December 17, 2008 – Silence and Voice

Putting some final touches on a literature review for an article project. #
@QueerDuck81 It is a good one! Too bad on the way out today a colleague suggested someplace else. Had a chicken calzone instead 🙁 #
@Currie Why the change for #ScoPE, Sylvia? #
MIchael Storrings is mentioned in Time Out New York magazine today http://tinyurl.com/67u2ku. They even have a picture of him there! #
At the dentist for an exam and cleaning. So glad they call and remind me before the appointment. #
Good news at the dentist; cleaning and exam went well. #
Listening to a holiday concert from our organization’s choir in our building’s lobby. Very nice and festive. #
Feeling overwhelmed with so many projects that have to be completed in the next few days before the holidays. #

I saw the opening night of this season’s La Boheme at the Metropolitan Opera, and while the New York Times gave it a wonderful review, I do take exception to one thing. While the sets and production were wonderful (there was even an ovation for the set itself (without people or music) at the beginning of Act III; a more amazing set is rare at the Met), the animals, lead singers, score, and libretto were all strong, as was the orchestra.

That is the problem. The orchestra (or perhaps the conductor, Frédéric Chaslin) was too strong and twangy at times, drowning out the singers themselves.

La Boheme is known for its wonderful music and singing, yet that does not mean it was always easy to listen to as the orchestra did not work together and then in conjunction with the singers. I noticed this, as did some of the people around me. I wonder why the Times reviewer missed it? Perhaps a lesson here is that the power of the reviewer comes from a specific worldview (or at least section of seating) that may not represent the perspective of everybody.

An important lesson for those of us involved in education and research.

Day: December 17, 2008

Jeffrey’s Twitter Updates for 2008-12-17

La Boheme from Different Perspectives