Rant!

And now the rant….
I’ve gritted my teeth because I really wanted at least to say my bit about Aida without further delay. I’ve slept about 5h last night but I felt I owe a considerable lot of overdue thoughts on various things I’ve seen and heard that I decided to forego the nap and do some writing this afternoon… I felt properly knackered after last night’s JDF concert and this morning’s Traviata rehearsals (both were gorgeous beyond words!) but in good spirits until I read this…

Anonymous said...
Is this a blog about Jonas Kaufmann or opera in general? I don't know. I enjoy articles here but there are many other great singers too that deserve recognition. Just my opinion.

I hope the Aida post reads half decent and is not full of …. Because not much inspiration was left :-(

I don’t like people being anonymous, because I prefer talking to somebody specific, but fair enough, readers are generally anonymous. So there goes the lengthy and unnecessary explanation.

First of all, thanks for reading. I am not sure from your comment which articles you mean… Obviously I wouldn’t be writing if I didn’t care at all if anyone reads or not. And I am happy if I’m remotely more entertaining than a sleeping pill ;-) From my side things were and are obvious, but since on the other side they may not be, as it appears, here are some answers to some questions you and others may or seem to have.

This is my blog. My, as in private female person. I am not a critic (thank God! ;-))) nor do I have the adequate studies or background to even remotely be one. I don’t get paid for writing ( I wish ;-) ) but I enjoy it ( I know very well it is not of any literary or other writing quality). It is just an expression of my passion for music. These posts can’t be called “articles” as they are nothing more than mere thoughts surrounding performances I have seen or heard.

I’ve always liked classical music and opera in particular (as the Wagner quote should have hinted to). For me music and opera are a lifetime joy (more than 30 years to be exact)! And I am lucky enough to live close to one of the best theatres in the world, the ROH (as again the blog clearly says). I don’t intend or pretend to either inform anyone about opera, or teach or God forbid preach about it! If you wish to know more about opera, get yourself a ticket and experience!! You’ll know more after 3 hours than I could ever tell anyone about it. Or buy Cds, or read a book, or check Wikipedia. I am not Encyclopaedia Britannica (or Germanica, or Hispanica or Operatica, or any other …ica). Sheesh, don’t put this kind of pressure on me or I’m gonna’ crawl right out from under that rock!

I’m a lover, not an expert :-) So this is not the view of the world or any judgment or qualification on opera, either in general, or in particular about one or the other performance or singer. It’s about my view, my taste, my skewed image of the opera world and my memories and impression of things I see and hear. It’s about what I like or dislike, what i adore and abhor. I realise everyone’s tastes are different and people will agree, disagree, hate or like what I say and I may like or disagree with their views. It’s about tastes, not absolute judgements and everyone is entitled to disagree with anything I say, just as I am entitled to my own taste :-)

I respect the views of others and expect others to respect mine. And I greatly enjoy discussing these views, others and mine, and to be honest even more if we contradict than if we agree. It makes things fun and interesting.

If you’re still reading and still wondering what this blog is about, well, let’s spell it out, shall we, because this is really what some of you want to know:

No, it is not a blog about Jonas Kaufmann…except it is, when I have seen a performance of his ;-))))

But really, with 10 or so he wasn’t such a great Manrico (beats me if he will ever be one..), so maybe I was listening to other people as well, hm?

Fact: my top 3 favourite operas (ok that changes as well, fickle as I am, but the ones which most frequently make the top) are not even stuff he sings.
Fact: I see many things (good for me! And lucky me!)
Fact: I work 12 and more hour workdays, so take a wild guess when do I write??? Only when:
- I still remotely feel like staring into a screen for 3-4 more hours;
- My fingers are not numb yet and I can go a couple more hours without sleep
- I feel inspired ( yes, even crappy blog scribblers get writer’s bock)
- Friends haven’t squeezed the hell out of me to share all impressions into the smallest details (which is when I don’t bloody feel like repeating it all over again in writing!)

So that is sadly how more than 50% of things never get written up…

Fact: I like listening to (beware I like tenor and baritone voices more than sopranos;-)): Corelli, Callas, Vargas, Schipa, Gigli, Bjorling, Tebaldi, Scotto, Simionato, Herlea, Milnes, Bastianini, Melchior, Schipa, Volpi, Zeani, Gheorghiu, Alagna, Cosotto, Cappuccilli, Domingo, Panerai, Pavarotti, Sutherland, Nilsson, Dessay, Villazon, Florez, Jaho, Keenlyside, Goerne (and I am getting bored here…)

Fact: I like Verdi, Wagner, Mozart, Bellini, Donizetti, Massenet, Bizet, Gounod, Berlioz, Berg, ok, some Puccini too… (it’s getting really boring…)

And do you really want me to start listing the operas??? … I thought not ;-)

Fact: I my own opinion ;-) Jonas Kaufmann is an extraordinary artist and I find his singing enjoyable and absolutely amazing most of the times. Currently, he is the live tenor voice that I most enjoy listening to and he is a mean actor, which makes the show fun to watch as well. Thus a more profound impression which inspires me to write :-) But i’ve seen more Jk’s performances than I write about (there are those 4 Lohengrins I saw and I still want to share my thoughts about…)

Other facts: there is a bunch of other opera related stuff that I wish I had time to write about, like a Bible thick with rants on bookings at opera houses around the world (promise, that one will come one of these days!)

Questions, comments, stones to throw? Feel free to do so :-) I might answer….