alison Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 The BBC's Christmas treat for opera lovers this year is the Royal Opera broadcast of Andrea Chenier on next Friday (18th) from 7.30 - 9.35 http://www.bbc.co.uk...rammes/b06sg8s6, featuring Jonas Kaufmann. Is this the one where the singing was marvellous but the production left something to be desired, or am I thinking of something else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 Alison, it's a rather boring opera imho. The show is traditional and quite pretty (a quick search on Google images will remind you). Of course Kaufmann is fab but I prefer him singing things I want to hear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAB Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 My opinion is just the opposite, reasonable production but unmemorable singing with the exception of Elena Zilio who appears in a cameo role (catch her as Mama Lucia in Cav & Pag). You need an old style 'Italian' voice for the title role, something Kaufmann doesn't have. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 unmemorable singing with the exception of Elena Zilio who appears in a cameo role (catch her as Mama Lucia in Cav & Pag). You need an old style 'Italian' voice for the title role, something Kaufmann doesn't have. Completly agree MAB: you and I are of the same opinion, I just put things differently! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthE Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 I completely agree too. I love Elena Zilio, tiny little woman (and in this case also a tiny little role) but always completely unforgettable, both for her stage presence and wonderful Italian singing. I enjoyed the production - a bit tame by my standards (I usually find McVicar a lot more interesting) - and thus far none of you have mentioned Zeljko Lucic's singing, which was one of my favourite things about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Posted December 14, 2015 Share Posted December 14, 2015 Just seen that The Observer yesterday previews this as "Simply wonderful". So someone likes this and maybe I'll give it another go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthE Posted December 15, 2015 Share Posted December 15, 2015 Meanwhile I'm very tempted to go and see Opera North's new production after Christmas... http://www.operanorth.co.uk/productions/andrea-chenier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 The BBC's Christmas treat for opera lovers this year is the Royal Opera broadcast of Andrea Chenier on next Friday (18th) from 7.30 - 9.35 http://www.bbc.co.uk...rammes/b06sg8s6, featuring Johan Kaufmann. Is this the one where the singing was marvellous but the production left something to be desired, or am I thinking of something else? Alison I think you mean Jonas! I caught just the last 45 minutes last night. I don't know this opera and 45 minutes wasn't enough for me to judge it as a whole, but what I did hear didn't inspire me to go and watch the rest on iPlayer today. I didn't dislike it, but it didn't move me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAB Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 Sim, see if you can find a recording of Jose Carreras in the same role, you might change your mind about that opera's merits. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 Thanks MAB, I will do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted December 21, 2015 Author Share Posted December 21, 2015 Sim, thanks, yes, I definitely meant Jonas! Must either have confused him with Botha (how?) or Kobborg, I suppose Now corrected. Diverting somewhat from the original topic, I'm currently watching a 1980 Bruce Springsteen on BBC4 delivering a rather good performance of "Jungleland". Not much in common with Kaufmann apart from the dark curly hair, though 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Did you watch the new documentary on the making of The River before the concert programme Alison? It was fascinating, and so wonderful to hear Bruce playing and singing the songs just accompanying himself on guitar, sitting in his garden. Great stuff; I am going to watch it again over Christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted December 23, 2015 Author Share Posted December 23, 2015 Of course Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scheherezade Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Another belated, and brief, comment, and only marginally connected to Andrea Chenier. I just wanted to add my voice to Ruth's regarding Zelijko Luci who, for me, was the stand-out in this production. And the most compelling reason for snapping up tickets to the forthcoming Trovatore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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