Most of everything that I needed was with me and something was lost in Berlin. But as I was in the bus I was feeling sick but luckily it went away. Traveling felt like new for me. I had been sick and the only traveling had been walking (slowly) and taking the taxi (for the short and expensive trips to shopping). And now in a bus. Night bus to Oslo Gardermoen Airport. So the flight to Berlin Schönefeld went fine just as the bus. Then it was the train to Hauptbahnhof and Pizza at Vapiano. An OK Pizza Margerita. Then off to my hotel. Sleeping, resting there and walking to Deutsche Oper Berlin. I collected my ticket and then to the Don Giovanni restaurant for a Pizza Margerita there. Disappointing to say that Vapiano's pizza was better and I was in a hurry and not that hungry.
And then Opera no 1.
2016-03-26 Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni), Deutsche Oper Berlin
Santuzza = Elena Zhidkova
Turiddu = Jorge de León
Lucia = Ronnita Miller
Alfio = Mark Delavan
Lola = Stephanie Lauricella
Zwei Bauern = Robert Klöpper
Tomasz Rakocz
John Fiore, conductor
Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin
Kinderchor der Deutschen Oper Berlin
Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin
Director - David Pountney
Stage design, Costume design - Robert Innes Hopkins
Choreographer - Silke Sense
Chorus Master - William Spaulding
Childrens Chorus - Christian Lindhorst
It was almost 11 years ago that I saw this production for the first time (2005-05-01) and I do not like it much. The singing was superb on this occacion. Jorge de Leon (Turriddu) and Elena Zhidkova (Santuzza) have the most amazing voices, strong, vibrant voices and the acting was also superb. Ronnita Miller who looked like a Big Mama from another show was the definitive Mamma Lucia. I found the whole opera Cavalleria Rusticana much more to my liking with this Mamma Lucia. She was so real, so touching and yes, totally believable. Lola was also very good. Mark Delavan was Alfio. His acting was all there but the voice was not up to the high power of rest of the cast which was a shame.
The production has its wonderful moments like the Mass with all the icons and the Hymn. The Lord is risen. The chorus was amazing and Elena Zhidkova was the high light and supported by the wonderful Mamma Lucia, Ronnita Miller. It was an OK production with an incredible cast. Or I should say the cast was very credible and real.
Worst moment was when Turridu is murdered and a doll was sent flying down and Reality just flew away. It was unbelievable, stupid and a crude moment.
Opera no. 2
2016-03-26 Pagliacci (Leoncavallo), Deutsche Oper Berlin
Canio = José Cura
Nedda = Carmen Giannattasio
Tonio = Mark Delavan
Beppo = Álvaro Zambrano
Silvio = John Chest
John Fiore, conductor
Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin
Kinderchor der Deutschen Oper Berlin
Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin
Director - David Pountney
Stage design, Costume design - Robert Innes Hopkins
Choreographer - Silke Sense
Chorus Master - William Spaulding
Childrens Chorus - Christian Lindhorst
Just like in 2005 Jose Cura was Canio. In 2016 Jose Cura was even better. The singing was beautiful. Jose Cura may look older but he sings younger. The acting was great. He is truly a great Canio, I do long his Turriddu but this time JC could give everything to Canio because Jorge de Leon was Turriddu, Álvaro Zambrano as Beppe is just marvellous, he got everything the voice, acting and looks. Mark Delavan was Tonio. Great acting, weak voice compared to the others. But Pagliacci is all about acting.
Carmen Giannattasio was Nedda and since I don't care for Nedda I can only say she was good (she probably was amazing, but I don't like Nedda so,..). John Chest was Silvio. In another production I would probably say Bravo but here Silvio is a pathetic nerd, he is probably a Nedda stalker. And so the whole theater in theater gets another theatric layer and that it the whole Bajazzo thing is just a snare so that Canio can kill Silvio and just pretend to kill Nedda. La commedia e finita, but David Poutney ruins it when Canio can go away with Nedda. It nullifies it all.
Why should Pagliacci start with the dummy being cast down from the overhead to the road below and Mamma Lucia running to mourn her son. Hanno mazzato compare Turriddu! and the Prologue with Tonio. Why! The Funeral wagon with Mamma Lucia dragging it cross the stage during the Intermezzo. No! Why connect the opera together and then changes the whole stage into a theater stage. Stupid!
BUT Jose Cura was amazing!!!!!! BRAVO!!!!!
....
Taxi to my hotel. Slept well. But suddenly it is Summer time and luckily my Iphone and Ipad changed automaticly even if my watch did not. I LOST a WHOLE HOUR!! Stress, but luckily remembering to go on Iphone time and not Watch time. Back to Hauptbahnhof and Pizza Margerita as Vapiano, Great! Then to Schönefeld Airport. Almost forgot the Summer time thing there but then I was off to security. And I could buy something to drink. Cola Zero is no 2 after Pepsi Max, but I could only choose between Cola (whenever sick or desperate drink), Cola Light (no 3), and Cola Zero. Then the flight to Oslo and the flight home with 2 bottles of Pepsi Max (brought dearly at the airport). Home ca. 1930 (March 27, 2016)
For reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com
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