Comments on: Toward a trick-or-treat philosophy http://clubtroppo.com.au/2009/10/30/toward-a-trick-or-treat-philosophy/ Fearlessly dispensing political, legal and economic analysis (and some whimsy) since 2002 Fri, 25 May 2012 13:31:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Rob http://clubtroppo.com.au/2009/10/30/toward-a-trick-or-treat-philosophy/#comment-360840 Rob Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:17:45 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/?p=9558#comment-360840 James, I was far too sweeping there - OA is capable of great work. It's just that the last two OA <em>Figaro</em>s I've attended (one in Italian, one in English) were both quite awful. But I do remember seeing a televised version of Cosi which was quite marvellous - not least because in what I thought was a fabulous twist to the plot, Fiordiligi and Dorabella twigged that their suitors were having them on dressed as Turks, deliberately played along and brilliantly turned the whole 'test' thing back on Fernando and Guglielmo. James, I was far too sweeping there – OA is capable of great work. It’s just that the last two OA Figaros I’ve attended (one in Italian, one in English) were both quite awful. But I do remember seeing a televised version of Cosi which was quite marvellous – not least because in what I thought was a fabulous twist to the plot, Fiordiligi and Dorabella twigged that their suitors were having them on dressed as Turks, deliberately played along and brilliantly turned the whole ‘test’ thing back on Fernando and Guglielmo.

]]> By: James Farrell http://clubtroppo.com.au/2009/10/30/toward-a-trick-or-treat-philosophy/#comment-360800 James Farrell Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:17:12 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/?p=9558#comment-360800 No need to apologise for switching tracks to music, Rob. Indeed I'd be disappointed if you didn't. The Venice <i>Barbieri</i> sounds wonderful. Re. Mozart, I was pretty happy with OA's <i>Cosi</i>. Jose Carbo stole the show as usual, but they were all good, and I discovered that Henry Choo has charisma after all. Whether you like hearing it in English or not, Jeremy Sams' translatiuon is pretty staisfying. But I'm much easier to please than you: as long as the singing is adequate, it's the staging and acting that make or break a production for me. No need to apologise for switching tracks to music, Rob. Indeed I’d be disappointed if you didn’t. The Venice Barbieri sounds wonderful.

Re. Mozart, I was pretty happy with OA’s Cosi. Jose Carbo stole the show as usual, but they were all good, and I discovered that Henry Choo has charisma after all. Whether you like hearing it in English or not, Jeremy Sams’ translatiuon is pretty staisfying. But I’m much easier to please than you: as long as the singing is adequate, it’s the staging and acting that make or break a production for me.

]]> By: Rob http://clubtroppo.com.au/2009/10/30/toward-a-trick-or-treat-philosophy/#comment-360794 Rob Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:54:45 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/?p=9558#comment-360794 Better than what I do, which is to draw the curtains early and refuse to answer the door. (OT: Fidelio in Vienna was great, but it is a flawed masterpiece. The quartet and the Prisoners' Chorus were excellent, though. Figaro - well, I've never seen it done better and never expect to. For the Viennese, singing Mozart seems to come as naturally as breathing. So much better than the Australians, I have to regretfully say. And caught a brilliant chamber performance of The Barber of Seville at the Palazzo Barbarigo in Venice. No second-stringers they. It's a wonderful run-down old palace facing onto the Grand Canal.) Better than what I do, which is to draw the curtains early and refuse to answer the door.

(OT: Fidelio in Vienna was great, but it is a flawed masterpiece. The quartet and the Prisoners’ Chorus were excellent, though. Figaro – well, I’ve never seen it done better and never expect to. For the Viennese, singing Mozart seems to come as naturally as breathing. So much better than the Australians, I have to regretfully say. And caught a brilliant chamber performance of The Barber of Seville at the Palazzo Barbarigo in Venice. No second-stringers they. It’s a wonderful run-down old palace facing onto the Grand Canal.)

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