Blog

So, today was more productive.  We started the morning out a bit lazily, but by noon, we were watching Riccardo Muti’s rehearsal with the Vienna Philharmonic and a wonderful cast for Zauberflote.  Rene Pape sang Sarastro, and I am now convinced that it very difficult to do better than that!  The staging was by Graham Vick.  Honestly, I’m not 100% sure where he was going with all of it, but I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the staging.  The fact that the entire “society” of Sarastro’s was an old folks’ home was a bit much, however.  I wondered why someone as young as Tamino would want to pass the tests to get into the “society” if it meant being an old geezer, but overall it was a fun staging.  The Queen of the Night (Anna-Kristiina Kaappola) was spectacular.  She nailed the famous aria.  I thought the Papageno was rather good as well, but maybe a bit less funny than is possible.  It came off at times (especially in the second act) a bit too much like Luke Skywalker in Star Wars.  (“But I wanted to go to Taschi station for some power converters…”)  The other thing that really impressed me about this were the Drie Knaben (thee boys).  The three boys guide Tamino through his adventure.  When I saw the staging in Vienna 9 years ago, they floated across the stage on a cloud each time they sang.  Anyway, I was completely impressed by these three boys.  I know they sing in the most famous boy’s choir in the world, but it was still rather unbelievable.  After the rehearsal, we were able to finagle a pass to the Mitridate, re di Ponte with Minkowski that was going on in the Residenzhof.  It was a very interesting production.  During the overture, they had statues come out on an incline that served as the “roof” of the “palace.”  As I write this I am realizing that describing this set is going to be rather difficult.  Anyway, take my word for it, it was interesting.  Bejun Mehta sang wonderfully.  I think tomorrow is going to be spent studying…  French repertoire!  Then the evening, I will finally see Gergiev conduct – Mazeppa,  with the Kirov!