Reading: Memoirs of the Court of Queen Elizabeth [Kindle Edition]

This book is from 1818. I was unaware of that. Of course, AMAZON does not give that information only the publication year of the Kindle version. Except that in this case not even Kindle year is mentioned.

This book is like reading ten memoirs at the same time. It is very comprehensive. It is in depth. It is not at all an memoirs that gives you a feeling of how it would be to be in the Elizabethan court. It tells the lives of many of her courtiers at the same time as it tries to show all that happened during the reign of Elizabeth I. And it also is very much a portrait of the monarch herself.

It is littered with long quotes of letters and memoirs. There are no literature list in the end. One would have to create that oneself since the quoted literature is there after the quotations. At the same time as one reads chronological the events concerning Elizabeth I and English history suddenly a biography of a gentleman and his family often 3 generations. The biography bits are annoying, not because they are not interesting but because they often starts with no mention of the name of the person in the beginning and before you can understand who it is the regular history has begun again.

Every chapter starts a short overview, unfortunately the formatting with --and it starts just there --so if you need to see what a word means in the dictionary in Kindle, those 2 --hinders that.

I have seldom read a book that made me think about editing it. It needs editing. May the reader in the 19th century did not need it but the modern reader would surely have enjoyed the book better had it been better structured by an editor.

This book is two volumes in one. The language is readable enough. It contains a lot of information. But is not easily digestible. Still thumbs up!!!

For more reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com

Thinking: What is the job of diplomats, anyway?

"Norwegian diplomats working hard to evict Ethiopians in church asylum"

If only it meant working hard to ensure the security of these persons if returned to Ethiopia. But I believe it not.

Norwegian politician' speech to fellow party members using the plight of the Ethiopians and calling they being in a church claiming, hoping for asylum an abuse to thunderous applause. The speech was an abuse. Claiming church asylum abuse is a historical right. The same politician evaded the question of whether she saw the church room as holy.

Norway, my beloved country, why?

Norway boats of its ratification UN Children's right and Women's right. Yet when children and women come to Norway all "we" do is think of ways to evict them. Diplomats may talk to the government of countries that regularly puts people in prison and that often tortures and kills prisons, and when the diplomats get the nod the persons will be safe, they believe. How many has Norway sent out to be put in prison and tortured? And all the time Norway is "surprised". The need of each individual child or woman is not looked upon. If that was done more people would be allowed to stay and the cowardly politicians fears that so much that fair and just process is something to forget. Men's claim of being of a party that is prosecuted is often heard and accepted as grounds for asylums. To claim reasons of homophobia, belonging to the wrong religion or race, the death threat of criminal gangs etc is strangely not often accepted. In some countries it is considered treason to leave the country to find another country, coming back is often deadly. But people are sent back. Children is on their own, their special needs of safety is not taken properly care of. Often children go missing from the asylums houses. They are probably trafficked. But we want to evict them.

But the truth is we, the people, is not all that callous. But our politicians are, they are playing politics with the lives of people.

Norway should afford to be just and fair and always seeking the truth. Even if it meant letting people stay in this country. The country of Fridtjof Nansen is disgracing itself by the severity we cause our fellow people who come in hope of a future. There is a solution that we should think of to give all our undocuments immigrants and asylum seekers. It is called the Nansen Passport. In our digital age the Nansen passport would be an even better tool to give home to the seekers of new light and control the countries.



For more reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com

In a white dress with a red rose amidst all the vegetables

Andrea Chenier (Salvatore Licitra) wanders into a party of aristocrats. His blue colors are earthbound and as such he is aware of the conditions of the rest of the people in France lives in. The aristocrats dressed in fruity colors are as aware of the conditions as the average vegetable. But I don't want to slander fine vegetables and fruits. When Andrea Chenier sees Maddalena di Coigny (Maria Guleghina) in her white dress with a single red dress attached he sees in her a person with compassion. But as the evening progresses one understand that her compassion is just youth and curiosity but she cares mostly about her self, her dresses, her beauty and love. She has a certain compassion for Bersi (Julia Benzinger) but seem to find it natural that a servant does everything for her.

Everybody loves Maddalena. Even Carlo Gerard (Seng Hyoun Ko). He is the servant of the Coigny family as his father but he is revolutionary and meeting Andrea Chenier hearing the poem he improvises makes Gerard into a real revolutionary that invites poverty into the palace. Naturally he can no longer work there. And then the earth is toppled by the poor people and the aristocrats is fed to the guiliotine.



For more reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com

Andrea Chenier in Berlin 29.1.2011

Maria Guleghina sang a wonderful Maddalena di Coigny. It was brave to do so when suffering from bronchitis. But I really wish she would take better care of herself and not think too much about her fans. We do love her well enough to see her healthy and sound even if we must suffer not see her onstage but another soprano. Get well and sleep well!

I worried about Salvatore Licitra as Chenier and about the baritone who sang Gerard but they only got better and better. The tenor used his lyrical instrument to the fullest. He gave a really beautifully sung Andrea Chenier. The baritone did not seem to have the right powerful voice in act 1 but that soon changed. He gave a really thrilling Nemico della patria. It was a truly believable duet between Gerard and Maddalena.

I loved the Regie. It was traditional and naturalistic at the same time as it was innovating using the space to maximize the history at the same time as it was minimalistic.

After the opera I got the change to give Maria Guleghina my get well wishes. Sleep well, my favorite Diva! Take care!!!!


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Soon off to see Andrea Chenier in Berlin

Today it is one month since my birthday when I met Maria Guleghina in Oslo and now I am off to see Maria Guleghina as Maddalena di Coigny in Deutsche Oper Berlin.

I am tired already. How will the travel be? I hope I will enjoy Andrea Chenier in Berlin.


Musikalische Leitung - James Allen Gähres
Inszenierung - John Dew
Bühne - Peter Sykora
Kostüme - José Manuel Vázquez
Chöre - Thomas Richter
Andrea Chenier - Salvatore Licitra
Charles Gérard - Seng Hyoun Ko
Madeleine von Coigny - Maria Guleghina
Bersi - Diana Axentii
Gräfin von Coigny - Katarina Bradic
Madelon - Liane Keegan
Roucher - Ben Wager
Pierre Fléville - Krzysztof Szumanski
Der Abbé - Peter Maus
Matthieu - Nathan De’Shon Myers
Incroyable - Burkhard Ulrich
Der Haushofmeister - Sergio Vitale
Dumas - Sergio Vitale
Fouquier-Tinville - Hyung-Wook Lee
Schmidt, Gefängniswärter - Seth Carico

Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin

Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin


For more reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com

Watching Verdi - Un Ballo in Maschera / Abbado, Domingo, Ricciarelli

I have just watched the DVD of Verdi's Ballo in Maschera from Royal Opera House, Covent Garden conducted by Claudio Abbado. This is a historical recording from 1975 with Plácido Domingo as Gustavo, Katia Ricciarelli as Amelia, Reri Grist as Oscar and the superb Piero Cappuccilli as Renato. It is subtitled in English. The subtitles are big white 1975 text. Not everything gets its translation which can make the novice sometimes a little lot but everything is explained in the inlay.

Who is singing Horn, Ribbing or Ulrica? They are not mentioned not even after the opera on the DVD and not elsewhere. I recognize Gwynne Howell, I think.

Chorus Director of The Royal Opera House Chorus : Robin Stapleton.
Leader of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House : Meyer Stolow.
Conductor : Claudio Abbado
Director : Otto Schenk
Designer : Jürgen Rose
Original Stage Lighting : William Bundy

Director for television - John Vernon

"The names of the characters correspond to the version of Boston by Verdi, except for the main  character, Gustavo, in which case, the name of the original version set in Sweden has been respected."  = why not alter all character's name to the orginal version ???

This is a beautiful video production of a beautiful opera production. A young and healthy Claudio Abbado lead a fantastic cast.

Plácido Domingo as Gustavo
He is Gustavo III of Sweden and he lives and breaths in this role. He is in glorious voice. His acting is superb.

Katia Ricciarelli as Amelia
Oh, so young and with such a curly hear. She sings, she acts, a lovely, wonderful portrayal that makes us realize that Amelia is YOUNG.

Piero Cappuccilli as Renato (Anckarström)
He is a powerhouse. He is a magnet. Where Gustavo dances around, he is serenity until it is broken. He loves Amelia and his King.  This portrayal is of a man who really loves his wife not just a man filled with pride. A glorious voice and superb acting. He touched me in this role.


Reri Grist as Oscar
What a singer, actor? She captured Oscar's boyishness perfectly.

Ulrica/Madame Arfvidson (Elizabeth Bainbrigde)
In the swedish version she is a gypsy. And here she lives in a tent camp. Seldom is the scenes really working, but here is does. It doesn't feel stupid as in do they really expect us to believe this? We believe. Not in any supernatural power, but that a smart woman can delude people and maybe even herself. She has enough power in her voice, even if it is just barely, to really capture us and believe. This is one of this roles where just a mezzo soprano voice seldom does it, a real alto is required. Or at least deep voice that can cast shadows.

I can with truly recommend this DVD. It is worth watching, maybe even worth finally buying a new DVD machine so that I can watch it on my TV rather than on my computer.

The cast in this DVD was ..., May 3, 2003

By 

Erico Mangaravite

This review is from: Verdi - Un Ballo in Maschera / Abbado, Domingo, Ricciarelli, Royal Opera (DVD)

After spend some time in researches , I founded a complete list of the cast on this '75 ROH production:

Amelia - Katia Ricciarelli
Gustavo III - Placido Domingo
Anckarstroem - Piero Cappuccilli
Oscar - Reri Grist
Mlle. Arvidson - Elizabeth Bainbridge
Silvano - William Elwin
Samuel - Gwynne Howell
Tom - Paul Hudson
Un giudice - Francis Egerton
Amelia's servant - John Carr
ROH Chorus and Orchestra, Claudio Abbado





For more reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com

35. Edita Gruberova, soprano

My photo of Edita Gruberova in Vienna 2003-06-27 (Signierstunde)

I saw her as
Elvira (I Puritani) 1995-09-02, 2005-06-22
Elisabeth I (Roberto Devereux) 2001-05-12, 2002-09-30
Lucia di Lammermoor 2000-06-22

LINKS to more information about this artist (agency, schedule etc.):
OperaBase
Personal/other websites
 http://www.gruberova.com

For more reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com