New blog on the horizon - Anne Midgette

As the poor people have to read also some reliable and solid posts (not like my silly ones...), we are really happy that another professional journalist is became a blogger.

Anne Midgette, from the Washington Post started The Classical Beat and seems to be more than interesting.

I'm looking forward to see Ms. Midgette's posts especially because she made me feel sooooooo proud in February, writing this nice review about an old couple from Hungary - capturing the essence of that unforgettable moment of the music history.

Never be late

I see now, that it is really hard to write about the latest news. Because it is possible that somebody else in the world has the same ideas as you, gets the brand new information before you, and writes it down before you. You have to be quick.

So after reading this http://parterre.com/?p=3255 I gave up to write about Rolando's Werther in Paris and the cancellation at the MET. Not because I have the same opinion, but.... there is no but, I wanted to be revolutionary HAHA.

So as this post has no sense, just keep reading my other stuff.

Because I have to

Thanks to (user) PerTeQuaggiu on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/user/PerTeQuaggiu), our beloved Master is alive, more than ever. So you just have to check this user's channel, and you will find sooooomany interesting footage of Giacomo & co. He is hunting, using the modern technology like the motor boat, motorcycle and whatsoever. And besides composing which is obvious he had to do, he is talking to women. So you can se HIM flirting with a girl in the village. Ok, maybe I was just thinking that he is doing that...

Those videos are evidently silent movies, BUT, if you have never heard the Maestro's voice, just listen to this. In 1907, during the preparations for La Fanciulla del West, he went to NYC together with his wife, and their voice was recorded. So here you are: Giacomo (and ELVIRA!!!!) talking to the people of America.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPXPZWilkAk

Garden-party Violetta

A small present before the week-end, some vintage Netrebko from the past... Singing from La Traviata and showing some legs. Which is good. If you are beautiful like her.

(from The Princess Diaries 2)

Simply touching (before going to sleep, you have to watch this!)

If you want to be a singer - or just educated

YouTube is your friend.

And this user is also your friend because he/she shares with you the knowledge of knowlegde for singers.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Operalala

Here you will find ca. 300 videos of masterclass (only with sound, no image) recorded in 1971-72, at the Julliard School (where the ballerinas are really running around in tu-tu skirts and stockings... I saw that with my own eyes!!!)...

And of course Maria is giving those incredibly useful classes about how to sing. And yes, she is cruel. Ok, not evil cruel but supporting cruel, because she knows everything so you should listen to her!!!!!!!!

Enjoy, and use the force!!!!!

This happens when you are a prepared journalist and you are asking questions... and Placido is answering

Not just "opera is boring" even this interview is boring.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/188227

But Placido is a gentleman and doesn't send the stupidquestionsasking person to hell.

So thank you Newsweek.

(via parterre.com)

Some hotness

I know you want and love this :)

And yes, opera singers should have muscles (ok, he has also some extra weight as well, but who cares????)

And nice curly black hair.... Grrrrrrrrr.

(and sorry for not posting the source of the picture, I don't remember from where I got this...)

Role models - the old foxes...

I would like to give you some really useful information, what you should read, if you want to be updated in the opera-classicalmusic-Iloveoperastars-world.

First of all.

http://operachic.typepad.com/

This young lady living in Milan is an essential, basic, unmissable. I think she is the Perez Hilton of the OperaWorld. She knows everything before everybody. And sometime you can get some gossip as well.

And the second favourite is:

http://mostlyopera.blogspot.com/

She (also a woman :)) is living in Denmark and travels a lot and has amazing reviews, she is way more reserved than OC, but this is the key, I really belive her because she seems to be very objective. She is more into Wagner and contemporary works, so if you are interested in the Italian sillyness, this is not a good place for you.

Some others, without any order...

http://parterre.com/

If you are more interested in the US happenings, everything about the MET, New York, and those people's opinion who are seeing and hearing every night some 1st class stars and divas, like Renée, Placido, Natalie, Juan Diego, Waltraut, Anna, Rolando, etc... then this is your place.

For fans of Barcelona and the Liceu (for fans I mean myself) 2 blogs

http://gtltornt.wordpress.com/

She/he (I thik more a she) started new kind of posts now, I have to study the system to have some additional opinion. The problem generally is that after I left my beloved town of Barcelona, I don't like to read about the productions at the Liceu because it makes me cry. And sorrow.

But you should visit this blog :)

The other one is:

http://ximo.wordpress.com/

He is writing in Catalan (there is a translator program too), I suppose he is Catalan (and once I thougt I knew him, and maybe I really do) and sometimes he is making some contests, not easy ones, so I decided to not participate anymore because I started to cry. And sorrow. :)

A greek one, with immensely interesting productions at the Greek National Opera - I should go there once - but sometimes there are the toooo fan-ish stories - which is good, but maybe not for me.

http://parsifal79.blogspot.com/

Speaking of fans: if you don't want to miss anything about Anna

http://anna-netrebko.blogspot.com/

And if you go to London to visit your family-member, read this before:

http://intermezzo.typepad.com/intermezzo/

And if you think that singers are dumb and don't have any interesting thoughts - you will be shocked:

http://yankeediva.blogspot.com/

And finally if you are a woman looking for a man - or more precisely you are excited to see some flesh of male singers: http://barihunks.blogspot.com/

Have a nice blog-reading-time!!!!

Good old Giacomo

Giacomo was born 151 years ago (in 1858 - if you can not arrive to this conclusion :)), so we should celebrate!!!!!!!! Ok, of course, you are asking why 151???????
I wanted to celebrate him last year but I was too busy, so let's do the 151Years Celebration...

Later on I will try to worship THE MASTER, Puccini, of course... but not with lame banalities like everybody does, because generally the anniversaries are soooooo boring, we can se the Boheme for the 214253625 time, in a 50 years old production and then some concert with arias like Recondita armonia.... NO. This makes me sick. This is boring. We don't need this.
Let's start with a nice photo of the MasterGiacomo and me. In Viareggio, long time ago... And of course, you won't see my head. I am a bunny or something.

There should be a first one...

Behold People, this is my Blog!!!!!!!!!!
And this is my first post... generally the first posts are hard to write, so I won't try to do a perfect 1st one.
Anyway.
During the last weeks and months and years I discovered a lot of reeaaaalllly interesting blogs about operas, performances, opera houses, and first of all, opera singers.
Then I was thinking... As I have a lot of immensely amusing stories, personal experiences, and gossip about this world, I have to share it with the people out there...:)
So here we are.
About me: female, 31 - getting really old - and living in no man's land... (Hungary...) from where I have to escape several times.

And get excited about my second one!!!!!!!

PS: My English is totally gappy :) but I don't really care... So don't write me about this... I know that!