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Amazing! (Reply to this comment)
by arsace
Great piece! I must insist on keeping my right to boo a bad performance, though. I wish the opera houses would print essay this out and post them at the box office!!
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Aug 01 '07
3:11 pm PDT
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A Bodanzky (Reply to this comment)
by smorg
Heh, heh, as luck would have it I was reading all kinds of books on the Met and the German opera a while back (after I read Astrid Varnay's memoir and became a fan of hers). I remembered that Johanna Fiedler covers the power struggle between the conductors during the Toscanini periods there in her book 'Molto Agitato' (Mahler first came to mind, but then the period was wrong). So I had another read (since you gave some tantalizing clues ;o)), and guessed it must have been Bodanzky. He is mentioned twice in it, I think. :o)
Argghhh. Sorry to hear you couldn't get in for a tour of Teatro Colon. I hope the renovations wouldn't do anything bad to the acoustics there. One of these days I'd love to hear an opera at that theater. :o)
I was just reading the French soprano Regine Crespin's memoir last week and she has a lot of kind things to say about the Argentine opera goers (it seems they actually carried her and the car she was sitting in around the block after a performance there once). A bit extreme, but... man... it would be nice to see that kind of passion for a classical music performance here sometimes. I wonder how the penguins would react to hearing Verdi's Requiem or Mozart's Figaro.
Hope your Memorial Day Weekend is going splendidly!
Cheers,
Smorg :o)
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May 26 '07
7:27 pm PDT
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Re: Re: Good rules (Reply to this comment)
by Penguinlady
...good old Artur Boda(N)zky ...
He was my father's uncle.
I'm surprised you've heard of him - most haven't.
The Teatro Colon is closed for major renovations for the next two years. We went there anyway, with some difficulty, because the idjit who answered the phone when we called to ask about it said we should come on down and get in line for a tour! It wasn't until we got there and the guy shrugged and pointed us to a large sign that said it was closed, that we realized that there would be no tour. Same guy as on the phone, BTW.
Margaret
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May 26 '07
10:35 am PDT
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Re: Good rules (Reply to this comment)
by smorg
Hiya Margaret,
Arrggghhh! Cell phone during a great performance of the Verdi Requiem! Really, even rotten bananas to the head isn't bad enough a punishment for such an offense! ;o)
It is so cool that you got acquainted with classical music and opera early on. I bet you've seen lots of audience behaviors at the Met worth writing books about! :o) I love stories of how they'd rain shredded program down on certain beloved singers, tho. And that 20 something curtain calls they got out of Leonie Rysanek at her last performance was cool... But you're right there, American audience tend to overdo the ovation thingy.
"Oh, well. Music overcomes all"
Yup, indeed. Like that good old Artur Bodazky said, ay?... 'There must be a plan to take opera out of the hand of the wealthy few and put it in the hands of the appreciative public.' Hopefully the public who came across this little rant of mine would know better how to be appreciative without being disruptive, ay? After all, they never know there might be a smorg armed with a coatful of rotten bananas in the seats behind them. ;oP
Thanks a bunch for stopping by, matie! Hope you have had a chance to catch a performance or two at Theatro Colon in Buenos Aires during your trip south. :o)
Cheers,
Smorgy :o)
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May 25 '07
8:41 pm PDT
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Good rules (Reply to this comment)
by Penguinlady
Well.
These are terrific rules, and they apply to all concerts. I recently went to a stunning performance of the Verdi Requiem, and some fool let his cell phone ring - LOUDLY - for about 30 seconds before dealing with it. A few minutes later, it happened again. The conductor turned around and glared, and almost stopped the concert. Audience members were yelling at the poor schmuck. And the reviewer even mentioned it.
At the Music Center in Los Angeles, they used to have big pedestal bowls of Hall's cough drops, wrapped in silent paper, for the audience to grab as they entered the auditorium. Excellent idea, but it didn't last, because I used to see classy (mostly lower, obviously) patrons filling their purses and pockets.
I grew up at the Met, because my father's uncle had been a conductor there in the '30s, (head of the German Wing when Toscanini was head of the Italian Wing,) and when he died, one of the few perks his widow got was good orchestra seats for life. So even when my refugee family had no money, we went to the opera. I saw my first Figaro at age six, and have seen it at least two dozen times since then. There's not a note I don't know, and I have to stop myself from humming along - that's what recordings are for! And I was taught, from the first day, to sit quietly and not move or make a sound until intermission. Still do that.
I've been a choral singer for almost 50 years - still am, in fact - and still despair over the American need to give a standing ovation to every singer who can sing a C-major scale. And jump right in with applause before the conductor has dropped his arms. And clap between movements and arias. And fan the pages of his (always his, never her - sorry) rolled-up program. And provide a running narrative to a deaf partner. And...
Oh, well. Music overcomes all.
Great ideas - thanks!
Margaret May 24 '07
6:01 pm PDT
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May 25 '07
3:01 pm PDT
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Re: Bravo! (Reply to this comment)
by smorg
Hiya Erin,
Thanks, matie! :o) Oh, as long as you don't breach those commandment or sit next to a particularly bad sinner, you should be fine, I think.... but it doesn't hurt to have a winged helmet just in case. ;oP If anyone stares, you can just tell them to call you Brunnhilde.
Thanks a bunch for stopping by! Hope the week is goin' well your way.
Smorgy :o)
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May 23 '07
11:26 pm PDT
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Bravo! (Reply to this comment)
by bilbopooh
Excellent write-up! Very passionate and funny too. I'm suddenly feeling a great desire to go to the opera... Though it sounds a bit dangerous with all those objects being lobbed around... ;)
Erin
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May 23 '07
9:07 am PDT
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Re: Almost Missed it. (Reply to this comment)
by smorg
Hiya triple_irons! :o)
Ack, the notifier bug!! I'm glad I lucked out and you did find this thing, mate. Thanks for stopping by!
It's so cool that you write screenplays, too! I'm looking forward to reading it when you post the thing. :o) Ya' know, in my evil moments at the opera sometimes I wish Erik the Phantom of the Opera was around to drop a chandelier on some of the noisy audience during the show.... Alas, the Civic Theater here isn't haunted, I think. ;oP
Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving kind words! Hope your weekend was a fun one!
Cheers,
Smorg :o)
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May 20 '07
4:43 pm PDT
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Almost Missed it. (Reply to this comment)
by triple_irons
Perhaps my email alerts internal or otherwise took a vacation because I would not have found this fun piece if I was not searching the Art category in the WC.
But what's funny is that I was searching a place to start publishing some of the short one page screenplays I've been working on working on, and links to some of my video productions, when lo and behold I get to see opera in art. Btw, one of the shorts takes place in an opera house - haven't got it to video, but I'll post the screenplay for it.
I may have to do a rewrite after reading this lol.
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May 18 '07
8:28 pm PDT
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Re: Re: Hiy Bettega! (Reply to this comment)
by smorg
Oh, cool thing, bro. Yeah, I haven't learnt how to do the accent thingy either. I'd copy and paste from other webpage, but sometimes they get converted into those Chinese character or the little rectangle. Weird.
Oh, the opera can wait indeed! Spending time with little France would be far more rewarding. I've been reading Regine Crespin's autobiography, and she's still regretting not spending enough time with her god son when he was younger because she was a huge star then and career came first.
Anyhow! I'm looking forward to reading your next essays. No hurry, though. I bet there are more stories you'll get to record now with France around. Hope you and Mama Bettega are getting some sleep once in a while! ;o)
Ciao,
Smorgy :o)
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May 17 '07
8:16 pm PDT
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Re: The perfume...... (Reply to this comment)
by smorg
Hiya Sue,
Ack, I wonder if the perfume is the reason for the many coughs caught in live recordings indeed, matie. And that candy unwrapping thingy. Almost as bad as people slowing grinding away at the ice in their mouth, ay?
Thanks for stopping by, matie. Hopefully you'll draw a more quite and less scented audience at the next concert. :o)
Cheerio,
Smorgy :o)
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May 17 '07
8:08 pm PDT
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Re: Hiy Bettega! (Reply to this comment)
by bettega
Oops, slight mistake. What I meant with "France`" was short for Francesco, my son. In other words, it's a nickname said in English as "Fraan-cheh".
Different intricacies, I was hoping the accent would be noticed but american keyboards don't really allow for that.
No France for me. It's going to be a while until my next trip but I have a written log of a lot of experiences in my life that I am slowly converting to epinions. I probably could get at least a few hundred reviews out of it as its been my diary since the late 1990's. If I stopped traveling, I could still probably have good pieces to write for years to come, and I might not go anywhere except for maybe my in law's house, Maine or NY city (family living there) until June of next year.
Ciao
Bettega
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May 17 '07
12:47 pm PDT
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The perfume...... (Reply to this comment)
by millinocket
Dear God, the perfume. Our most recent visit to the symphony (the last of the season, too!) was marred by an over-stinker. They actually request in every program that concert-goers refrain from using perfume at all, as it does tend to reek up the joint. Needless to say, our friend in the next seat did not comply. Yuck!
We also had a little old lady slooooowly, slooowly unwrapping a candy about five minutes before the end of the performance. She was so obviously trying to be polite and so obviously failing miserably to cover the noise it was impossible to be annoyed.
Here's to more stinky crinkling next season! Your rules are fab!
Sue
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May 17 '07
9:44 am PDT
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Re: Re: Re: A smorgasbord... (Reply to this comment)
by smorg
Hiya Vic,
Cool! I've never been to Prague. Mozart loved the place, though (perhaps because the folks there loved his music). The theaters I'd really love to hear an opera in are the Prinzregenten Theater in Munich and the Opernhaus Zurich. Both rather small, I think, but always with great cast. :o)
I've got 2 DVDs of opera from Theatre de la Monnaie in Bruxelles, but they are of poor quality. The cast had some big names, but I don't know if they sounded bad or if the transmission was bad. ;oP Hope you'll catch a better show next time!
Cheers,
Smorgy :o)
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May 14 '07
5:35 pm PDT
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Re: Re: A smorgasbord... (Reply to this comment)
by vicfar
Smorg,
I haven't seen too much yet. But I was at the Narodni in Prague one night, and there opera is so cheap I could actually afford the first row central...But the Narodni isn't the Met, I gotta say...
Cheers
V.
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May 14 '07
2:08 pm PDT
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Hiya jckatz (Reply to this comment)
by smorg
Thanks a bunch for stopping by and for the easier URL, mate! Have put it in now and the essay is looking much better for it. You rock!!
Thanks for the hilarious texts to Sondheim's Frog, too. I really must get a sound clip of it. Real goodies!!
Hope your week has started well and thanks again for the good tips. :o)
Cheers,
Smorgy :o)
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May 14 '07
12:35 pm PDT
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Hiy Bettega! (Reply to this comment)
by smorg
Thanks, bro! Listening to Italian opera too much has a good effect after all! ;o)
Cool thing that you're considering going to the opera, too. Hey, there are many good opera houses in France if you're going there for a visit, ya' know. I bet it'll be cheaper to get tickets there than here, too... Government subsidy thingy. Except for when the Paris Opera had stuffed the cast full of A-listers, then that'll be hard for the tickets to stay cheap.
One of these days I'll make it to an opera in Leon and in Strasbourg. Have seen many great productions on DVD from those places.
Thanks a bunch for stopping by! Hope you'll have a great trip to France, too. I think I'm smelling a delicious travel review in the distance. ;o)
Ciao,
Smorgy :o)
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May 14 '07
12:30 pm PDT
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Snipurl and rules for theatre song (Reply to this comment)
by jckatz
Just so you know there is an easier way to post URLS on Epinions.com and other web sites.
Copy and paste this URL and see what happens:
http://snipurl.com/1kjlt
Later visit Snipurl.com and drag the "SNIP THIS!" link to your browser bookmark tool bar (works in IE and Firefox)
Hope this helps.
BTW: best set of theatre rules are the "invocation and instructions to the audience" from Stephen Sondhiem's Frogs
If you would like to purchase this song for only $0.99 I think it is worth it, follow this SNIPURL link:
http://snipurl.com/1kjqe
$0.99 at MSN Music, Music Match, and Yahoo! unlimited
1st ACTOR:
Gods of the theater, smile on us.
2nd ACTOR:
You who sit up there stern in judgment,
Smile on us.
1st ACTOR:
You who look down on actors...
BOTH:
[speaking]
And who doesn't?
[singing]
Bless this yearly festival and smile on us.
1st ACTOR:
We offer you song and dance.
2nd ACTOR:
We offer you rites and revels.
BOTH:
We offer you grace and beauty.
Smile on us for this while.
1st ACTOR:
Gods of the theater, smile on us.
2nd ACTOR:
You who sit out there stern in judgment,
Smile on us.
1st ACTOR:: 2nd ACTOR:
We offer you song and dance.
We offer you rites and revels.
We offer you gods and heroes.
We offer you jokes and insults,
We offer you paeans and pageants, We offer you
Bacchanals and social comment. Bacchanals and social comment.
BOTH:
Bless our play and smile.
1st ACTOR::
[speaking]
Yes, but first, some do's and don'ts. Mostly don'ts.
[singing]
Please don't cough,
It tends to throw the actors off.
Have some respect for Aristophanes
And please,
Don't cough.
Don't say "What?"
To every line you think you haven't got.
And if you're in a snit
Because you've missed the plot
(Of which I must admit
There's not an awful lot),
Still, don't
Say --
2nd ACTOR:
What?
1st ACTOR:
If you see flaws, please,
Don't drop your jaws, please.
No loud guffaws, please,
When actors enter late.
2nd ACTOR:
When there's a pause, please,
Lots of applause, please.
And we'd appreciate
You turning off your cell phones while we wait...
[Music stops. A cell phone rings.]
1st ACTOR:
[speaking]
Unbelievable.
2nd ACTOR:
Unbelievable.
1st ACTOR:
I think it's you.
2nd ACTOR:
[Answering]
Hello? This really isn't a good time.
I said, this really isn't -- can you hear me now? Can you hear me now??
[Music resumes.]
1st ACTOR:
Don't go "Oh,"
Each time you see an actor that you know.
And if you have to use the lounge below,
Don't wait until we're halfway through the show,
Especially if you're sitting in the middle of a row.
2nd ACTOR:
No smokes, no chow --
1st ACTOR:
Unwrap the candy wrappers now.
When we are waxing humorous,
Please don't wane.
The jokes are obscure, but numerous --
We'll explain.
2nd ACTOR:
When we are waxing serious,
Try not to laugh.
1st ACTOR:
It starts when we get imperious,
And if you're in doubt, don't query us,
We'll signal you when we're serious --
BOTH:
It's in the second half.
2nd ACTOR:
Do not intrude, please,
When someone's nude, please.
She's there for mood, please,
And mustn't be embraced.
1st ACTOR:
If we are crude, please,
Don't come unglued, please.
Let's not be too strait-laced --
The author's reputation wasn't based
On taste.
So please, don't fart --
There's very little air and this is art.
And if you feel offended,
Don't lose heart.
2nd ACTOR:
That's what the man intended.
He was smart.
BOTH:
When everything's up-ended,
We can all depart.
And now...
But first --
[Sound of thunder -- the gods are getting impatient.]
CHORUS:
We start.
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May 14 '07
7:51 am PDT
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Bravo (Reply to this comment)
by bettega
on knowing the intricacies in Italian of all the suffixes for adjectives!
This is a special piece, worthy of MH status. A lot of it is common sense, and I can remember my 11th grade English teacher poking fun at people who go to plays (he loved Shakespeare) and SLOWLY unwrap candy. It really does make for a more distruptive unwrapping as if crinkling candy wasn't already annoying enough!
I have been reading your essays bit by bit and am working up to seeing my first opera, though I have no plans as of yet. That day is coming, though with France` around, it may have to be put off!
Ciao!
Bettega
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May 13 '07
8:48 pm PDT
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Hiya Vasilis & Gill (Reply to this comment)
by smorg
Heh, heh, I hope that'll help some, Gill. There were some coughers at Figaro last Tuesday, too... Dunno why, but they were all so nice and quiet during the ensemble pieces, and the just when we had the most exposed passages during the solos --- cough galore!! I wish I had some rotten fruits with me. ;oP
Argghhh, the over-eager clappers! Those drive me nuts, too, Vasilis. I hope the ones you had to endure weren't the claques. I know sometimes at Italian houses (or even some elsewhere) if the favorite singer starts to crack a note, the claquers would start shouting bravo or clapping to drown out the vocal imperfection (or at other times to drown out the booing from the anti-claque).
I'd like to think we are more civilised than that nowadays... and then I turned on the TV lastnight to see a fight in the audience during a Boston Pops Symphony concert.
O, well... there's always room for some extra rotten bananas in my coat. ;o)
Thanks for dropping by, mates! Hope your weekend is looking fantastic!
Cheers,
Smorgy :o)
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May 11 '07
11:06 pm PDT
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Also, it's a good idea to bring one of those cough suppressor sprays. (Reply to this comment)
by gillandtony
I'm going to print this one out,take it to Symphony Hall and print it large above the entrance.
The last performance Tony and I attended was diabolical--and it isn't even the coughing season.
Any excuse, just like kids.
Hath they no control?
Gill.
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May 11 '07
8:16 pm PDT
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The one... (Reply to this comment)
by lammet
that gets me is when people clap before the music has ceased (or the note uttered). This is not just Opera-oriented. Once I was attending a "Fiery Russians" open-air concert at Blackheath Halls, London. One of the pieces performed was Rachmaninoff's 2nd Piano Concerto. As the dynamic finale was climaxing some listeners apparently could not contain their enthusiasm any longer and started clapping. Well, it wasn't them really clapping but the wine; the grounds were littered with bottles. The enraging effect was the same. Later on in the day the orchestra was performing Pyotr Ilyich's 1812 Overture. As the cannon shots came on fireworks erupted (stupid idea Mr. Director). The audience followed suit. Aaargh!
Thanks for an excellent guide smorg. I'm not a big opera fan (though if I befriend you much longer you shall proselytize me :o), but your conduct list applies equally well to any serious music live listening. And, as usual, it is delivered in the inimitable witty smorg manner.
-Vasilis
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May 11 '07
2:28 pm PDT
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Hey MZ & Reg! (Reply to this comment)
by smorg
Now you've made me as red as an apple, MZ. ;oP I'm glad you enjoyed my ranting. Thanks, matie!
I'm going for the finale of Figaro next Wednesday, Reg. This time will be up the Upper Balcony. Should have better sound there! :o)
Will try to catch a train up to LA Opera for The Merry Widow, too. But still iffy about it. I don't like LA much (even when I'm not driving)... I like Susan Graham fine... but if it's Kasarova singing, I'd be going up for every show! ;oP
Have a great time at Cunning Little Vixen! Do I smell an opera review from your direction? ;o)
Thanks for stopping by, maties!
Cheers,
Smorgy
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May 10 '07
11:22 am PDT
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Re: Curtain calls (Reply to this comment)
by smorg
There was a symphony concert (in Prague) that I would have joined a standing ovation had there been one (Erich Leinsdorf near the end of his life leading the Czech Philharmonic in the Brahms 4th symphony).
Wow!! You've been to some performances to remember, Stephen. Kudos!
Indeed, I wish that opera commisars focused more on the sound, much less on "creative ideas" from stagers, a sentiment I know you share!
Here! Here! I know I won't be going for the Orchestra Level seat if I can help it anymore. The acoustic really is abyssmal there.. for such a high price! Thought I was lucky to get seats there during the last 2 Figaro, and the overture sounds terrible for the OL section. The bass sounded almost amplified and the strings and winds were muffled (half the Orch. pit was covered, too... that didn't help). Going again on the 16th but will be in the Upper Balcony instead. Won't see very well, but music is the deal indeed! :o)
Hope you're catching some great shows at the SFO!
Cheers,
Smorgy :o)
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May 10 '07
11:16 am PDT
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Re: Rules (Reply to this comment)
by smorg
Hiya Emma,
Avec plaisir! ;o) And thanks!
Oh... Etiquette rules for the singers, ay? That ought to make an interesting essay.
Good first suggestion, too. What's a diva to do? Pick up the flowers and be accompanied by the bees or leave it and be accompanied by the furies! ;oP
But that makes ya' appreciate the nice gals like Kasarova or Fleming or Bartoli better, ay? They are the nice ones that always pick the thing up. Graham almost never does. Wonder what they think about the flowers myself.
Thanks a bunch for stopping by!
Amitié,
Smorgy :o)
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May 10 '07
11:00 am PDT
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Re: Re: You asked: Who were the Aida, ... (Reply to this comment)
by reginafug
Hope you're going to the opera again soon. ;o)
Going to "A Cunning Little Vixen" this coming Saturday... how about you?
Reg
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May 09 '07
8:32 pm PDT
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WOW, Smorgy! :) (Reply to this comment)
by milena_zepeda
I'm printing this one out and studying it! What a wonderfully informative piece! I wish I had a MH button (& that we could rate W/C pieces MH) Thank you so much for sharing! :)
MZ
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May 09 '07
7:23 pm PDT
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Curtain calls (Reply to this comment)
by Stephen_Murray
(not current calls in my comment).
My limited experience of going to operas in Europe has not included any in which there were standing ovations. There was a symphony concert (in Prague) that I would have joined a standing ovation had there been one (Erich Leinsdorf near the end of his life leading the Czech Philharmonic in the Brahms 4th symphony). Grade inflation is rife in American life...
I was only two rows from the top of Davies Hall for "The Damnation of Faust," looking down at the supertitles. The sound was great--and particularly for a concert performance, the sound's the thing. Indeed, I wish that opera commisars focused more on the sound, much less on "creative ideas" from stagers, a sentiment I know you share!
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May 09 '07
6:31 pm PDT
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Rules (Reply to this comment)
by emmabovary
Thank you, Smorg. I enjoyed your Etiquette rules very much; at the same time I wondered about the etiquette rules concerning Opera Singers.
Rule #1: Thou shall pick up my flowers, or the Curses of a Thousand furies wilt accompany thee to thy Grave (whistles included).
Emma
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May 09 '07
2:21 pm PDT
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Re: A smorgasbord... (Reply to this comment)
by smorg
Hey there Vic!
You're right there, mate. Some houses don't really enforce the no admittance after the music started rule. That's when I feel like throwing a wet banana at the usher, too. ;oP
San Diego Opera is pretty good at enforcing it, I think... Though some of the audience make me wish I could add a no alcohol before coming to the opera rule. There was a drunk 4 seats from me last night who belly laughed at everything in sight for the whole show and drowned out most of the exposed passages (the most musically beautiful ones) in Mozart's Figaro!!!
"I always cringe when American audiences yell "bravo" to the soprano.
I hope they all read your piece (but even so, can they really pronounce it right?)."
Oy, good points there, too! I think I heard someone yelled 'Brava!' at a tenor once... Hopefully that was intentional. ;oP Think I've better add 'how to pronounce brave' in the essay, ay? Thanks for pointing that out, mate.
Thanks for stopping by and hope you're catching many great shows where you are!
Cheers,
Smorgy :o)
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May 09 '07
10:36 am PDT
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