Well folks, I never quite wrapped up the Santa Fe trip. I guess I suffer some from…look at that…Michael Phelps just won another gold medal…attention deficit disorder.
Quickly…Santa Fe was another magical experience. The last night we were there included a dinner hosted by the outgoing General Director, Richard Gaddes (he’s retiring) at “the ranch” and a wonderful performance of Handel’s Radamisto. I must admit, while baroque opera plots tend to be somewhat convoluted by nature, Radamisto may take the prize. I won’t go into the story as…really…in baroque opera it doesn’t matter anyway.
What DOES matter is orchestra and singers; the rest is details. Yes, cool staging is great and this was a typical David Alden production which means someone is cross-dressing and the major set element is going to be a big, dominating wall. We were not disappointed (note: while typical elements, David Alden does do some incredibly imaginative stuff in his productions). David Daniels was the star vehicle for this production…he was great in the slow numbers and almost great in the faster pieces. The big news is Heidi Stober once again stole the show. Some of you will remember Heidi Stober from Utah Opera’s Ensemble Program, the young artist training program. She was also First Lady in our Magic Flute a few years ago. Heidi has gone on to become a real phenom in the world of opera. This coming season she has a lovely multi-production contract with the Berlin State Opera. We’re so PROUD of her! She even managed to steal the show while dressed in a male, fat-suit with a fez atop a comb-over wig. No mistaking the voice, however.
So…with a great Handel opera under our belts, we proceeded home…well…almost…we had a little mechanical issue with our vehicle…but…it only delayed us a day and what a place to have to spend it. For those of you truly interested, ask me THAT story when you see me. It’s kind of interesting.
Now, here I sit in my hotel in Seattle. I must admit, I’m a huge fan of this city and this time of year it is even more amazing. I refer to July and August in the Emerald City as the great lie: no rain, warm and lots of sun. Not exactly what Seattle is known for.
So…why Seattle in August? Principally, I’m here to see the second installment of Seattle Opera’s International Wagner Competition (IWC). The first one was two years ago and it was a wonderful event. The General Director here, Speight Jenkins, says this year’s talent is even better. If you are unaware, Seattle is known for its commitment to the works of Richard Wagner which makes it a perfect place to hold the competition. Speight hears singers in Munich, London and New York and brings the finalists to Seattle. I can’t wait. (I’ll write later about Seattle Opera’s dedication to the Ring Cycle, scheduled to happen again next summer.)
In the mean time, I took in Seattle Opera’s production of Aida this evening. Now, Seattle Opera usually has two casts, especially for the popular operas. I chose the “Silver Cast” as I know the artists in the “Gold Cast.” Usually the Silver Cast members are a bit younger and from other countries. This was the case tonight. The title role and the Radames especially were interesting. Watching people new to their role and still developing their talents is always a fun experience; you know the talent is there and to be part of seeing them grow is a whole different type of excitement. Notable was Margaret Jane Wray as Amneris and the conductor, Riccardo Frizza who delivered a lovely orchestral experience. The sets and costumes were simple but evocative of ancient Egypt. No major statement here, just good old fashioned grand opera.
More tomorrow…