Turandot in London

I've just seen a fantastic Turandot at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. It chased away all my London blues. Both singers and orchestra under the baton of Dan Ettinger were very convincing.

Christine Goerke was a fabulous Turandot. It is a tricky role because not only is it very demanding technically but the story demands that Turandot be a ruthless 'ice maiden', scared of intimacy for most of the Opera only to declare herself for love at the end.  Christine Goerke did a wonderful job today of suggesting vulnerability while still espousing violence.

Ping, Pang and Pong  performing acrobatics at the same time as singing (how do they do it?) and tenor Alexandrs Antonenko was a strong Calaf.

I was sitting high in the gods but heard every word of both lead singers. Such extraordinary voices.

Turandot performers take a bow.

Rain and roses

I was in Wellington only five days but hearing Christine Goerke and Simon O'Neill sing up a storm at the Wagner Gala was worth the trip across the Tasman.

Pouring rain greeted me on my return but my pet Valentines Day rose looks very happy despite the wet. It has produced another crop of flowers, the third since I bought it looking dry and sad. It is clearly very pleased with its new pot.  I didn't think roses thrived in Sydney's humid climate but they obviously do when it is cool and wet. I shall be interested to see when my lone rose decides it is time to hibernate and whether it survives our humid warm summer.

Wagner Gala in Wellington

Christine Goerke (Brunhilde) and Simon O'Neill (Siegfried) sang their hearts out at the Wagner Gala in Wellington on Friday. They were both stunning, as was the NZSO conducted by Pietari Inkinen, as they transported us through selections from Siegfried and Gotterdammerung.

This concert is definitely worth crossing the Tasman to hear. They perform in Christchurch and Auckland next week ....hear them if you can! (Interview with the singers)

Christine Goerke

Pietari Inkinen conducts

Elektra in Sydney

Christine Goerke as Elektra

Last night I a saw an electric concert performance of the opera Elektra with sopranos Christine Goerke, Lisa Gasteen and Cheryl Barker in the lead roles (Elektra, her mother Klytemnestra and her sister Chrysothemis). Stunning singing from all three ... I can't imagine a better cast. They performed with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra lead by David Robertson, their new Chief Conductor and Artistic Director.

It is wonderful to see singers of this caliber in Sydney. They can not only sing over a huge (expanded) orchestra, they can act as well. In the final scene Christine tripped over her dress and fell but she disguised it so cleverly you would never have known it wasn't a choreographed movement.

I am sure if the SSO continues to put on such treats (filling the gap left by Opera Australia)  they will continue to attract huge audiences as they did for this performance. I went to see both Elektra performances, Saturday and Monday, and I know it is imprinted on my memory forever. Go SSO!

More images are online here.

Soprano Christine Goerke sings 'Elektra' card
by elizabethgw

Christine Goerke coming to Sydney

Whoopeeeee  ... in six months Christine Goerke will be in Sydney to sing Elektra. 

Hold on to your hats!