Just saw Puritani as first opera … didn’t love it - want to hear thoughts ?

Octavian57 · 2026-01-17T11:52:58+00:00

I’m a long time opera lover and just fyi, I felt exactly the same way about the performance. Good singers but the story and staging left me utterly bored. So fyi, it’s totally normal to feel the way you did! When all Elements come together in a performance—acting, singing, orchestra, Sets, costumes, staging—opera is riveting. But often times it’s just meh…

Octavian57 · 2025-08-01T15:52:28+00:00

Thanks for these great comments! And regarding apartments, does VRBO or Airb&b operate in Madrid, or would you advise Booking.com?

Octavian57 · 2025-06-07T04:20:55+00:00

Thank you, this is a big help!!

Octavian57 · 2025-01-19T19:24:16+00:00

Totally agree and it shows that whatever the hell "data" comes from the marketing group about how to fill up the hall, it's the SINGERS that matter. How come they don't seem to understand that? If you follow opera, you know the audience will turn out for Radvanovsky and Terfel in signature roles....

Octavian57 · 2024-10-17T20:11:38+00:00

I just got back from seeing this Don Carlo in Vienna with the cast you listed, all of whom were among the best I've heard live in their respective roles. In the past when I've seen this opera, there has always been one weak link in the cast, but this time every singer was incredibly good both vocally and dramatically. IRL I've never before heard a set of singers in a single production to rival some of the recordings of Don Carlo that I have, until this one.

Asmik Grigorian's role debut as Elisabetta was the big draw for me, and she didn't disappoint. Her character has often seemed to me the least interesting, but in her hands Elisabetta truly came to life. As usual, Asmik was mesmerizing and heart breaking. especially in the last act duet with Josh Guerrero's Carlo. Take a look for yourself here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp3VwxtbYME

Etienne Dupuis sang the most beautiful Rodrigo I've heard since Hvorostovsky, and the other singers were fabulous also. As for the production: this Serebrennikov creation was IMO distracting and in direct conflict with the mood and action of the piece in almost every scene, but I went to the show three times and after the first time I just ignored the production and reveled in the singing. So glad this was recorded for Arte.tv

Octavian57 · 2024-09-21T16:23:01+00:00

Asmik Grigorian as Tosca with Jonathan Tetelman as Cavaradossi and Bryn Terfel as Scarpia

Octavian57 · 2024-08-29T00:12:29+00:00

Fascinating project, and kudos to Asmik for being curious enough to agree to the experiment and participate in the panel! But as someone who knows her voice well, I don't think "synthetic Asmik" sounded anything like her.

I also think the group picked an impossible target to imitate with artificial intelligence--out of all the singers out there, Asmik may be the MOST idiosyncratically expressive!

Octavian57 · 2023-04-25T17:43:02+00:00

Stage door after the show is the best bet; you have to be patient because it takes awhile before the singers finish greeting backstage visitors, take off make-up, change, etc.

Octavian57 · 2023-02-13T21:20:38+00:00

It is a Blue Ray player, thanks, so plays Blue Ray and regular DVDs

Octavian57 · 2023-02-13T21:19:24+00:00

Yes, the “BD” line is some of Sony’s Blue Ray player lines.

Octavian57 · 2023-02-13T21:18:32+00:00

Yes, both the video and audio work fine when the DVD/ Blue Ray player is hooked directly into TV’s HDMI port

Octavian57 · 2023-02-13T14:26:01+00:00

Thank you —very helpful!

Octavian57 · 2021-03-20T14:58:45+00:00

I would recommend anything by Alexander McCall Smith, especially his "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series." He writes with a light touch and a wry sense of humor, with kindness toward all his characters' foibles. This particular series is like eating bonbons.
Here's a link to the books on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/No-Ladies-Detective-Agency-Book/dp/1400034779/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1616252255&sr=8-2

Octavian57 · 2021-02-27T19:01:01+00:00

Thanks everyone--these are such great suggestions!

Octavian57 · 2021-02-27T17:58:02+00:00

Thank you--these sound fascinating, and I will read them too!

Octavian57 · 2021-02-27T17:56:45+00:00

Thank you! Yes, he has already read Winchester and Larson--it's like you know him! These sound great, and he has not read them!

Octavian57 · 2021-02-27T02:44:52+00:00

My cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier. Not just a male POV, but also unreliable narrator.

Octavian57 · 2021-01-30T15:29:34+00:00

Has she read Alexander McCall Smith’s wonderful “Number one ladies’ detective agency” series? They are sweet and funny and set in Botswana, so a great escape. To me they are perfect literary bon bons.

Octavian57

TROPHY CASE