Comments on: Surpassing the love of women

By: TimT

TimT — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 04:36:45 +0000

‘haute-contre’ sounds more like a Toorak dinner party than a singing style, but anyway.

I shan’t be in Sydney to see this, but wish I was. Sounds good.

By: pinchgut

pinchgut — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:52:46 +0000

Thanks, J. We opened last night and we are all very happy with the show.
A couple of comments:
The haute-contre is really a style of singing often found in the French baroque.
It is usually a high tenor, tho Anders points out it can also be low. He is quite firm that it is not like the counter-tenor which, he says is a “fake” voice.
Well, that is probably a back translation of whatever the Swedish is for “falsetto”.
We will, sadly, not be going to Melbourne soon. The decision was made before the economic crisis and now looks as if it was brilliantly perceptive. For us, and many other arts companies, the aim next year will be survival, so minimum risks will have to be taken. Though we will still take artistic risks with works few have ever heard of. Like Cavalli’s L’Ormindo.
Reviews should be in the SMH and The Australian tomorrow.
One final suggestion – before seeing the show, read the libretto (online on http://www.pinchgutopera.com.au and/or the plot summary in the handout at the door.
The prologue might be difficult to follow, otherwise.
But the music makes the effort worthwhile.

Ken Nielsen

PS ABC Classic FM will broadcast the production 4 February and the CD will be out late next year.

By: James Farrell

James Farrell — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:17:45 +0000

I'd long assumed that there were economic reasons for not taking Pinchgut to Melbourne -- that three or four nights' takings didn't justify transporting the production there. But it may have been rather a problem of venue: I just found a year-old blog post that says:

Melbourne Ho! Melbourne is building a new space that will suit Pinchgut wonderfully. The Melbourne Recital Centre will open in 2009 and we are tentatively planning to present a production there that year. The Elizabeth Murdoch Hall will seat just over 1000 and will have an excellent acoustic for chamber music and for our type of production.

It would wonderful if it works out and the Melburnians can see what the fuss is about. I'm seeing it on Saturday, but there should be a review tomorrow in the Herald at least -- I'll update with a link.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:02:49 +0000

And Melbourne???

Sounds quite good and the music did sound great on youtube (through my tinny headphones)

And more importantly, what are your thoughts having actually seen it?