Interviews and Look Closely for Ildebrando D'Arcangelo

The interviews are with Ruggero Raimondi and Francesco Ivan Ciampa. Look and listen to the Youtube clip. If Ildebrando is in it, you can bet several fans are willing to watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa_p8hac8eY& list=UUedYObQcOnmzdUyOCsc9CFw

The Tristan Chord

Heard this several years ago on the radio. Wagner creates a musical overture, a chord that is missing the final note. It's his way of keeping the audience in their seat, waiting to hear the resolution of the chord.

http://www.roh.org.uk/news/tristan-und-isolde-musical-highlight-the-tristan-chord

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo and First Youtube Attila Trailer

Great entrance, would put the audience into willing suspension of disbelief. Copy and paste the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcIxWoFRlVI

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo

Finnish television or cinema will broadcast Salzburg 2014 Don Giovanni. The Finns have good taste. Excellent singing from EVERYone. Ildebrando-magnificent. Stage design=stupendous. I keep trying to factor out Ildebrando, just for the intellectual exercise. Everything is excellent. Stage forms a triangle, symbol of many love triangles Don Giovanni hosts. Orchestra is great. Finns=lucky. Looking ahead Salzburg 2015: Alessio Arduini is already scheduled to appear Easter Salzburg 2015. http://www.osterfestspiele-salzburg.at/en/programme/the_2015_programme_

Sven-Eric Bechtolt, artistic director, has already written a Foreword. Program has interesting comments in English about the planned 2015 Salzburg production of Le Nozze di Figaro. Yannick Nezet-Seguin and Rolando Villazon scheduled to appear. Link here http://www.salzburgerfestspiele.at/

The Last Kind Words Saloon by Larry McMurtry

Writing with the Masters. Study Chapters 6 and 9 for humor. In Chapter 6, both Native Americans have the word "Satan" for the root word of their names, Satanta and Satank. In Chapter 9, Larry McMurtry turns humor on and off like a switch, starting with a massacre had already happened or was about to happen. McMurtry calls this slim new work a ballad; you may want to look up the term.

From The Secrets of Paris by Michael Kerrigan. 

The Arab World Institute was opened in 1981 to foster understanding between the West and the Arab countries.  The prophet Muhammad discouraged his followers from flaunting their wealth with gold, silver, and jewels, so Arab craftsmen found ways (like marquetry, mosaic and the most delicate wood work and leather work) of making ordinary materials precious.  In Jean Nouvel's innovative building, these values become architectural, a basic modern glass-and-aluminum construction given an alabaster sheen.  What at first glance look to be blank office-block windows are ornamented with lattice-like motifs.  These adjust themselves automatically controlling light levels inside. (page 110).

http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Paris-Michael-Kerrigan/dp/1435141512/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415578516&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Secrets+of+paris

Institut Du Monde Arabe

Today I was looking at a book on Paris and came across the Institut Du Monde Arabe.  The leader of the Arab people had warned them against adorning themselves with gold, silver, jewels. They instead turned to mosaic, leather, and metal worked with ornate designs. Simple materials. Intricate artwork.  Architect Jean Nouvel designed the building. While each panel does look life fretwork, the openings adjust to let natural light into the building itself.

http://www.imarabe.org/

Idomeneo Longer Review and Spotify Weblink

Martin Kusej directed. Some boos but you can't please everyone.

http://www.operatoday.com/content/2014/11/idomeneo_royal_.php?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

If you want to listen, here is a Spotify link:

https://play.spotify.com/album/59Hf5d60yBOOCW1wAYdUYf

Idomeneo Current Production and One Review

Martin Kusej Production. You may or may not remember his Don Giovanni Salzburg 2006.

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/nov/04/idomeneo-review-martin-kusej-royal-opera-house?CMP=twt_gu

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo Macerata Fest Don Giovanni

Two different whites. The bed is dead white, static, matte, limited sculpture qualities.  Donna Anna's gown, white but beautiful, fluid, sculptural, flower petals. She's at her best. Don Giovanni is at his best. Opera should provide many contexts and subtexts and provoke thought.

Salzburg 2015 Schedule Announced

Salzburg 2015 Schedule Announced
http://diepresse.com/home/kultur/klassik/4586561/Vorab-verraten_Der-Salzburger-Sommer-2015

Anna Netrebko Leaves an Opera Work-in-Progress

Although sometimes singers look like they're cooperating with directors, maybe the thought is there are many directors and many performances, sometimes that's not always the case. Anna Netrebko has one of the best voices of her generation, but here is an article in English about her leaving an opera that was sold out both in the opera house and in the cinema; best of luck to all involved from the audiences around the world:

http://www.latinpost.com/articles/25039/20141103/anna-netrebko-withdraws-munichs-manon-lescaut-kristine-opolais-step.htm

Ildebrando D'Arcangelo Leaps Salzburg 2006

Memoir or blog: who thought of the leap? Ildebrando D'Arcangelo himself? the Director, Charles Guth? Given Mozart and Da Ponte cannot be interviewed, the word will have to come from someone else.