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Summary: An Opera About Opera
Review: Those who view this opera will likely think it is either the best work about music they've ever seen...or be bored silly.
Capriccio is truly a unique musical work, Richard Strauss' last opera, composed in 1942. Here's why it's unique:
A poet, Olivier, and Flamand, a composer, are both trying to win the affection of the Countess Madeleine. They argue about whether it is the words or the music which are more important in a musical piece. Gradually, more characters join in, all putting forth their own importance: a theater director, an actress, a pair of bel canto singers, dancers, even a promptor.
Thus, the piece ends up being an opera about opera and music, or as Strauss himself described it,
"a conversation piece for music in one act."
With singer/actors such as Kiri Te Kanawa, Victor Braun, and Hakan Hagegard, it is naturally impreccably performed.
The question remaining for you is whether you're expecting another typically dramatic Strauss opera, or what this is: an intellectual discussion of what Music is...all set to music by 78 year old master composer Richard Strauss, looking back on his life in the theater and music, and on what music really is.
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Summary: Troyanos' Last Performances
Review: I attended these performances in San Francisco. The singing is superb and the production is very fine. This was Tatiana Troyanos' last stage appearance before her untimely death from cancer some two months later. She is (as she always was) wonderful in the part of Clairon and she and Te Kanawa really strike sparks off one another.
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Summary: Troyanos' Last Performances
Review: I attended these performances in San Francisco. The singing is superb and the production is very fine. This was Tatiana Troyanos' last stage appearance before her untimely death from cancer some two months later. She is (as she always was) wonderful in the part of Clairon and she and Te Kanawa really strike sparks off one another.
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Summary: Who She Picked
Review: I love this recording of the SF production of Capriccio - one of my favorite Strauss operas. And I treasure having Tatiana's last performance.There are enough comments on the performance on here already. This is for Anthony. Ok, technically the libretto does not answer your question. Part of the delight of this opera is the ultimate ambiguity of the ending, allowing for the personal repsonse of the listener/viewer. There are IMO 3 possibilities: 1) She picks the poet if you personally think the words are more important in opera 2) She picks the composer if you feel that music is the primary focus of opera 3) She picks neither; leaving the two gentlemen to meet only each other in the libray at 11 am, if you believe that opera is a joint fusion of music and text. Personally I would pick # 3 and believe Strauss would also. Stephen
Rating:
Summary: Par excellance.
Review: I'm not going to give a critique. Everything she does is perfect, and Capriccio is no exception. Lovely Kiri, doesn't she ever age? She was 49 in this San Francico event, but looks 30. What I'm seeking from you Kiri lovers is information. Who did she choose in the opera? Guess I'm pretty dense--all the clues she dropped and still at opera's end I came away ignorant. And what is Kiri doing now? I understand Capriccio was her last opera.
Rating:
Summary: Par excellance.
Review: I'm not going to give a critique. Everything she does is perfect, and Capriccio is no exception. Lovely Kiri, doesn't she ever age? She was 49 in this San Francico event, but looks 30. What I'm seeking from you Kiri lovers is information. Who did she choose in the opera? Guess I'm pretty dense--all the clues she dropped and still at opera's end I came away ignorant. And what is Kiri doing now? I understand Capriccio was her last opera.
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Summary: In the dark!
Review: I've aleady written a review, but I am puzzled. Will someone please tell me which lover Kiri selected? Poet? Composer? Neither? xyzcolin@aol.com
Rating:
Summary: In the dark!
Review: I've aleady written a review, but I am puzzled. Will someone please tell me which lover Kiri selected? Poet? Composer? Neither? xyzcolin@aol.com
Rating:
Summary: Brand new opera lover.
Review: I've already written my thoughts on Capriccio in a recent review. The following is an appeal to reviewer Nora Renka, who appears to know more about opera than I'll ever learn. I want to know which lover Kiri selected in Capriccio. I felt that she selected neither: one cannot separate 'words' (poet) from 'music' (composer) and have a complete entity (opera). But what do I know? Until six months ago I was totally ignorant of the subject of opera. A lady friend lent me the DVD, 'Dame Kiri Te Kanawa', a brief bio of the opera soprano. I balked a bit. Who me? Listen to fat ladies screaming their lungs out?
Well, you'll not be surprised to know that I was completely captivated by Kiri, her Maori/Anglo beauty, magnetism and that so heavenly voice. Since then I've bought eight of her operas, ranging from the gay 'Die Fledermaus' to the tragic 'Otello'. Also got Bernstein's conducting of 'West Side Story', featuring Kiri and Jose Carreras. Am now on a frantic search for the full stage production. No luck, so far. I have now branched out a bit, recent acquisitions were 'La Boheme', with Jose Carreras, and 'Carmen' with Placido Domingo and Julia Migenes. Loved them both, Carmen in particular. For what it's worth--coming from a mere tyro--I thought Julia Migenes was sensational, with her vivid portrayal of a scratch your eyes out Spanish gypsy. The intimate love scene, followed by Placido's rejection of Carmen, and the final death scene left me gasping.
To get back to the original intent of this message. Who did Kiri select? All my thanks to you.
Rating:
Summary: Brand new opera lover.
Review: I've already written my thoughts on Capriccio in a recent review. The following is an appeal to reviewer Nora Renka, who appears to know more about opera than I'll ever learn. I want to know which lover Kiri selected in Capriccio. I felt that she selected neither: one cannot separate 'words' (poet) from 'music' (composer) and have a complete entity (opera). But what do I know? Until six months ago I was totally ignorant of the subject of opera. A lady friend lent me the DVD, 'Dame Kiri Te Kanawa', a brief bio of the opera soprano. I balked a bit. Who me? Listen to fat ladies screaming their lungs out?
Well, you'll not be surprised to know that I was completely captivated by Kiri, her Maori/Anglo beauty, magnetism and that so heavenly voice. Since then I've bought eight of her operas, ranging from the gay 'Die Fledermaus' to the tragic 'Otello'. Also got Bernstein's conducting of 'West Side Story', featuring Kiri and Jose Carreras. Am now on a frantic search for the full stage production. No luck, so far. I have now branched out a bit, recent acquisitions were 'La Boheme', with Jose Carreras, and 'Carmen' with Placido Domingo and Julia Migenes. Loved them both, Carmen in particular. For what it's worth--coming from a mere tyro--I thought Julia Migenes was sensational, with her vivid portrayal of a scratch your eyes out Spanish gypsy. The intimate love scene, followed by Placido's rejection of Carmen, and the final death scene left me gasping.
To get back to the original intent of this message. Who did Kiri select? All my thanks to you.
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