On music

[tarigwaemir]

Haste Street, on the Feast of St. Ildephonsus

Happy birthday silvermuse89! Just in time, I hope. ^_^ And happy birthday to svz_insanity in advance, in case I forget tomorrow.

jaebi_lit pointed out to me that Angela Gheorghiu (whom we saw in the San Francisco Opera's production of La Rondine last November) is returning to sing Mimì in La Bohème next season. I went to the website to look at what other productions are being held during the 2008-2009 season and noticed that Anna Netrebko is singing Violetta in La Traviata! Netrebko performed to rave reviews at the Met Opera a few years ago, though I've never heard her sing myself. Being plebeian in my musical tastes, I don't much enjoy most Verdi operas* but I do want to see La Traviata badly.

I really want to see Tosca, which is my mother's favorite opera. I also want to see Idomeneo (Mozart's first opera), Boris Godunov (Mussorgsky, hence sung in Russian), The Elixir of Love (comic opera by Donizetti, which I remember watching on PBS and enjoying very much), and Porgy and Bess (Gershwin's jazz opera, which features the famous "Summertime"). Hm...do I actually have enough money to buy that many tickets? >_>

Of course, this season isn't quite over yet, and there's still Lucia di Lammermoor coming up in June!

* During holiday break, my mother and I were listening to an opera that neither of us recognized on the radio. My mother, with her usual unerring instinct, guessed that it was Verdi--it turned out to be Macbeth--and I said, "Oh, no wonder it makes my head ache."

To add to the general temptation of hearing live classical music, the San Francisco Symphony is having a ticket sale this weekend too. Concerts I would like to go to:

• March 20, 21, 22: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto no. 1, Stravinsky The Firebird Suite
  
• April 4: Respighi Ancient Airs and Dances Suite no. 1, Bach Brandenburg Concerto no.4, Handel Water Music Suite no. 3
  
• April 16, 17, 18: Gluck Orphée et Eurydice Suite, Mozart Clarinet Concerto, Ravel Pavane for a Dead Princess, Bizet Symphony in C maj

Exciting to see that Vladimir Ashkenazy, the famous pianist, will be conducting the symphony next weekend, although I don't think I could go to those concerts. >_< Also, Ligeti's San Francisco Polyphony is being performed at a concert the following week, which I'm curious about. Of course, the only piece by Ligeti I've ever heard was Lux aeterna, which was posted on fst a few years ago.

In other news, I've been feeling rather dispirited for no reason at all and have resorted to reading Wodehouse to cheer myself up. Luckily, Wodehouse is very amusing.

Yours &c.

Comments

[jaebi-lit.livejournal.com]

My mum likes Tosca, too! I don't know if she has a favorite opera, but "E Lucevan Le Stelle" is her favorite aria.

SFO's web page is being a pain to navigate, so I can't check the prices now, but I think student rush is in the $20-25 range and then the balcony seats aren't too expensive, either. Personally, I'm a fan of being a balcony groundling ($10)--there are always tickets left right before the show, and I pay better attention when I'm not sitting in a comfy chair. ^^;

I'm looking forward to La Boheme so much! I missed it when the school of music did it as their mainstage production last year, and I'm still aflutter about Angela Gheorghiu.

[troisroyaumes]

I just checked the prices for Lucia di Lammermoor, and the prices change depending on the performance, but balcony side seats on Friday nights get as low as $20! Strangely, the Sunday matinee prices are the most expensive...is there a reason for that?

I saw Baz Luhrmann's Broadway production of La Bohème a few years ago, which had a beautiful set but weak singers, and heard a park concert performance, but it'll be my first time seeing it in a proper opera house. I'm looking forward to it too! Coincidentally enough, the first time I remember watching and enjoying opera was when I saw the televised broadcast of the SFO's production of La Bohème on PBS, nearly fifteen years ago. I wonder if they still use the same set? XD

[dorrie6.livejournal.com]

God, I miss living in a city with a decent symphony orchestra. I didn't quite realize how much I missed it until just now.

[troisroyaumes]

I guess I've been spoiled since I've always lived in/near cities with good orchestras. ^_^;; But I'm definitely finding more opportunities to attend concerts here than I did in New York, since I'm now financially independent and have no one to stop me from spending too much money on tickets. ^_^

[dorrie6.livejournal.com]

Also, I'm envious that you may see Boris Godunov. I have never heard it sung live.

[troisroyaumes]

I've never heard a full performance of it, only a few of the arias. ^_^ I'll definitely post a review if I do get to go see it.

[svz-insanity.livejournal.com]

Thanks Tari! :D :D

[troisroyaumes]

Hope you had a great birthday! XD

[silvermuse89.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! Apologies for such a late reply, I've been sick for the last two days. ^^;

Wow, the SF Symphony has some awesome offerings. I hope you'll be able to attend them!

*Hopes you feel more cheerful soon* ♥

[troisroyaumes]

Oh no! Get plenty of rest and feel better soon!

(And thanks! <3)