Anna Leese & Terence Dennis 25/8/2008

Purcell: Sweeter than roses; If music be the food of love
Haydn: The Spirit's Song; She never told her love
Britten: Two Songs from On This Island
Walton: Three Sitwell Songs
Alvarez: La Partida
Guridi: Two Canciones Castellanas (Castillian Songs)
Richard Strauss: Brentano Lieder, Opus 68
Puccini: Concert Aria O fior del giorno (Edgar); Concert Aria Chi il bel sogno (La Rondine)

I actually only stayed for the first half (again) though I thoroughly enjoyed Leese's performance. I especially liked the way she took the hall with her confidence and eye contact. During performing, plentiful of facial expressions and some graceful body gestures worked well within the context.

I admit being not good at selling, but I was only a volunteer. So all the smiling and greeting were unnecessary, so was the dissatisfaction from certain old ladies. Let's say when one pays 50$ for a ticket, why not 5 more dollars for a programme? If you so want the 2$ discount, present the voucher! And surly I am not going to take 2$ just because you don't have enough money. Kick me like a vending machine, would you.

Takács Quartet 23/7/2008

Featuring - Edward Dusinberre: violin, Károly Schranz: violin, Geraldine Walther: viola, and András Fejér: cello.

Yeah, was quite an experience -- a good one, needless to say. one of the best yet this year.
i helped out selling programmes so was fortunate enough to be granted a free pass to the concert. though i dont know anything about music, the programme included:
Haydn - String Quartet in G minor Opus 74 No 3 'Rider'
John Psathas - A Cool Wind, world première of new commission by CMNZ
Beethoven - String Quartet in C Opus 59 No 3 'Rasumovsky'

have been to a few chamber music new zealand concerts this year, and i just don't think i like john psathas' work very much. it seems to me that the instruments are used as means to imitate natural sounds, which makes me enjoy less of the whole atmosphere. it becomes 'trying too hard,' if i may say, from my ignorant personal point of view.

Encore was Allegretto (Polka) by Shostakovich, i liked it.

8/4/2008 Eggner Trio

8/4/2008 Eggner Trio
http://www.chambermusic.co.nz/artists/159/237.php
interview the Eggners TV3

Christoph - Piano
Georg - Violin
Florian - Cello

Three good looking young talented europeans, yea was a good evening of joy. I thought how they treated the start and end of each piece was really sophisticated and elegant, whereas when all three instruments volumed up lost the diversity and individuality -- hmm, i didn't see it so much as reaching a high point of harmony, it was rather distracting actually or i could blame it on the hall setting? That's one thing about live performances which, compared to listening to studio recordings, sometimes confuses the audience of what to listen to, especially bums like me who have little knowledge in music et al... Didn't take them long to warm up the instruments though, very good sounds and perfect notes (again, what do i know really). the whole performance was very proper and structured, could tell they went through highly disciplined training, etc. well, of course, three brothers as a trio, must be a music family..

disinterested.

coheed & cambria in auckland. pretty good eh. but i just stood still on the same spot for the whole concert. if i had listened to their music in my teens i would have had loved them. now it's just pretty cool. but i didn't like powerstation, not a good place for "concerts", etc. having it in a bar is so degrading.

and yo, where's the passion, where's the rage?
it's in me, okay!! it's in me!!

Maria Callas

A Documentary about Maria Callas
directed by Tony Palmer

yea, i think she's cool.
Part 01 http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=mjAyPfK5NJY
Part 02 http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=MLy08l6e2Wk
Part 03 http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=nIEI7xTpFOo
Part 04 http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=9RAKgZGD9BI
Part 05 http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=OyelEm6m2kY
Part 06 http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=VZr6TLwihDs
Part 07 http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=IT5sNScsJAo
Part 08 http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=E9NOY_WuFVw
Part 09 http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=ieMYiRiHCIY
Part 10 http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=CRPXxxbdf1Q

14/07/2007 Lucia di Lammermoor

Opera in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti
Libretto by Salvatore Cammarano, after Sir Walter Scott
Sung in Italian with English surtitles
With the Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus
Accompanied by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra

Based on Sir Walter Scott's original novel, "The Bride of Lammermuir", Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor is one of the most exhilarating Italian operas of the 19th century. Set in the wild landscape of a Scotland split by blood-feuds, Lucia is a passionate story of star-crossed lovers - a tale of love and betrayal, desire and deception, blending the passion and intrigue of great drama with music of intensity and elegance.

Leading the cast is Elvira Fatykhova as Lucia, performing one of the greatest and most musically brilliant prima donna roles in the world of opera with its famous "mad scene" and offering a thrilling showcase for colourtura display. Lucia has been a signature role for many famous sopranos who have made it their own, including Dame Joan Sutherland and Maria Callas. Joining Miss Fatykhova will be Bulgarian tenor Yvan Momirov (Edgardo) and Welsh baritone Jason Howard (Enrico), along with New Zealand singers Jud Arthur, Carmel Carroll, Benjamin Fifita Makisi and Derek Hill.

Have you ever been to a live performance and think: wow, this is so great, so much better than staying at home listening to CDs. Yes, I have -- but certainly not this one!! I am no opera critic but i know the overall performance has not given me much thrill.

Lucia di Lammermoor is great probably because of its story background, yet there is not as strong a story line in the opera. Some scenes seem unnecessary and seem to be showcasing the coloratura sopranos. Fatykhova's voice was perfect for this role actually, flawless and sweet. I just didn't really enjoy the way she changed the tone of voice, sudden rises of voice that could have exploded your ear.. for some, it may be the essence of the whole opera experience.. but I thought she could have been smoother. My favourite piece in the opera is "Chi mi frena" where Edgardo sings calmly in desperation for Lucia's faithlessness. However, this phase did not live up to my expectation in the live performance: Momirov's voice was swallowed up by others' given that his voice was low to start with. I have to say, though, that Momirov was my favourite performer that evening: his clear and definite technique in handling the range of tones, lucid and lively body language et al... truly pleasant!!!! =)

Howard was one of the performaners that I enjoyed the least. Good vocal but no acting.
The orchestra was just ok, the solo sucked a bit. At least coordination was okay.
The hall was much better than Auckland Town Hall, what is the town hall for anyway?