48 hours in Greece (Jonas Kaufmann at the Megaron part II)

When i first heard that Jonas would be singing in Athens at the Megaron i immediately throught :Have to be there!!! And then the excitment got crushed by work, which i couldn't get away from, by the budget which wouldn't be streched and at some point in December last year it seemed more like an impossible dream...



And then somebody stepped in and made it all possible! Sombody found me the cheapest flights possible and I could even go on the day and come back the next; somebody found me an incredibly cheap but very nice hotel 5 min walking distance from the venue; somebody even checked that i didn't have to walk far to the underground so i didn't have to spend any money on taxis; somebody took care of the tickets; somebody even worried the day before i travelled whether i would have to deal with an underground strike and what to do!!! I travel a lot and i always have to be a one man/girl show from planning to execution. So i can't even begin to tell you how spiled and pampered i felt!!!! So things became not only easy, but entirely possible!Lucky me i even managed to juggle some work and get the days off!



So thanks to this special someone, their patience and care, i was on my way to hear Jonas in Greece, a place which I realy love! And things only got better from there, I have a slight suspicion that this person even did some magic and convinced the sun to shine!! ;-))))Because it hadn't stopped puring down the days before and I was greated by clear blue skies and 15C!! On the 15th of January!!!. As a result we have been trodding uphill to see the Acropolis wearing short sleeves and all the time having a totally surreal feeling. As you can imagine, there are not many tourist around this time of the year and I have never seen the Acropolis so peaceful. It has already shut yesterday when we got there, but we persevered and having the same gentle sunshine to warm us had our walk around the old rocks while looking down on an Athens in sparkling white. I don't think the city is more beautiful than seen from up there.



The same special someone put the icing on the cake of the day by introducing me to some very nice friends, who had in turn treated us to some very very good seats and after the concert we shared a gorgeous meal in a relaxed and quirky place. For all this, for making me feel so welcome and so spoiled i cannot thank you enough!!! You are one of a kind and i hope we can do this again and that i will in turn soon be able to return the friendship :-) ( then again, maybe I am just getting sentimental because of the musical overdose and one addictive and delicious saganaki ;-))))

Ok, now that you all are properly envious of me feeling like a princess, here is the bit you really care about: the concert!

You will see the banner says: Megaron Mousikis Athenon (the venue): Megales lirikes phones - Great lyrical voices - unless my guessed transaltion is totally wrong ;-). And looking down, yes there we go our RA photo and our tenor with his name spelled correctly and if you have gooes eyes you can even make out the name of tonight's young and enthusiastic conductor: Michael Güttler.

The concert went very well indeed!!! The Hall was packed, the orchestra isn't the best but played decently and Jonas was really very good. He still had some slight signs of the bug that were a tiny tiny bit audible in recondita, che gelida and Martha. But when he came back for Werther he was incredible! I have never heard the aria sung like this, he told the story like it was happening there and then and every phrase had meaning. The audience followed him breathless and speechless and exploded in the end. Jonas had arrived!!!

Part two went even better, he basically picked up from the Werther and took it beyond that. He sung e lucevan like i heard and saw him sing it in ROH, with that incredible intensity, melancholy and passion that leaves the audience suspended in time. Some got overexited and tried to kill the last notes with applause , but were vehemently shushed and the Hall exploded in the end. La fleur was incredibly tender and the final heart-wrenching and incredibly intense. He did that amazing crescendo in piano to the end faultlessly and once again the audience went crazy. And what to say about die Gralserzahlung???? (In fernem Land) I think he noticed as well how he captured everyones attention. I was so waiting for this and it was pure magic!!! He doesn't just sing about Lohengrin, he is the Gralstritter himself!!! That softness....unreal... it seems to be the voice from another world and his words and notes fell softly and which such power into the silence. He build it up amazingly and endedwith the most incredible heldentenor revelation of Lohengrin's name. I can't wait for Munich!!!! I so pray i will get the tickets i have requested!!! I don't know how Wagner wanted his Lohengrin to sound like, but i don't think there can be anyone who has this capacity to capture the magic and mystical aura of the story like Jonas.

Above all his piano was artful today, lyrical and tender and sweet and very clean, i have a feeling it gets only more and more beautiful and he adds more and more shades to it. And i think the public in general are finally really "getting" it! At least the public in Athens listened to him in rapture!

Given that it was all going so well and the applause was insitent, Jonas decided he had more to give and we had not 1, not 2..but 4 encores!!! Yes, he did them all! The Lamento gets more and more touching every time i hear it, the Non ti scordar di me was a perfect warm plea (and i am not sure about the music, but he found a darker, deeper and warmer tone to it, which made the final note more parte of the whole instead of a final goal; i liked what he did to it, it sounded very good). And then... daring as he is, he went for La donna e mobile!!! Crazy, isn't it, to sing this at the end of such an evening!! And what a performance it was!! I can't even begin to tell you how much i regret never having heard his Duca live. But now that i got this treat i can only regret it even more!!! I don't think he will sing the role on stage again, there is so much else in the future... But i am incredibly grateful i got to hear and see this. This was definitely an aria on my black list of arias trampled upon by tenors worldwide, oversung and just dragged into the banal. It wasn't until I heard Jonas interpretation of it last year in concert that i really wanted to listen to this aria again. He makes it about so much more than the top note at the end, so playful and tender in parts, like a bold an enchanting caress. And he played it very well indeed, I had never seen Jonas' Duca before and he makes a very convincing and charmingly funny character.

After much applause he even gave Dein ist mein ganzes Herz, again given the moment in the concert, sung on the warm side rather than on the brash, but very adequate to the connection he made with the public. All of this with much Bravoing, stamping and clapping in between. Athens looooved Jonas and so the many members of the "adoring ;-)" public told him, when they came looking for his autograph and he looked happy himself. Indeed he should, this was some performance tonight!!! It was much much much more than even I expected of this evening. His is by no means another concert of arias and he puts an incredible amount of himself into it. This public certainly was thankful for it! There were people who came from other towns in Greece just to hear him and there was particularly one older gentlemen who wanted to come and thank him personally while he was bowing for the last time and, although i didn't hear what he said, judging from his age and gestures I am sure he meant to say he hasn't heard anything as beautiful in a long long time, if ever :-)

I also like Michael Güttler :-) His enthusiasm is catching and Jonas and him seem to be working well together.

More details and some cute and some very nice pictures from Parsi :-) I know, i should have told you from the beginning he's got all the details, but then, would any of you have gotten down to read all of this??? Hmm??? Hmmmm??? ;-)))

Sooo...

Left London 3am Thursday morning, Jan 15th...back home almost 3am Saturday morning.. 48 hours in Greece!!! And i wish i could go back and do it all again!

By the way the program of the concert was:
Jonas Kaufmann, Megaron Athens, 15 January 2009
The Athens State Orchestra conductor Michael Güttler
Gioacchino Rossini GUGLIELMO TELL
Ouvertüre Orchester
JK - Giacomo Puccini TOSCA „Recondita Armonia”
JK - Giacomo Puccini LA BOHEME „Che gelida manina“
Carl Maria von Weber OBERON
Ouvertüre Orchester
JK - Friedrich von Flotow MARTHA „Ach so fromm“
Pietro Mascagni CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA
Intermezzo Orchester
JK - Jules Massenet WERTHER „Pourquoi me réveiller“
- Interval–
Giuseppe Verdi LA FORZA DEL DESTINO
Ouvertüre Orchester
JK - Giacomo Puccini TOSCA „E lucevan le stelle“
Georges Bizet CARMEN Auszüge aus den Suiten Nr. 1 und 2
Orchester
JK - Georges Bizet CARMEN „La fleur que tu m’avais jetée“
Richard Wagner LOHENGRIN
Vorspiel zum 3. Akt Orchester
JK - Richard Wagner LOHENGRIN „Im fernen Land“

Encores:
L’Arlesiana Il Lamento di Federico
Non ti scordar di me
La donna e mobile
Dein ist mein ganzes Herz

Catch up post....

(George Enescu Legend, trumpet Wynton Marsalis)
Thank you gxgfree4rhyme for the video

Ok, this is me, all over the place as usual, this post was supposed to be an entry post into the new year, but since then daily life and events took over... But since some of the feeling in this post is still lingering around I decided to still do it.

This hasn't been a great start in the new year over all and until yesterday the mood was gloomy, friends are not feeling well, everyone has had problems from the tiny and annoying to the big and potentially lifechanging, so this is somehow for them. I didn't feel all cheery to begin with myself, so i decided to start the year on the blog with a musical piece that fit the mood, not all that black, but definitely a bit pensative. I was saving it for some appropriate moment, but it is special to me so here it is :-) On this note let's look back and then scroll forward to the present:

Hoffmann at the ROH -A different Rolando? - I saw one more and looking back at the year and on hearing Rolando Villazon for the first time earlier and then again at the end of the year i saw interesting changes. I think he definitely ended the year on a high note, with some powerful confidence again his and also with different options and roads open to him. I think a different Rolando finished the year than the one that began it, one that has challanging artistic plans ahead and who has more of a mind of his own and is more than ever before in charge of his artistic future. Some might questions his choices for the coming year but I say why not?? People have tried to tie him to numerous preconceptions and squeeze him in many drawers. I am glad he won't stay there and is bold enough to break these imaginary limits and go after what he wants musically. I don't know if the new choices are the right ones, but who cares and kudos to him for trying and the results should be more than interesting to watch and listen to. I think for the future he will be somebody even more intersting to follow than before, whether or not you agree with his choices. Critise, love, enjoy, buy or don't buy his CDs, but let him make his choices!

Turandot at the ROH - This was the last performance i saw in 2008 and although it isn't really one i would choose for New Year's it was worth seeing. Both Cura and Irene Theorin had the sniffles, but they still gave good interpretations, although I wished JCura had been in better form because there was a bit of a missing connection, which he otherwise never fails to create, with the public. Still, his Nessun dorma (my black list aria Nr1!) was interesting and well told and sung and he deserved more credit for it than he got. I haven't seen this opera in a while and i found myself being more interested than i thought. Still a silly story , well actually 2 stories in one. I was abit bothered by the volume of the orchestra which covered the singers more than i would have wished for, but i have thought about it and maybe it was partly because i sat practically on top of it and the singers weren't having their best day. I loved the production and Andrei Serban has managed to create an interpretation which is both suited but not heavy, i agree with what has been said about the production, that it has stood the test of time very well, you couldn't tell it was from 1985! As said, i liked the sound of the orchestra and i was definitely drawn into the enthusiastic conducting, but i had a bit of an issue with the volume. However i reconciled myself with it, party also because of this interview Nicola Luisotti gave in musicalcriticism. I felt the emotion in his conducting and i like the way he thinks and the boldness and passion that lies within his beliefs.

Thais from the Met - what a wonderful opera!!! Give me music French music anytime, it goes straight to my heart, however corny that may sound! Rene...well she is a diva and her costumes would have fit any fashion runway anytime. Beautiful, if artificial (My God her fans are gonna kill me but i have to say, still beautiful voice, but i somehow have the feeling that the Diva persona sometimes upstages the artist.) Mind you, if she didn't sing that well, the opera wouldn't have been as good to hear and watch, so i'm just saying she ain't my cup of tea. Hampson on the other hand so definitely is!! (and don't give me the stinky eye!! I never said my taste is flawless or that i even have one, i'm all subjective and full of weak spots and of course i don't expect people to agree with me). He sang wonderfully for my ears and he was absolutely fanatically scary!!! Now i believe he can do Scarpia and i am looking forward to it. The production was "suitable".. Met style with a lighter touch ( for the Met, that is ;-))))))) Didn't go too far in the sparkly OTT direction, but also wasn't bold enough to go beyond pretty.

New Year's Day in Wien - right, in my dreams!!! But i did get up to the obligatory morning glass of bubbly and the Wiener Philarmoniker concert. I wouldn't want my year to start any other way. The Wiener Philarmoniker had fun with Barenboim, he had fun conducting, i had fun watching and there is nothing like a bit of Radezky and Strauss to put the swing..er that would be the walzer... in the new year.

And so began 2009 and the first thing I saw was La Rondine from the Met... everyone is bitching but everyone has seen it, isn't that just hilarious???? I liked it, Angela had a cold and you could hear it at the beginning, but then was she ok. She was beautifully dressed and sang nicely and was just herself. That's just the way it is, some like her and some don't and i sometimes do and sometimes don't. I was neutral about this one. I thought it was a nice performance and as I hadn't seen the opera before, i quite enjoyed it. I thought Roberto sounded sometimes strained in the 1 part (act 1+2) and i was going to say Lisette and the Prunier stole the show. But ahhh, Roberto is still Roberto! Put feelings to his voice and it just blooms, and he was very very good in the 3rd act, and me and him were probably the only ones bawling their eyes out in the end. His non lasciarmi solo was just heartwrenching!! And it takes guts to open up so much on stage to the feelings within that you openly cry. So he's a sap (and so am i), but he's an adorable one. I was happy to see within him still that Roberto that i first heard in 1992. And they may critise him, but he still is somebody you want to watch and hear (if not, why are the tickets for the Trovatore so in demand, ey? Ok, there is Dima as well :-))) And there is Sondra..and what fun it will be!! And i can see everyone just dying to critise this Manrico, but again, everyone is also cueing up to hear him.. Some love to hate him, but deep down we actually hate that we so still love him :-))
So my reason to remember this is that Roberto moved me to tears and that Marius Brenciu was in it!! I've heard of him before and i was really proud of his Prunier, and of his excelent English, and of his easy presence and calm demeanor as a singer. His falsetto was a bit shaky at the beginning but otherwise very good singing. I hope to see him life, maybe at the ROH one day, why not? Someone to watch and definitely someone i will watch out for! Oh, and Lisette was wonderful as Lisette. After all, this Rondine was wonderfully cast and a good night out!

And since we are on Manrico i am back where I so impulsively started this year's blogging, in the midst of the friends battle for tickets :-) (Soooooo looking forward to the battle for bookings 4... let me just drop the scary word... Barbiere!!! ;-))))

So, are you still with me or are you asleep??? If i confused you, sorry, i know this was a mix and match, but i'd rather you look at it like a tasty Greek salad!! And with that i am still in Athens and my ears, my heart, by brains are still buzzing from last night's concert where Jonas was amazzzzzzzziiiiiinnnggggggggggg!!!!!! Like you didn't know I was gonna say that :-) But don't be mad ;-) Look how i started the year and look where it has gone, it could only get better and it has!

In Athens with Jonas Kaufmann

News from Athens for all those wainting to know ;-) Last night's concert was a success!!!!

It went very well and starting with Werther in the first part it became just perfect. E lucevan, La fleur were almost taken from stage performances in their intensity. The Gralserzahlung (In fernem Land) gave an exciting preview of this summer's Lohengrin and the Megaron followed its every word in silent rapture. His piani were simply exquitiste last night, tender and enveloping, intense and excillarating!!! The applause only got bigger and better with each aria. The audience went wild, shouting Bravo, stamping their feet and clapping and Jonas gave even more: 4 encores!! Il lamento, Non ti scordar, La donne e mobile (!!!!!!!!!!) and Dein ist mein ganzes Herz.

After some more bowing and many red palms an exhausted but extatic public and an equally exhausted but hopefully also happy Jonas said thank you to each other in a quick signing session.

Some preview pictures and more from Parsifal :-)

!!!!!!!!--> not for the aria, but for its special interpretation and because i have to give Jonas the biggest Thank you ever for giving me this opportunity to catch up on a tiny bit of his Duca, which i never got to see live on stage.

More when i am back :-) Sufice to say it was better, bolder, and more of everything than i could have ever imagines or expected myself. And I am not that easy to please as it might seem ;-)))

ROH Friends Booking Period 3 - Update:Page is working again!

Update :-) (ok, so maybe you are getting bored with reading this, but believe me to us ...thousands and thousands of friends this is stressful and verrrry important! As I was mentioning earlier today when the problems started, even if IT failed, you can still always count on the ROH customer service! And just to make sure that my complaint is not misunderstood and that people make the difference between crappy IT and good staff here is a thank you for the quick reaction of the ROH Sales staff:

Email received 9,05, which i only saw now:

"Thank you for your email.Unfortunately several customers have reported problems with the waitingroom and we are monitoring this closely. Please let us have a telephone number that we can contact you on and someone will phone you to take thebooking.

Kind regards,
Maria Perez
Online Sales Royal Opera House Box Office"

I am glad I was able to sort myself out in the end but always good to know they are there to help when you need them :-)

Update 10,20 - 2h 30min later -Site working properly again (my guess is because people stopped trying and it was able to cope with the reduced traffic) .Whatever the reason, it is the first time it took me so long to buy tickets. Got Trovatore,Lohengrin, Elisir... Didn't try Capuleti y Montecchi (the period bestseller I am sure), but apart from that one, Trovatore seems to be the one selling fast. And no, I won't be telling where i am sitting ;-))) suffice to say i didn't get great tickets, but i can't pay 150. There are plenty at less, but as mentioned, not many of those left. Though, if you want to give Lohengrin or Elisir a try, still decent priced tickets available even in stalls circle.

Update 9,30 Waiting room is still working fine.. crossing fingers :-)...betchya i will not be getting my desired cheepy seats anyway.... sigh
Update 9.15... waiting page seems to be working again... but i would still keep a hand on the phone...



Well, whoever the IT people are who are working the ROH website, they surely did it this time!! The one institution one could always, with patience, use the internet booking system with was the ROH. Thanks to whoever the new webmasters are, that is no longer the case.

Dear friends, forget on line, please pick up your phones and call the Box Office. At least the Box Office staff is the same nice and efficient staff as usual. I am just sorry for the hellish day they are having as well because of this.


+44 (0)20 7304 4000


+44 (0)20 7304 4004

And I hope the decisionmakers at the ROH reconsider collaborating with the makers of this IT mess!! The institution and its public certainly deserve better.

PS. I haven't made my bookings yet either....just trying to be patient....