Discussion of Wagner’s Ring: Rheingold
While only a few people will be interested in our philosophical podcasts, I hope many will give the operatic ones a try. Here, we discuss (more…)
Posted by TJH @ 10:18 am on May 22nd 2008
Posted by TJH @ 9:51 am on April 5th 2008
La Bohème comes around again
Today, April 5 at 1:30 on your affiliated NPR station; or (more…)
Posted by TJH @ 9:14 am on March 15th 2008
Tristan March 22
Start boning up for next Saturday’s Met broadcast of Tristan (more…)
Posted by TJH @ 11:51 pm on January 19th 2008
Valkyrie (Die Walküre) matinee Feb 2!
The greatest opera ever! (more…)
Posted by TJH @ 9:03 am on January 19th 2008
La Bohème matinee
Tune in to your NPR station at 1:30 today (Saturday 1/19/08).
Posted by TJH @ 3:30 pm on April 9th 2007
Wotan vs Mormonism’s god
My point in this endeavor is not to give a full exposition of either Mormonism or Wagner’s Ring cycle, but simply to compare and contrast Mormonism’s Jehove and Wagner’s Wotan for the purpose of reflecting on whether love for the story of Wotan is rational. (more…)
Posted by TJH @ 12:30 pm on February 5th 2007
Try the Met this Saturday
This Saturday (Feb 10) the Met broadcast will be (more…)
Posted by TJH @ 4:53 pm on February 3rd 2007
Musetta gets the prize today
Today’s NY Met matinee broadcast of La Bohème had mixed (more…)
Posted by MRB @ 5:51 pm on January 22nd 2007
The Ring: A brief survey of performances and works
For those interested, I have put together a brief (more…)
Posted by MRB @ 2:07 am on January 20th 2007
Der Ring des Nibelungen
Over the next several months (perhaps years, we’ll see) I plan (more…)
Posted by MRB @ 1:52 am on January 20th 2007
Die Walküre, Act I synopsis
The orchestra opens with the strings furiously (more…)
Posted by TJH @ 10:10 am on October 21st 2006
Puritan Guide to the Opera 2: Objections
In an earlier installment, I assayed to “clear the field” for the beginner. Now I will answer some of the standard “objections” to opera that are floating around out there.
The fat lady
At first blush, there is something ridiculous about, say, a bunch of chubby 40-somethings (more…)
Posted by TJH @ 10:56 pm on October 11th 2006
Puritan Guide to the Opera, 1: Clearing the field
In commending opera, we take note of the fact that for most, it will be an acquired taste. Few that are now opera fanatics became so after the first dip of the big toe into the water. Most good things in life are not apprehended immediately. Think of your first cup of coffee, or your first whiskey. (more…)