tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11380345.post115033384836735164..comments2024-03-17T12:16:42.048-07:00Comments on Civic Center: A Lackey's LifeCivic Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12362422142667230626noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11380345.post-1150919605531858942006-06-21T12:53:00.000-07:002006-06-21T12:53:00.000-07:00Dear Ced: Your observations about the differences ...Dear Ced: Your observations about the differences between the two ensembles is fascinating. The Canadian Relyea, with his beautiful voice and profile, strikes me as a shy person, actually, which is sort of odd for a would-be opera star, while Feigum is extremely outgoing and overall the better actor.<BR/><BR/>I noticed a difference in the sound of the two ensembles too. Though individually the "A" cast sounds better, the "B" cast blends together better.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the update.Civic Centerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12362422142667230626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11380345.post-1150912329312940842006-06-21T10:52:00.000-07:002006-06-21T10:52:00.000-07:00Mike:follow up on your comment at sfist regarding ...Mike:<BR/><BR/>follow up on your comment at sfist regarding Figaro. Went last night to see the main cast. And: Susanna Tilling is as pretty as Burggraaf and very similar voice-wise. I say: a draw. The Count Mattei has more presence than Hakala, a better singer as well. The Countess: Swanson is impressive, but Moore was not far off. Swanson seemed a bit more at ease. Figaro: as a singer, maybe Releya projects a bit better than Feigum. But he looks awkward in his movements, and had zero chemistry with Tilling. The Susana-Figaro couple is so cold in the main cast, and so vibrant in the alternate. There is more chemistry in between Susana and Cherubino (they do kiss; or even between Figaro and mama Marcellina!) than between Tilling and Relyea. Relyea also should realize that he has monitors up on the balcony and backstage in the aisles, because his stiffness is accentuated by the way he looks at the conductor waiting for his cues. You can literally see him think "now I have to tap 'dong dong', three, two one, dong dong." "Now I have to hand the broom to Cherubino, ready, set, go." I did not remember Feigum leaving with the wig AND the sword in Act I, as Relyea did. Did he?<BR/><BR/>I think I enjoyed myself better with the alternate cast, which had more cohesion, just was more comfortable in its skin.<BR/><BR/>Conducting wise: still a few miscues and a few shaky tempo transitions. In defense of Goodman, Susanna seemed to have forgotten where she was a couple times. It seemed the overture was a tad slower last night.Cedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02611663819436917513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11380345.post-1150425225488613852006-06-15T19:33:00.000-07:002006-06-15T19:33:00.000-07:00I disagree that political/economic lackeyhood is i...I disagree that political/economic lackeyhood is inevitable. But that issue is theoretical. Not in dispute is our lackey-status vis a vis our own cells: we are slaves to their demands.sfwilliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352476617643661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11380345.post-1150389065893131902006-06-15T09:31:00.000-07:002006-06-15T09:31:00.000-07:00Dear Michael,Nice post leading to musings both pol...Dear Michael,<BR/><BR/>Nice post leading to musings both political and spiritual about liberation. What a strong pull freedom has on us. <BR/><BR/>What else are we slaves to? Time (linear and cyclic), biology, greed?<BR/><BR/>Playing a lackey in a poet shirt sure looks like fun and liberating too!<BR/><BR/>H.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com