October 21, 2001: L'Elisir d'Amore in Nordfjordeid

2001-10-21 L'Elisir d'Amore (Donizetti), Opera Nordfjord

Nemorino = Nils Harald Sødahl
Adina = Cecilia Lindwall
Dulcamara = Anders Vangen
Belcore = Espen Langvik
Giannetta = Synnøve Nordvik

Michael Pavelich, conductor

I was at the last performance!
First time in Nordfjordeid, I stayed at the Hotel Nordfjord, where they had opera buffé. I came late the evening before, and I choose to have my dinner (opera buffé) since I was hungry, I had to wait until the guests came from their overa experience. Absolutely fabulous!

Because of the timetables in Sogn og Fjordane, it was not possible for me to come in time for Saturday's performance, and that was completely sold out by the time I remembered Opera Nordfjord, but I was in time to get some of the few tickets that was left on Friday. Thursday I had suddenly seen a page on the net about this opera, I thought about it, found out I had time, last performance Sunday, came home after work, and phoned the hotel to find out about the opera-package, was it available, did they have room. They had only 2 rooms, so I booked it right-away, didn't ask for the prize. And in my lunch-pause at work, I went to the post office to get ticket. Got it! Saturday, bus ride to Nordfjord. Found my hotel, I was rainy and cold in the evening. Nice atmosphere, many pictures from opera performances on the wall. NICE!!

Sunday, started with breakfast (obvious I woke up first, got dressed....). I have two pictures from my last opera travel, one picture of Carreras and one of Bavaj in Stavanger 22.9.2001, so I had to finish my film. My new location was Nordfjordeid, some great photos, some Ok and some relatively bad photos from my walk in the center of Nordfjordeid.

Then came the time, 1400, I took a taxi from the hotel 1330. And it was really crowded in Fjordane folkehøgskule. CROWDED. I met my college from work and her husband. Many people from Western Norway, many from Bergen, or so it seemed. Luckily I got a better seat than I had bought with the help of the nicest person in the hotel, or most opera mad. (Somebody had chosen to stay home?!). They sang Donizetti's music in Norwegian, luckily I know the Italian text well from the CD-libretto. "Venti scudi" became "fire tusen" (4000 NOK). A well known revue/cabaret artist from Norway had done the Norwegian text, it was a nice job. But, however, it will always be hard to hear the words when the top notes are sung, so knowing the original well was an advantage. Professional singers and orchestra, an amateur chorus. I liked the production. I liked the conducting, very vibrant. The tenor was best and the baritones were very good too. Maybe the aula was not given the right acoustic to the sopranos. The Swedish Adina sang well, and was very good in Norwegian. Only when I talked to her after the performance, was it obvious that she was from Sweden. The Norwegian Giannetta seemed vocally weak and she need to stand out from the other voices.

Back to the hotel, I found out that orchestra and soloists all lived in my hotel. Just before I went to take the bus home, I got the chance to talk to Cecilia Lindwall and get her autograph.

I think I will make this an annual tour.

October 21, 1998: Carmen in Zurich

1998-10-21 Carmen (Georges Bizet), Opernhaus Zurich

Carmen = Sylvie Brunet
Don Jose = Francisco Araiza
Micaëla = Margaret Chalker
Escamillo = Cheyne Davidson
Frasquita = Elena Mosuc
Mercedes = Irene Friedli
Zuniga = Jozsef Dene
Remendado = Volker Vogel
Dancairo = Martin Zysset
Moralès = Peter Kalman
Lillas Pastia = Adriano

Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, conductor

Carmen without Baltsa, but with Sylvie Brunet

This was a very good production. Jean Pierre Ponnelle's scenography and original production. But first someone from the management, told us that Agnes Baltsa had recently come from Vienna, she was having bronchitis, and that Sylvie Brunet had used much of the day to prepare herself for singing today, as well as on Friday. I don't like her myself, but she is a good Carmen. I found her a little too vulgar. Francisco Araiza was a totally convincing Don Jose, This was a more violent Jose, than I was used to. Violent from the start. First highlight was the duet Michaela/Don Jose, the soprano was superb. Araiza coughed during the duet, so I guessed he had a bit of cold. Margaret Chalker was the Michaela. Second highlight was her aria in the third act, another highlight was the duet Don Jose/Escamillo. The Escamillo was good in the Toreador-song, but I wanted a more substantial Escamillo, like Raimondi.

In the Second act, it was obvious for me, that she can't dance, her rhythmic was lacking. But the Smugglers quintet was real good. Good Remendado/Dancairo/Frasquita/Mercedes. The Frasquita (Elena Mosuc, soprano) was indeed excellent. The Scene Don Jose/Carmen, was so sexy, almost too much. Her dancing (again), and she sang "Tra-dla-dla" where it should be "Tra-la-la-la...", and that does make a difference, vulgarity versus elegance.

Third act, was a highlight in the entity, Ensemble singing, acting, all, perfect.

Fourth act, always a pleasure. The great ensemble, singing.acting. The duettino Escamillo/Carmen gave none impression, as I think it ought to do. In the ensemble, Don Jose with Michaela, almost unseen got into the crowd. Carmen waited for Escamillo, her friend notice Don Jose, watching them singing the duettino, warns her, Escamillo prays on stage to the Madonna, Escamillo goes into the corrida. Carmen waits for Don Jose, It is a great duet. Everything in the duet is true, at last Don Jose, after begging her one last time, , stabs her. When he sings "Vous pouvez m'arreter", Michaela looks out of the windows, and her shoulders move in weeping...

Great Opera in Zurich October 21, 1998

Musikalische LeitungRAFAEL FRÜHBECK DE BURGOS
Inszenierung/BühnenbildJEAN-PIERRE PONNEllE
SpielleitungGRISCHA ASAGAROFF
KostümeWERNER JUHRKE
LiehtgestaltungJAKOB SCHlOSSSTEIN
Chor ERNSTRAFFElSBERGER
CARMEN


BergführerLAURENT TCHANG
1. LeutnantMANUEL ADARVE
2. LeutnantTHOMAS PÜTZ
ManuelitaRENATE BLUM
" Rollendebüt
CHOR DES OPERNHf\USES ZÜRICH ZUSATZCHOR OPERNHAUS ZÜRICH KINDERCHOR DES OPERNHAUSES STATISTENVEREIN AM OPERNHAUS ZÜRICH

ORCHESTER DER OPER ZÜRICH
Verlag: AIIkor-Edition Kassel
Kritische Neuausgabe nach den Quellen von Fritz Oeser

Mittwoch, 21- Oktober1998Wiederaufnahme
Freier Verkauf
Lichtpausen nach dem 1. und 3. Akt Pause nach dem 2. Akt
Beginn: 19.00 Uhr
Ende:22.30 Uhr