Sunday, August 28, 2005

Countdown

If I had my way, every season would begin with Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos (and end, of course, with Die Meistersinger); but I'm fairly pleased that NY City Opera is beginning theirs with his Capriccio. Pamela Armstrong -- who mysteriously disappeared from the Met Rosenkavalier last season -- headlines, and if NYCO's last Strauss diva vehicle is any indication, it should be a memorable kick-off.

So watch this space circa September 7.

Saturday, August 27, 2005

Keeping up with the Oropesas

From the ever-useful AllAboutOpera.com came this story about one of the winners of this spring's Met Council Finals: the delightful Lisette Oropesa, who's been engaged for the house Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. I look forward to hearing her here in bit parts and recitals.

Meanwhile winners Rodell Rosel and Susanna Phillips are in a similar program in Chicago -- the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists.

Of Jordan Bisch, the remaining winner, I've heard nothing. Though I wouldn't be surprised if something weren't buried in one of the Met missives I've been ignoring all summer.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

This German's story

actually put me in mind of this touching bit of apocrypha, and that out-of-France journey's more recent evocation here.

No singing, however, was involved in either instance.

(Mind you, my rather more successful blogdaughter seems to have had rather a different reaction.)

Monday, August 22, 2005

Reboot

I have, it seems, been gone longer without official 'hiatus' than others who thoughtfully preannounced an absence. The site meter, I'm sure, has its own story.

At any rate, clicking through my own roundup of last season's posts left me mildly disappointed in previous efforts. So, in the spirit of my new, three-blocks-away-from-the-last apartment, I offer you An Unamplified Voice version 1.1. Time will tell how deep past flaws ran.