tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-11-21:/Opera BlogMokoFeed2009-11-21T05:59:20+01:00tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-10-29:/2009/10/25/review-la-pescatrici-7240962/#c11348468FitCrit2009-10-29T20:27:45+01:002009-10-29T20:27:45+01:00Yeah you're right. Cheers DRW. I got someone to change it.tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-10-27:/2009/10/25/review-la-pescatrici-7240962/#c11324342DRW2009-10-27T15:34:04+01:002009-10-27T15:34:04+01:00Isn't this opera by Haydn, not Schubert?tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-10-19:/2009/09/27/primi-divi-award-nominations-2009-10-season-7051184/#c11248077FitCrit2009-10-19T18:51:40+02:002009-10-19T18:51:40+02:00Hi Gerry, glad you liked the list. James Cleverton was brilliant, he’s my choice to win it. If we’d seen Grant Doyle in Die tote Stadt I bet he’d have been on the list too but we saw Gerald Finley.<br> Yeah the bottoms is a bit of fun but you’re totally right, it’s not usually the small ones that stick out. Amanda Forbes did look good though even without her padding but maybe she is a little bit behind the others. My ex Sophie (Wales’s answer to Hairy McMungo) is Size 0 but she’s got all kinds of health problems. Since her my smallest girlfriend was Size 10 but girls like to say they’re smaller than they are so she was probably Size 12 really. No offence girls but skeletons just don’t do it for me.<br> Yeah we’re never quite sure how old the young singers actually are, maybe it’s more an award for inexperienced singers. Young means different things to all of us, I’m 19 and I think late twenties isn’t that young but Barry who’s nearly 70 calls singers who are nearly 50 young.<br> Grease is still on at the Piccadilly Theatre, it’s not exactly operatic but it’s got some really great singers and it’s a lot of fun. Sophie is mad on Grease, she goes like once a month, she chose those nominees.<br> We’ll probably do the winners in a few weeks, we need to get together and argue about it. Hairy will want Scottish people to win, Sophie wants Welsh and Grease people to win, the rest of us base our favourites on weird stuff like singing ability. So it might take us a while.<br> tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-10-19:/2009/09/27/primi-divi-award-nominations-2009-10-season-7051184/#c11248056FitCrit2009-10-19T18:49:35+02:002009-10-19T18:49:35+02:00Interesting word, London-centric. <br> I get what you mean though. We just don’t seem to go to operas outside London that often. We just have other commitments and when we do go away we don’t always want to spend the evenings shut up in a theatre. Hairy went up to Scotland a few times, he said he’d try to get to Scottish Opera but with him it’s all about what his kids want to do. Anyway if we did go to Scottish Opera it wouldn’t be fair because they’d win all the awards wouldn’t they? Well they would if Hairy has anything to do with it. We usually go to Opera North but we didn’t last season.<br> We saw at least 2 WNO productions between us I think, L’elisir d’amore got on our longlist a few times but it didn’t make the shortlist. Surrey Opera is also not London, they got loads of nominations and we also saw Glyndebourne on Tour, English Touring Opera, The Opera Group and Bampton Classical Opera Okay we did see most of them in London but they went to other places too. <br> tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-10-10:/2009/09/27/primi-divi-award-nominations-2009-10-season-7051184/#c11161671Gerry Bacon2009-10-10T03:57:48+02:002009-10-10T03:57:48+02:00What an interesting list!!<br> <br> I think I too saw most of these productions and would agree with the choices (didn't see Grease, wish I had). <br> <br> Mr Cleverton had big shoes to fill as Gerald Finley's understudy in Dr Atomic and considering the difficulty of the role almost deserves a special award. Perhaps Grant Doyle should be on the list for a great understudy of Mr Finley in the same season in Covent Garden's excellent Die Tode Stadt.<br> <br> I particularly like your inclusion of a best bottom category. It may seem obvious to mention but it seems you like your ladies to have large bottoms; This is very praise-worthy in today's size zero culture. I should think it fair to mention that Amanda Forbes was hugely padded as the old lady in ENO's marvelous magic flute and turned out to be very slight in frame when revealed as Papageno. Perhaps she should be disqualified in this award as the other ladies have real ones. Credit to ENO's costume department for such a transformation and the acting ability of Miss Forbes for making it look real (by the way she was a wonderful Gilda this week for Clonter Opera - watch out for this young soprano).<br> <br> Some of the singers listed as young are not quite so young, but I am impressed with the selection. <br> <br> I too loved Surrey Opera's Butterfly and the Pimlico Falstaff. <br> <br> When do we see the results?tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-09-28:/2009/09/27/primi-divi-award-nominations-2009-10-season-7051184/#c11053097Kate Hamilton2009-09-28T10:27:26+02:002009-09-28T10:27:26+02:00Interesting list, bit too London-centric for my taste, though. <br> I'm assuming the only WNO performance you saw was The Marriage of Figaro ... Did you see any Opera North or Scottish Opera? Or are the regional companies not good enough to be included? tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-09-20:/2009/09/20/review-grease-7006013/#c10989906Cutecoco2009-09-20T21:30:25+02:002009-09-20T21:30:25+02:00Hey !! nice blog !!wonna see mine ??plz visit my blog I’am Carole and u can chek my blog at cutecocoblog or at www.cutecoco.blog.co.uk/ plz respond as fast as u can cz I’am online now and don’t forget the comments I hope u contacte me soon see yatag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-09-20:/2009/09/06/review-the-proms-week-six-6907840/#c10989896Cutecoco2009-09-20T21:29:31+02:002009-09-20T21:29:31+02:00Hey !! nice blog !!wonna see mine ??plz visit my blog I’am Carole and u can chek my blog at cutecocoblog or at www.cutecoco.blog.co.uk/ plz respond as fast as u can cz I’am online now and don’t forget the comments I hope u contacte me soon see yatag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-09-02:/2008/06/20/review-don-carlo-4342580/#c10830914Jonathan2009-09-02T20:47:14+02:002009-09-02T20:47:14+02:00I enjoyed reading your review for a number of reasons. I stumbled on it while looking for something on how Sonia Ganassi performed her part. I saw a later performance than you (with Kim and not Villazon, fortunately) and rather liked SG. But she can't have been THAT memorable if my mind needed refreshing!<br> <br> Where were you sitting btw? I was in the amphitheatre but I still found the drama riveting. I hadn't seen the opera for ten years, having been scared off it by an excruciatingly boring and badly sung performance in Denmark. But this more than made up for it.<br> By coincidence I saw a cut-down version of the same production in Oslo at the new opera house a few months later. This time the deepest voices were appalling and any scenes involving them took me back to that awful Copenhagen performance. But Peter Mattei was Rodrigo (they don't - can't - come better), the tenor was pretty good, and the Eboli was frankly amazing, Katerine Mikaberidze (sp?).<br> It was odd seeing the auto da fe scene halved in size tho!<br> <br> Anyhow I am going again in October ROH). This time in the stalls to get the action close up. But I see the Eboli is no longer Ganassi - but an American mezzo I don't know. From her photos she is certainly a throw back to the bad old days. I hope her singing and acting can rise above that.tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-08-03:/2009/06/29/review-grease-act-6422820/#c10581629Chocxaway2009-08-03T20:02:07+02:002009-08-03T20:02:07+02:00Charlotte BUll is NEVER off the show, she is the most hardworking person there and is constantly on for miss Lynch AND also does an ensemble tack also (blonde curly hair)<br> <br> thanks for your reviews though they are very detailedtag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-07-08:/2009/06/29/review-grease-act-6422820/#c10371768Kim2009-07-08T18:20:09+02:002009-07-08T18:20:09+02:00Sorry me again... Just read your comment about charlotte, when they're short on girls and she's on as Lynch she'll do an ensemble track for Rydell Fight Song, We Go Together, Beauty School Dropout, Your The One That I Want and The Finale.. and being swing she'll only normally go on when theres a girl off... Kimtag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-07-08:/2009/06/29/review-grease-act-6422820/#c10368046Kim2009-07-08T10:34:28+02:002009-07-08T10:34:28+02:00Hi, I was there on the cancilled act2 show... It was Holly as Cha Cha and James as Sonny. I got the impression that Niamh could have been injured as she wasn't doing any of the Ensemble scenes that Charlotte would do if she's on as Lynch and they're short of girls... Not that i was complaining it was nice to get someone else in that role...<br> <br> Completly agree with you about Rebecca her "worse Things" is beautiful! i've been lucky enough to get her a few times, and just love her Rizz<br> <br> Kimtag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-07-01:/2009/06/13/bbc-cardiff-singer-of-the-world-6296490/#c10311815eyewitnessnews2009-07-01T16:55:13+02:002009-07-01T16:55:13+02:00Funny you should say that about Etienne Dupuis. It WAS Gerald Finley who taught him, in a masterclass, how to make the tree seem real when you don't have a tree.tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-06-27:/2008/06/18/review-gerald-finley-4334281/#c10276331KMW2009-06-27T18:09:55+02:002009-06-27T18:09:55+02:00It is my understanding, from attending the most recent Finley/Drake recital at Wigmore Hall (Butterworth/Finzi/Vaughan Willisms) Julius Drake and the artistic director of Wigmore Hall came up with the idea of Drake putting together the various song recitals, choosing the singers, etc. Marvelous idea. tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-05-28:/2009/05/20/preview-grease-6147678/#c10020242Sophie2009-05-28T14:38:39+02:002009-05-28T14:38:39+02:00Hi amanda<br> <br> this is my preview not my review, I've done a review too which is here http://primi-divi.blog.co.uk/2009/05/23/review-grease-the-new-cast-may-6164536/<br> <br> im sure they did do the auditions but they still have to sell tickets and it does help with that if you cast 2 people who are in the public eye.<br> <br> I didnt really like Ray and Emma (altho there were good things in their performances) but thats just my personal opinion and I'll carry on seeing Grease as often as I can so I'll have lots of chances to change my opinion and I hope I do as I adored Ray as Doody and in Dancing on Ice and I love his CD and I liked Emma as Marty too. I agree totally about everything else you said especially about Michael Melmoe. I think Ray and Emma are both amazing dancers.<br> <br> If it's okay with you and the Primi Divi says its ok (I'm just a guest blogger)maybe I could put your comment as a proper post so it's easier for people to see as I think you make lots of really good points and it will be good to have something really positive about Ray and Emma on the blog. I cant speak for everyone (tho i do try sometimes!) but some people might read the post then not bother reading the comments and that would be a shame if they didnt read yours<br> <br> sophie xxxxx<br> tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-05-24:/2009/05/20/preview-grease-6147678/#c9981575Amanda Milton2009-05-24T07:51:40+02:002009-05-24T07:51:40+02:00Hiya<br> I don't know how you can possibly comment on Ray and Emma's performance,not actually having been to see the show yet.Both Ray and Emma auditioned for the roles like anybody else and got the roles through their own merit and hard work. I went to opening night and both Ray and Emma were amazing and had loads of chemistry and their stage presence was electric.Here's my review of the night :-<br> <br> From the minute Ray stepped out on stage he had a presence about him that made your eyes be drawn to him.You could see he was nervous,but that is purely understandable,being first night.I thought Ray's clear and his acting was spot on,and his onstage chemistry with Emma made things even more realistic.Ray's standout number for me was his solo number,Sandy which he sung with power and passion,and you could see he meant every word he sung.Ray's comic timing was spot on as always and the drive in scene with Danny and Sandy,as really well comically timed.Although you knew Ray and Emma were a couple in real life they were truly proffessional throughout and never let this get in the way of the storyline.<br> <br> <br> <br> Ray's Jive with Kristina Macmillan(Cha-Cha)was also another major hightlight for me.It is completely different from the jive of last year,and they have added some Dancing On Ice lifts to the routine,which Ray pulled off amazing.Credit to Kristina too,as you can see they have both worked amazingly hard on this routine,and the lifts are extremely difficult,but they really added power to the routine and made it sparkle.<br> <br> <br> <br> Emma Stephens as Sandy was brilliant and for me the best Sandy I have seen.Emma has really taken to the role and her chemistry with Ray adds extra sparkle to all the scenes they have together.Her two solos,Hopelessly Devoted and Look At Me I'm Sandra Dee were Emma's two stand out numbers,her voice was clear and strong in both,and she has an amazing vocal range.<br> <br> <br> <br> Other performance to note,were Michael Melmoe as Roger.I thought he added extra comedy to the role which lifted the role and made it work better within the T-Birds.He has really strong vocals and his duet with Laura Wilson(Jan)stood out due to the extra comedic touches.Ben Ibbot as Doody was really strong too,and his solo in Those Magic Changes,and his comic timing in his scenes with Frenchy(Emily Bull)were the highlights on that character for me.Other special mentions go to 2008 cast members Natalie Langston and Stuart Ramsay who were once again brilliant in their roles of Rizzo and Kenickie.There Are Worst Thing I can Do,has always been a personal favourite of mine and Natalie consistantly brings the song to life,with her strong vocals,and powerful and emotional potrayal of the song.<br> <br> <br> <br> Ray and Emma remind me of a young John Travolta and Olivia Newton John,and I think they both have amazing careers ahead of them in musical theatre.Their chemistry on stage sparkles and makes this fab,fun musical even more magical to watch.So my view is,if you have the chance this musical is well worth the ticket price as the cast give 110% all they way through the show .<br> <br> <br> tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-04-12:/2009/03/18/review-doctor-atomic-5784515/#c9633337FitCrit2009-04-12T17:02:39+02:002009-04-12T17:02:39+02:00Yeah I know, we were supposed to go again but we didn’t, we’ve got all the performances written down but for some reason Dr Atomic was only on there once. Maybe it will be revived, hope so.tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-04-12:/2009/03/08/review-la-boheme-5719744/#c9633335FitCrit2009-04-12T17:02:13+02:002009-04-12T17:02:13+02:00Archie - I get what you’re saying I really do and I have tried but apparently they’re not commas, they’re expressional marks! That’s what Violetta calls them anyway. Just be glad we talked her out of all the italics and underlining she used to do! <br> <br> Menhir – I see where you’re coming from too mate but most people like the detail. At least if the detail’s there you’ve got the option of skipping it, we don’t mind how much you read, it’s just like as long as you can get all the info you want from it. <br> <br> Kevin – I’ll get Violetta to copy it for you when I see her, it’s nice to know someone liked her review. BTW I’m sure the rest of us would be happy to post our reviews on your site if you’re interested, Sophie reviews musicals on here, they might be good on a theatre blog. None of us writes like Violetta but we’re not bad!<br> tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-04-12:/2009/04/01/p-review-l-elisir-d-amore-5873981/#c9633331FitCrit2009-04-12T17:01:38+02:002009-04-12T17:01:38+02:00Hi razzler<br> <br> You probably knew this but in case you didn’t this was a (p)review not a review, Hairy posted it the day before he went to see it. Hairy is psychic so he should know about understudies but his (p)reviews are more about knowing how each singer is going to perform the role. When he does predict an understudy which he does do sometimes we always get really freaked out! Well not me, the others I mean.<br> tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-04-12:/2006/08/30/awards_2005~1083500/#c9633324FitCrit2009-04-12T17:01:08+02:002009-04-12T17:01:08+02:00Hi Janis<br> <br> Yeah we choose 1 winner from each category, we’ve done it at the end of every season since 2006. We don’t give out actual awards tho, it’s just a bit of fun really, a way of looking back over the season and thinking yeah that was cool. the winners and nominees are on this page – <br> http://primi-divi.blog.co.uk/tags/awards<br> <br> FitCrittag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-04-09:/2006/08/30/awards_2005~1083500/#c9610284janis kelly2009-04-09T11:15:51+02:002009-04-09T11:15:51+02:00do you actually choose one winner?? intriqued__tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-04-08:/2009/04/01/p-review-l-elisir-d-amore-5873981/#c9603170razzler2009-04-08T15:01:59+02:002009-04-08T15:01:59+02:00I'm afraid you've got it wrong ..... Donald Maxwell sang Dulcamara that night not Neal Davies who was off sick ! tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-03-25:/2009/03/08/review-la-boheme-5719744/#c9478684Archie2009-03-25T16:48:12+01:002009-03-25T16:48:12+01:00A good review and true in so many ways. Please use fewer commas though, it's almost impossible to read your text with so many entirely unnecessary punctuation marks cutting up the flow of your language. Punctuation should be there to aid the reader's job not - as in this case - to make it near-impossible.tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-03-23:/2009/03/22/review-joseph-and-the-amazing-technicolour-dreamcoat-5811127/#c9452478The_Walrus2009-03-23T00:51:15+01:002009-03-23T00:51:15+01:00You should try the ENO. They get some quite good singers.tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-03-19:/2009/03/18/review-doctor-atomic-5784515/#c9425435Gert2009-03-19T21:19:09+01:002009-03-19T21:19:09+01:00I'm really sorry you missed Gerald in this role, of all roles.<br> <br> I have found that it is really seeping into my bloodstream in a way that I never imagined it would. It's taken time and repetitiontag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-03-09:/2009/03/08/review-la-boheme-5719744/#c9323788menhir2009-03-09T00:11:36+01:002009-03-09T00:11:36+01:00I like opera but, sorry, I just could not read all the way through your detailed critique and story line. A more succinct approach would be a joy to share. <br> <br> I, for one, do not get much opportunity to see live performances and certainly not in major venues. As a consequence, I have become used to imaginative performances, which are not always with first class troupes, but they mostly do a great job of delivery in constrained circumstances.<br> <br> La Boheme is a beautiful composition full of pathos, speaking volumes about a part of French life, at the time in which the story is set.<br> <br> tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-03-09:/2009/03/08/review-la-boheme-5719744/#c9323763kevinwilson2009-03-09T00:06:52+01:002009-03-09T00:06:52+01:00it sounds a very disappointing experience.<br> this was the first opera i ever saw and i will never forget it.<br> <br> (if possible, would you mind copying this review onto a post in thestage group, sometime? it would be great to have a record of it there, if you don't mind.)<br> tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-03-01:/2009/02/20/review-madama-butterfly-5618157/#c9252334FitCrit2009-03-01T17:12:31+01:002009-03-01T17:12:31+01:00It's not that strange, it was Stephen Anthony Brown so Barry got the middle name right! I'll sort it for him if the site will let me.tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-03-01:/2009/01/29/review-hansel-und-gretel-5471619/#c9252302FitCrit2009-03-01T17:09:34+01:002009-03-01T17:09:34+01:00Oh s*** you're right, the revision must be affecting my brain, cheers mate.tag:primi-divi.blog.co.uk,2009-02-21:/2009/02/20/review-madama-butterfly-5618157/#c9173396Graham2009-02-21T10:10:34+01:002009-02-21T10:10:34+01:00Robert Anthony Gardiner is a fine tenor and a tenor to look out for but he is not playing Pinkerton for Surrey opera. Strange mistake!!