Comments on: Why the Fat Lady Sings http://17dots.com/2007/03/29/why-the-fat-lady-sings/ notes from the digital underground Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:29:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: bklynd http://17dots.com/2007/03/29/why-the-fat-lady-sings/comment-page-1/#comment-1381 bklynd Tue, 03 Apr 2007 20:20:03 +0000 http://17dots.com/2007/03/29/why-the-fat-lady-sings/#comment-1381 That Met production is also visually stunning - very minimalistic with beautiful lighting. You are right - the secret is to just go and pay attention. You don't even have to "study up" beforehand, just read the plot synopsis in the program before each act. That Met production is also visually stunning – very minimalistic with beautiful lighting. You are right – the secret is to just go and pay attention. You don’t even have to “study up” beforehand, just read the plot synopsis in the program before each act.

]]> By: Maclin Horton http://17dots.com/2007/03/29/why-the-fat-lady-sings/comment-page-1/#comment-1383 Maclin Horton Fri, 30 Mar 2007 16:40:46 +0000 http://17dots.com/2007/03/29/why-the-fat-lady-sings/#comment-1383 Another suggestion: avoid opera on video. I'm still recovering from having introduced myself to Wagner with a video production that I disliked. Yes, it's a half-theatrical and therefore visual art form, but you aren't meant to be in the singers' faces. Those folks are way better at singing than acting, and the physical production of the sound limits facial expression and probably movement in general. If you can't see it live (and it doesn't have to be the Met--I live in a medium-sized metro area with a local company that does quite decent productions, with pros hired for most of the big roles), get it on cd from a library and listen to it with libretto in hand and imagination in gear. In the end it's music. Another suggestion: avoid opera on video. I’m still recovering from having introduced myself to Wagner with a video production that I disliked. Yes, it’s a half-theatrical and therefore visual art form, but you aren’t meant to be in the singers’ faces. Those folks are way better at singing than acting, and the physical production of the sound limits facial expression and probably movement in general. If you can’t see it live (and it doesn’t have to be the Met–I live in a medium-sized metro area with a local company that does quite decent productions, with pros hired for most of the big roles), get it on cd from a library and listen to it with libretto in hand and imagination in gear. In the end it’s music.

]]> By: rob http://17dots.com/2007/03/29/why-the-fat-lady-sings/comment-page-1/#comment-1382 rob Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:13:40 +0000 http://17dots.com/2007/03/29/why-the-fat-lady-sings/#comment-1382 Onegin - while certainly not in heavy rotation at most opera houses, is probably one of the most lusciously beautiful romantic operas - it is, after all, Tchaikovsky. Its story line is also bit more immediate and relatable: Girl Loves Boy. Boy Rejects Girl. Boy Kills Friend Who Likes Said Rejected Girl. Boy Grows Old Alone And Regrets Rejecting Girl. For those curious, there are some nice tracks up on eMusic, including <a href="http://www.emusic.com/album/10977/10977966.html" rel="nofollow">the full length version from Opera D'Oro</a>. The most famous arias include the <a href="http://www.emusic.com/samples/m3u/song/10969816/14609610.m3u" rel="nofollow">letter writing scene</a> in which Olga stays up all night writing a rapturous love letter to Onegin, <a href="http://www.emusic.com/samples/m3u/song/10779731/12546678.m3u" rel="nofollow">Lensky's aria </a> in which Onegin's friend swoons about Olga, and Prince Gremin's <a href="http://www.emusic.com/samples/m3u/song/10888179/13693435.m3u" rel="nofollow"> gloat session</a>, years after Onegin rejected Olga. Also, you've probably heard the Polonaise a thousand times. Onegin – while certainly not in heavy rotation at most opera houses, is probably one of the most lusciously beautiful romantic operas – it is, after all, Tchaikovsky. Its story line is also bit more immediate and relatable: Girl Loves Boy. Boy Rejects Girl. Boy Kills Friend Who Likes Said Rejected Girl. Boy Grows Old Alone And Regrets Rejecting Girl.

For those curious, there are some nice tracks up on eMusic, including the full length version from Opera D’Oro. The most famous arias include the letter writing scene in which Olga stays up all night writing a rapturous love letter to Onegin, Lensky’s aria in which Onegin’s friend swoons about Olga, and Prince Gremin’s gloat session, years after Onegin rejected Olga. Also, you’ve probably heard the Polonaise a thousand times.

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