Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Musical Interlude

DIVA VISIT. Hanging out in GreeneLand recently, in hope of averting performance panic, quiet, was an international opera star from Down Under. Lisa Gasteen relaxed here in these parts before crossing over to Tanglewood, to sing what Boston Globe scribe Richard Dyer calls “the most demanding part ever written for dramatic soprano”: the title role in Richard Strauss’s opera Elektra. Based on ancient Greek legend, the show is a gruesome, sanguinary “100-minute primal scream” (Dyer). Tanglewood’s production was a concert version, with the singers being placed, un-amplified of course, behind an orchestra of 110 (one hundred and ten) musicians, who were playing, most of the time, forte and fortissimo. According to Dyer, Ms Gasteen “found it difficult to project some quieter phrases over the orchestra.” Would you believe? Still, her "powerful voice boasts a beautiful glowing, ruby timbre, deployed with vigor and insight. And she is a theatrical presence who can command attention even when standing still.” “Powerful,” as it turned out, was the favorite adjective of the opera’s reviewers. In the words of New York Times reviewer Anthony Tomassini, the GreeneLand visitor “gave a vocally fearless and chilling portrayal” of the wronged daughter, carrying off a “notoriously difficult” role, in which she is called upon to bring “cool power to Elektra’s outbursts of avenging fury” and then to project “melting sadness” in another situation. The whole performance, he added, evoked “a frenzied ovation” and one that has “seldom…been more deserved.” In a similar vein, Seeing Greene’s own correspondent, the veteran opera-goer Flip Richards (who has seen four other presentations of Elektra), “enormous range and flexibility and power” make Gasteen “the finest singer of that kind of role in at least two generations.”

SPEAKING OF OPERA, a GreeneLander who recently returned from an Italian sojourn shared these notes with our bloggeroos.

In Italy, it’s easier to attend an opera than to see one. The great opera houses are giant tubes. Most of the seats are in boxes, bulging out away from the sides of the stage. And in about half the cases, they are buttressed reinforced with columns that are placed in front of the box seats. Occupants of the first row in a box can see the show okay if they lean out, but people behind them are obliged to concentrate on the sound. Which is apt to be quite wonderful.

English-speaking visitors swarm over Italy, and are warmly welcomed. The opera goers among them are enriched by program notes that are printed in what appears to be their native language. Thus: ^*La Traviata:. “During a party, courtesan Violetta discovers that Alfredo love her since one year. A short while afterwards they are living together, but because of her past behaviour, Alfredo’s father asks her to leave him. Violetta sacrifice herself and Alfredo, unaware, hurts her. Some months later Violetta is dying, Alfredo learned the truth, goes to her, but too late and she dies into his arms.” ^*Tosca: “Rome, 1800. The rebel Angelotti is hidden in a church, with the help of his sister, that his friend Cavaradossi is depicting. Tosca, who loves Cavaradossi, arrives and becomes Jealouse. Also Scarpia, who is the police leader, arrives, he’s seeking the rebel and order to follow her because he thinks Cavaradossi is hidding the rebel. Scarpia order to torture Cavaradossi, so Tosca betrays him to save his life, but he’s condemned anyway. Then Tosca pretends to yield to pressure of Scarpia, who tells her Mario will not be killed but when he tries to embrace her, she kills him. It is dawn and Tosca reaches Mario to explain him his execution will be a pretence, but when soldiers shoots, Tosca discovers they killed him and before to be captured, she throws down the castle.” ^*Rigoletto: “Buffoon Rigoletto suggest to his duke the libertine behaviour that dishonour maidens of the court, but Monterone, whose daughter was seduced, damn him; his awful jokes will turns against him.In fact, his daughter Gilda is a victim of the duke, who abduct her Rigoletto pays Sparafucile to kill the duke, but Gilda, who loves him, decides she will dye instead of him. It is dawn and Rigoletto discovers horrified the body of his beloved daughter murdered instead of the duke.” ^*La Boheme. “Four young bohemians friends lives in an attic….It is Christmas eve, so they decide to dine at the cafe Momus, there is a knock at the door: it is Benoit asking for the rent, but he’s ejected with an excuse. While the others goes to the café, Rodolfo tries to finish an article, but a girl enters the room, Mimi, and in the moonlight they falls in love. Rodolfo and Mimi catches up with the others at the café. Musetta is seen approaching, she quarrelled with Marcello and now she is with the rich but old Alcindoro, but she is still in love with Marcello and send Alcindoro to buy new shoes for her, all sit down to supper but without money, and Musetta tells the waiter to charge the bill to Alcindoro. Two months later Mimi meets Marcello and tells him she will leave Rodolfo. Rodolfo arrives and speaks with Marcello about Mimi: they will part. Mimi and Rodolfo are agree. Time later Rodolfo and Marcello are talking about their girl friends: it is a lot of time since they heard of them. I^n the while Musetta appears: she is worried about Mimi. Rodolfo hurries to Mimi and supports her to the bed. Everyone sells something to help Mimi, but it’s late and she dies.”

MEANWHILE, BETWEEN THE ACTS >>”Please throw sanitary pads and similar into the trash below.” >>”This service is hygienized automatically after every use.” >>”Rest Room closed except for special events.”

AND FURTHERMORE Comments on Seeing Greene should be signed by their authors.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Seeinggreenefire.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Seeing greene Fire is the best blog site ever!

Dick May said...

Seeing Greene is NOT repeat NOT related to the copycat blog seeinggreenefire. I don't know who writes the latter. I deplore the casual smearing that infests that site.
--Dick May

Anonymous said...

where are the overhead doors for the 385 Catskill tranfer station?

The Great Planners forgot to order them. So much for opening the station this or next month. Call your legislators and verify this. See what excuse they give you.

Anonymous said...

Funney I remember a number of smug put down commeents you made about individuals on your blog Dick! Copy cat or going where you wouldn,t? Attacking those who use there positions to aattaack others. Oh well this should start aa roar from the self appointed commentators!

Anonymous said...

Where are the two electricial panel for the transfer station? Oh, they forgot to order them too. Great planning.

Anonymous said...

Dick wrote about Dushane which prompted "casual smears" against Dushane and Battalino and others in the comments and Dick wrote more prompting more "Casual smears" and that was ok? I deplore hypocrites.

Anonymous said...

Seeing Greene is NOT repeat NOT related to the copycat blog seeinggreenefire. I don't know who writes the latter. I deplore the casual smearing that infests that site.
--Dick May




Dick wrote about Dushane in seeinggreene ( the secret lawsuit)which prompted "casual smears" against Dushane and Battalino and others in the comments and nevertheless, Dick wrote more about Dushane and unless he was blind, he had to have known that his articles would only prompt more "Casual smears" directed towards Dushane, Battalino and that was ok?

I deplore, repeat, I deplore hypocrits.

Anonymous said...

oH bOY lOOKS LIKE DICK WILL SHUT DOWN THE COMMENTS AGAIN!

HE DOES THAT WHEN THEY START REVEILING THE TRUTH ABOUT HYPOCRISY!

Anonymous said...

oH bOY lOOKS LIKE DICK WILL SHUT DOWN THE COMMENTS AGAIN!

HE DOES THAT WHEN THEY START REVEILING THE TRUTH ABOUT HYPOCRISY!

Anonymous said...

oH bOY lOOKS LIKE DICK WILL SHUT DOWN THE COMMENTS AGAIN!

HE DOES THAT WHEN THEY START REVEILING THE TRUTH ABOUT HYPOCRISY!

Anonymous said...

ATTACKING SEEING GREENE FIRE HAS RUINED FRIENDSHIPS,BROTHERHOODS,MARRIAGES,AND EVERY OTHER,PERSON,PLACE THEY WRITE ABOUT WHEN THE SHANKS CREW DOES NOT GET THERE OWN WAY.

Anonymous said...

Dick,

Have you checked out seeinggreenfire lately? It has been proven that Harold Rivenburg is sherlock!!!!!!! The evidence is all on www.seeinggreenefire.blogspot.com
He took pictures 3 hours away and now they are posted on his site seeinggreenefire. The proof is in the picture!!!!!!!! He's tring to start wiley hose 1 by destroying the already injured catskill fire company! Thanks for everything "Happy Blogginburg"

Your friend,
Blogger 3-11

Anonymous said...

Dick May is a hitler towards freedom of speech!

Anonymous said...

Dick, please don't forget to mention the August 12 all day festival at the Catskill Point... proving that Catskill gets hipper and hipper as the summer passes. Local favorite Conehead Buddha are headlining the day - should be a GREAT TIME! ... For those of you who haven't heard of Conehead Buddha - they are a fusion group that has a little bit of flavor to keep everyone happy... some jazz, some funk, some rock, some hip-hop, some latin... you get the picture. 6 more bands performing - music starts at 3:30pm!

August 12
Summer Party at the Point
with Conehead Buddha
and Friends

Anonymous said...

You for got to mention Potatto Head, Gonzo, Forrest Gump, Angelo Squats and Joe Hose 1 will apear in person with Tommy Boy to sign autographs!