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by **cyprusgrump** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:40 am

Has anybody else been this weekend…?

We went last night - it was totally awesome!

by **Niki** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:27 am

We were there last night!!! Where were you sitting??

Madama Butterfly was just wonderful, and the orchestra was amazing.

by **Niki** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:28 am

Just noticed you were there Saturday! That would be why we didn't see you!

by **denizaksulu** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:53 am

Was the Orchestra Cypriot? Who played Madama Butterfly? The haunting arias are something else.

by **DUNCAN** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 9:32 am

We went on Sunday and I am sorry but you people are so WRONG!! The production was very poor and the staging unfathomable. At the end of Act one when Butterfly and Pinkerton are getting ready for their first night together a dozen or so people dressed in black came in carrying sticks with lamps on the end - What was that all about? At what was supposed to be the intermezzo but was changed to an interval break, once again the same people dressed in black, came on - the humming chorus sounded like the noise kids used to make with a comb and toilet paper. At the end two men came on carrying Butterfly's father's sword with which she killed herself - How did they know she wanted it and who were they anyway? Butterfly then used the sword to cut her throat instead of committing Hara Kiri which is what is in the libretto. Pinkerton's voice was heard of stage when he was supposed to come on stage to witness her dying moments. The scenery was non existent as was Butterfly's house and to cap it all the singers and the orchestra were miked up so the wind could be heard like a hurricane blowing across them. No reputable opera singer would use microphone assistance - Can you image Callas at Epidauros singing into one? And before anyone starts to suggest that I don't know what I am talking about I worked at Covent Garden Opera House and have seen some of the greatest singers of the twentieth century. One word about the soprano on Sunday though - she did her best and carried the dramatic tragedy of Butterfly's situation very well. The rest of the singers were pretty poor to say the least.

by **cyprusgrump** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 12:44 pm

DUNCAN wrote:We went on Sunday and I am sorry but you people are so WRONG!! The production was very poor and the staging unfathomable. At the end of Act one when Butterfly and Pinkerton are getting ready for their first night together a dozen or so people dressed in black came in carrying sticks with lamps on the end - What was that all about? At what was supposed to be the intermezzo but was changed to an interval break, once again the same people dressed in black, came on - the humming chorus sounded like the noise kids used to make with a comb and toilet paper. At the end two men came on carrying Butterfly's father's sword with which she killed herself - How did they know she wanted it and who were they anyway? Butterfly then used the sword to cut her throat instead of committing Hara Kiri which is what is in the libretto. Pinkerton's voice was heard of stage when he was supposed to come on stage to witness her dying moments. The scenery was non existent as was Butterfly's house and to cap it all the singers and the orchestra were miked up so the wind could be heard like a hurricane blowing across them. No reputable opera singer would use microphone assistance - Can you image Callas at Epidauros singing into one? And before anyone starts to suggest that I don't know what I am talking about I worked at Covent Garden Opera House and have seen some of the greatest singers of the twentieth century. One word about the soprano on Sunday though - she did her best and carried the dramatic tragedy of Butterfly's situation very well. The rest of the singers were pretty poor to say the least.

I shouldn't bother going next year Duncan... :wink: