviata - Verdi Cosi Fan Tutte - Mozart The Marriage of Figaro - Mozart The Barber of Seville - Rossini L'elisir D'amore - Donizetti
My particular areas of interest are bel canto operas, as well as work from the core Italian dramatic period. I like everything apart from baroque.
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