Don’t Even Think of Missing Thais!

Massenet’s Thais will probably be the hit of the Met Season, and it is beautifully on display at the Rialto Ciinema in Santa Rosa over the next 2 weeks.  I saw the live performance December 20th & the 2 remaining performances are almost sold out.  The Rialto, however, has recently added a performance on Saturday,  January 17th at 9 a.m.  Renee Fleming as the courtesan, Thais and Thomas Hampson as the young priest, Athanael,  give stunningly definitive perfomances and make this strange story come to life.  The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra’s Concertmaster violinist, David Chan,  all but steals the show with his sumptuous playing of Massenet’s most famous operatic music: Meditation

For information and to purchase tickets go to  www.rialtocinemas.com

Favorite Student Letter

Dear Will…While puttering about in my kitchen today baking and preparing this and that for tomorrow’s gathering, I am happily serenaded by Luciano, Kiri, Leo, Marilyn and more (a la my CD: Opera Stoppers).  Cooking to the miraculous voices of these artists brings to mind how grateful I am that you have taken on the task/pleasure of presenting the SRJC Opera classes.

Via your wisdom and enthusiasm a whole new world has opened up for me. I listen to opera just about daily now, as well as  enjoying the San Francisco opera for the last few years and that wonderful trip to New  York with James.  All of this because you have invited the hungry locals to feast at your operatic table. Thank you, Thank you and Thank you.  Bravo!

Opera: a thousand little orgasms.

CS

European Opera in San Francisco

The Vogue Theater in San Francisco is bringing recent Opera Productions in HD to its screen from Europe’s most famous Opera Houses.  In January you can see Bellini’s Norma from Teatro Communale di Bologna,  Verdi’s Rigoletto, from Teatro Regio di Parma,  A Tribute to Pavarotti from Petra, Jordan and Verdi’s Don Carlo from Teatro alla Scala in Milan. This is a great opportunity to hear  many great European Opera Stars that we rarely have a chance to hear in the States.  All performances are  Sunday Matinees.  There are many more performances scheduled for the Spring but not yet posted.  For more information, dates, etc.,  visit the Vogue Theater at:

http://www.peerlessentertainment.com/VT%20Web%20Home.htm

Now that the class is over….

It’s been a month since my 10th Opera Class at SRJC ended, and here are a few of my own thoughts on the 2008 class and Opera.

This Fall’s class, “The World’s Greatest Singers” , brought a lot of new angles on opera.  Most of all, my use of  You Tube was a bit controversial.  Negative comments ranged from “the sound is not good”  to “the sound is not good”.  But I know for a fact that the majority in the class are now hooked on YOU TUBE Opera, for  many are sending me clips of their favorite singers both good and bad.  YOU TUBE and the technology that created it bring to opera an immediacy for all events happening in opera around the world and can teach us about the art, unfiltered by critics, public relation spinners and blog wags.  It allows each of us to draw her/his own conclusions.

After 6 weeks in class this Fall viewing not only the great but also the aspiring opera singers of our day ( frequently from YOU TUBE),  many in the class have become discerning and opinionated critics,  and I couldn’t feel more successful in my teaching endeavors.  Opera is what each individual hears in a voice,  observes in an actor,  and of course finds in a composer’s music and the librettist’s story.  Little wonder that those who truly love opera form strong opinions about music that touches the deepest emotions.  It’s worth fighting for!!

If you have a favorite YOU TUBE Opera Singer, send me the clip and tell me what grabs you,  and I’ll post it on THE BLOGGERS OPERA.

In the meantime,  listen to the most beautiful voice of all times: Caballe, 1975 Barcelona.