I have been bemoaning the lousy direction over the past thirty years of operettas, particularly the Offenbach masterpieces. Last night I watched a 1982 production of La Perichole from Geneva, starring Maria Ewing, Neil Rosenshei, and Gabriel Bacquier, and directed by Jerome Savory. It was so wonderful!U love Maria Ewing's Carmen, but she's quite charming as Perichole, and Nei Rosenshein was wone of the handsomest tenors of his time. He sang late in his career as a Metropolitan Opera second-stringer. He deserved much better.Here's some bad video; mine is much clearer and sharper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN-Tn9RFSnY
Quote from: ChasSmith on September 14, 2024, 07:44:35 AMI went to watch that, and what happened? Something interrupted me. I'd better try again!But yes, that "too fast and hard-driven" rings true. I can't name examples, but I know how different these things tend to sound these days. Anyhoo, a question for DR Elmore:I don't know the scope of the project, but it sounds like y'all are researching/restoring the original score and parts, as before, but also making good transpositions for this production. Am I close?We are not working for the new production; we have no contract with it. We are restoring as closely as possible - from what exists - the original orchestrations. For instance, in a post DR slingshot made weeks ago, Jay Diaz, the MD for ther Lyric Theatre production in Texas, said the guitar was cut from Broadway in 1959 because of budget. Our research saus the guitar part was added to the score in 1974 (?) for the London Angela Lansbury production.Joshie and Jason are certainly making the newly creaed materials available to the MD of the McDonald production.
I went to watch that, and what happened? Something interrupted me. I'd better try again!But yes, that "too fast and hard-driven" rings true. I can't name examples, but I know how different these things tend to sound these days. Anyhoo, a question for DR Elmore:I don't know the scope of the project, but it sounds like y'all are researching/restoring the original score and parts, as before, but also making good transpositions for this production. Am I close?
Happy Birthday, DR singdaw!
Wordle: 3/6
Why doesn't he remake Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, that movie could do with some re-thinking.And don't get me started on the 90's HBO version.....please.
Not feeling great after my nap. Considering modifying the schedule for the rest of the day.
Behold my handiwork.
