Saw PARSIFAL last night ...

[TwilightOdyssey]

... that's right, 5 - 1/2 hrs of German opera, at the Metropolitan Opera House. Sat in Row W, orchestra level, basically 20 rows from the stage.

The cast, production, and costumes were all stellar, proving once again why the NY Opera is (among) the best in the world.

The opera lasted from 6.30pm - 12 midnight.

You can keep your operas about clowns, Merchants, and other tragic figures. Give me dragons, mystics, evil sorcerers and armies of undead warriors!!!

Next year, the entire Ring cycle is coming to the Metropolitan Opera ... 4 nights in a row. That's gonna be a brain melter!!!

[Davey]

... that's right, 5 - 1/2 hrs of German opera, at the Metropolitan Opera House. Sat in Row W, orchestra level, basically 20 rows from the stage.

The cast, production, and costumes were all stellar, proving once again why the NY Opera is (among) the best in the world.

The opera lasted from 6.30pm - 12 midnight.

You can keep your operas about clowns, Merchants, and other tragic figures. Give me dragons, mystics, evil sorcerers and armies of undead warriors!!!

Next year, the entire Ring cycle is coming to the Metropolitan Opera ... 4 nights in a row. That's gonna be a brain melter!!!

sounds like you had a blast (i know, understatement hehe)

whats the ring cycle?

[Peterku]

whats the ring cycle?

Der Ring des Nibelungen by Wagner.

Glad you liked the piece, Ben. :)

[TwilightOdyssey]

Not many opera fans, here, huh?
Can't say I'm suprised!

Davey, the Ring cycle has influenced many works of fantasy and fictional literature, notably Tolkien's LotR. Just read the lyrics to Gotterdammerung and you'll see many similarities!!!

[Afghan Dave]

A little bit of trivia for ya Ben..

Friedrich Nietzsche was a huge fan and close friend of Wagner, celebrating him and his artistry but felt physically sick after watching Parcifal.

It signaled the end of their relationship and Nietzsche's admiration of Wagner as an artist.

So if ya don't find it quite your "Cup O' Tea" you're in good company...  

[38thBeatle]

I used to hate opera when I was a lad but due to a passionate father in law, eventually saw the artistry and genius and got tyo understand the thing that is opera. I wouldn't say I was a fan but some of the music is so beautiful it could make you cry. I must admit, though, that I find Wagner a bit heavy.

[blue]

for all those who say they've never heard wagner, you've seen apocalypse now?  the music the helicopters play during the beach landing/surfing escapade is Ride of The Valkyries, which i think is from the ring cycle.  correct me if i'm wrong :oops:  ( aren't i confident )

[carlaz]

Not many opera fans, here, huh?
Can't say I'm suprised!

Not at all! I was largely a classical listener until seduced by the glories of rock relatively late in my teens.  My prefs are towards the Romantic movement, so I was early on a big fan of Wagner.  My grandad was an amateur classical composer (what he could have done with a hot-rodded PC and plenty of MIDI! :)) and had a big LP collection which I plundered after he died.  I used to listen to Rheingold obsessively. :twisted:

Though I was never a particular fan of opera as opposed to other classical forms, I definitely dig operatic and choral stuff from the Russian romantic composers, Grieg, and I die for Sibellius's Kullervo symphony.  That totally rocks.

So, it was a short step from there to the majesty of metal!  (Has anyone else seen that recent documentary, Metal: A Headbanger's Journey?)

[rahnooo]

I'm something of a classical fan - you can't play classical violin for 17-odd years without developing a taste for it.  My parents went through a phase of listening almost exclusively to opera when I was a kid so I'm quite happy listening to it. My personal classical faves however are Stravinsky and Berlioz, especially Le Sacre du Printempts by the former. If I ever got the chance to see the full ballet performance live I could die a happy man :)

*Rahnooo*

[Davey]

Not many opera fans, here, huh?
Can't say I'm suprised!

Davey, the Ring cycle has influenced many works of fantasy and fictional literature, notably Tolkien's LotR. Just read the lyrics to Gotterdammerung and you'll see many similarities!!!

allrighty =)


i for one love opera, though most of it aint my cup o tea


flight of the valkyres(sp?) rules!!

[Johnny Mac]

Ride Of The Valkyries is so powerfull and Mars by is it Holst? Planet suite erm..thingy :?

When I was despatch Riding in London in the 90's there were a few lads with stereos in the fairings on their bikes. I remember one late afternoon in the pissing rain in Fleet St hearing Ride Of The Valkyries in the distance getting louder and louder. It was a D.R and he had it full volume! Talk about cool! It was like Apocolypse now on bikes!