| Author |
| |
Messages |
Sort: |
|
nbdhost
Posts:3
|
|
Posted:12/31/2007 12:20 PM |
 Quote
 Reply
|
|
We take requests! Tell us about any operas you would like to see us perform.
|
|
| jackie08 (guest) |
|
Posted:01/02/2008 6:15 PM |
Quote
Reply
|
|
I would like to see Cosi fan Tutte by Mozart
|
|
| caper (guest) |
|
Posted:02/07/2008 12:06 AM |
Quote
Reply
|
Wagner, any Wagner. Please. I know this may not have the broad appeal of the Italian repertoire, and a big show is needed each season, so I've made suggestions for venues and size of production.
1. The Dutchman could be a collaboration with the NC symphony and a local choral society, semi-staged at Meymandi for the optimal symphonic experience. Likewise Tannhauser. Or, a Wagner Gala along the lines of the event at Munich last year - the 1st Act of Walkure, semi-staged - a sword in a tree, a cup of water, and some subdued lighting is the minimum required, and the 3 principals (plus the orchestra). Other items on the program could include individual Acts or scenes for other operas, or some of the better known individual extracts.
2. More Strauss. Salome was a huge treat, can we have some more (Ariadne Auf Naxos?) - or include some extracts in a German Opera Gala night (with Wagner)?
3. Some of the more intimate Mozart works - Cosi (or Clemenza di Tito is gaining in popularity) - Fletcher would be the optimal venue.
4. For Italian opera - Verdi's Trovatore is one of my favorites, especially if there's an awesome mezzo to steal the show as Azucena - this could be the Memorial Auditorium 'big show' with 'big voices' for a future season, (see my post on bellowing tenors on another thread - bring it on for Il Trov!)
|
|
| afmlauntdea (guest) |
|
Posted:02/07/2008 8:13 PM |
Quote
Reply
|
|
I would love to see Diaglogues of the Carmelites. Italian operas are so popular among opera companies that it would be refreshing to see a French opera performed in Raleigh.
|
|
| johnmrob (guest) |
|
Posted:02/09/2008 8:30 PM |
Quote
Reply
|
|
"New" operas of the late or post-romantic period are being reborn in Europe and in certain US houses. The Opera Company should consider works by Korngold (Die tote Stadt, Das Wunder der Heliane), Zemlinsky (Der Zwerg), and Schreker (Der ferne Klang, Die Gezeichneten) to find operatic gems which need to be seen and heard. In its next season the San Francisco opera is debuting Die tote Stadt. It would be nice to see other companies performing such un pardonably neglected works.
|
|
operanc
Posts:11
|
|
Posted:02/12/2008 10:09 AM |
Quote
Reply
|
I have my favorites as well but have to be careful to not let that bias us as we select our seasons. In general I would like to see us expand the reach of our seasons. The current focus on Italian opera is probably temporary, a strategic choice to pull in the reins to a degree to build a stronger audience foundation. We did the same geographically, pulling all performances to Raleigh for now. But as our base is growing and our bottom line improves, it allows us to expand in many ways.
Personally, two that come to mind right away are the drama of Dialogue of the Carmelites (you can't beat the final scenes), and the joy and celebration of Die Fledermaus (Champagne is King!).
I'm so tempted to leak our upcoming season but I think I'm not supposed to yet . . .
Frank
General Director
|
|
| gdmccoy (guest) |
|
Posted:02/12/2008 12:28 PM |
Quote
Reply
|
|
I like all the suggestions made by others who posted (especially the semi-staging of Dutchman or Wagner excerpts with the NC Symphony, Dialogues of the Carmelites, and anything by Richard Strauss). As for Boheme and Cosi, we do need to be aware of what other companies in the area are staging, and what the Met is HD-casting, so that we don't have too much of the same. I am a proponent of American operas, because the language is more accessible to many, and the voice and cast demands are typically less than the European works. I'm thinking especially of Ward and Floyd but there are others to consider. Additionally, any opportunity to collaborate with the NC School of the Arts should be considered. Thanks for this opportunity for input!
|
|
| caper (guest) |
|
Posted:02/13/2008 1:32 PM |
Quote
Reply
|
|
A previous poster mentioned collaboration with NC School of the Arts. Their production of Ned Rorem's 'Our Town' was outstanding (among other aspects) for the staging, and use of projected images in place of the more traditional painted scenery. It would be interesting to see a new production by OCNC using more of this innovative approach.
|
|
| Sacerdotessa (guest) |
|
Posted:02/13/2008 4:04 PM |
Quote
Reply
|
Hmmmn...Well for one "Aida"
Manon (the Massenet of course)
Eugene Onegin
Jenufa (Kelly Cae Hogan in the title role of course)
Ariadne auf Naxos
A good Susannah
La Forza del Destino (build a set for it and trust me it's the only reason it's not being done everywhere is lack of a good production.)
and by all means "Der Rosenkavalier"
|
|
| jetdaley (guest) |
|
Posted:03/13/2008 2:37 PM |
Quote
Reply
|
One of my favorite operas is Charles Gounod's Faust, sung in French. ( I also have a recording sung in German in case someone thinks that it's just a French opera. ) The opera has fun stuff that the devil gets to sing,and there are beautiful arias in it for the rest of the cast as well, and there's a great finish, which should please many people in the audience. Modern day operas should be done, but I have several opera fan friends who do not enjoy and will not go to those modern ones, so if you are trying to build an opera base locally, it might be a bit daring and iffy to try those modern ones here in this area.I agree with a previous comment that you should check other companies in our area so you don't duplicate. Opera Carolina in Charlotte is doing Die Fledermaus this year. The idea to coordinate with the NC Symphony is good. If it's Wagner then a short opera such as Das Rheingold or Flying Dutchman so some of the symphony supporters don't rebel. It's not easy, is it, to spread wings and still keep the supporters.
|
|
| jes (guest) |
|
Posted:03/23/2008 10:44 PM |
Quote
Reply
|
I would like to second the suggestions of Il Trovatore and Gounod's Faust and add Rigoletto, which incidentally was my first opera, presented many decades ago at the outdoor Forest Theatre in Chapel Hill, by some opera company of NC travelling to various locations to introduce opera to those who weren't ordinarily exposed to it.
One comment on opera written in English, which you can put down to my ignorance if you wish: I find the sung words as difficult to understand as opera in any foreign language and have not yet heard a beautiful and memorable aria.
|
|
| LeSnail (guest) |
|
Posted:03/24/2008 1:57 PM |
Quote
Reply
|
Two words:
BORIS GODUNOV.
The definitive 1874 version, in the composers own hand, not the tarted up version by N. Rimsky-Korsakov
|
|
| FNR (guest) |
|
Posted:03/27/2008 2:56 PM |
Quote
Reply
|
|
Hansel and Gretel should be well received by the community. People who never go to opera may want to go to that one and bring their children.
|
|
| Quisla (guest) |
|
Posted:04/05/2008 6:53 PM |
Quote
Reply
|
|
If I could see Tosca by Puccini and Aida by Verdi, I would be able to die happy!
|
|
| Tom Gee (guest) |
|
Posted:04/06/2008 2:01 PM |
Quote
Reply
|
Anything that fits in Fletcher!!!! There are lots of great operas that fit this wonderful auditorium without having to go outside of the small theater comfort zone and mounting something like Aida.
We have a great house in Fletcher, let's use it. We don't have a large house anywhere in the area. Memorial Auditorium doesn't even work for the Broadway stuff they try to do over there. It started life as a wrestling arena and despite the constant reconfiguring it hasn't worked for anything else yet.
|
|