tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11380345.post112007054433591417..comments2024-03-17T12:16:42.048-07:00Comments on Civic Center: The Queen of SpadesCivic Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12362422142667230626noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11380345.post-1120222386527355352005-07-01T05:53:00.000-07:002005-07-01T05:53:00.000-07:00Oh my goodness, look what the silly Witch did...I ...Oh my goodness, look what the silly Witch did...<BR/><BR/>I was speaking of Franco Zeffirelli, my Operatic hero, not Fellini, the celluloid gem.<BR/><BR/>A sweet little birdie whispered to me of my error... many thanks dear one.the Witchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05824683415581404780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11380345.post-1120192480849758162005-06-30T21:34:00.000-07:002005-06-30T21:34:00.000-07:00Sly was a long dormant opera by wolf-Ferrari, base...Sly was a long dormant opera by wolf-Ferrari, based on the character Christopher Sly from Taming of the Shrew. I believe it was Domingo's wife who acted as production designer. <BR/><BR/>You're right, minimalist isn't necessarily an operatic crime, but stupidity is.<BR/><BR/>Seeing Fellini sets at the Met molded my young mind, inspired me. I grew up to study interior design, am still in awe, simply delighted by his work.the Witchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05824683415581404780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11380345.post-1120180927150948632005-06-30T18:22:00.000-07:002005-06-30T18:22:00.000-07:00Dear Witch:I have no problem with minimalism, and ...Dear Witch:<BR/><BR/>I have no problem with minimalism, and have seen a few great productions over the years that were extremely simple, though at opera house ticket prices people do feel a bit cheated.<BR/><BR/>What I object to is theatrical stupidity. If the music (and libretto) is "saying" one thing, and the direction is stressing the utter opposite, then it just strikes me as perversity, a way to make a name for oneself at the expense of the opera itself.<BR/><BR/>What was "Sly," by the way? (And yes, Domingo has always been a truly awesome performer.)Civic Centerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12362422142667230626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11380345.post-1120177140394435212005-06-30T17:19:00.000-07:002005-06-30T17:19:00.000-07:00I'm with you, Mike - not a fan of minimalist opera...I'm with you, Mike - not a fan of minimalist opera set decoration. <BR/><BR/> I saw Placido Domingo in Sly as few years back at the NYC's Met. He was awesome but the set was a depressing, monochromatic taupe. <BR/> I'm a sucker for Fellini-esque grandeur.the Witchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05824683415581404780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11380345.post-1120082578731178602005-06-29T15:02:00.000-07:002005-06-29T15:02:00.000-07:00Well Mike,You certainly are on a roll! Your book ...Well Mike,<BR/><BR/>You certainly are on a roll! Your book and opera reviews are amusing andthe Hopperesqe photo at the Opera house was especially beautiful. Thanks for keeping us all posted.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com