sydneyboy

Very cute guys. How they perform these athletic feats I’ll never know.

No tattoos. What a blessing!

A friend’s daughter aged 34 committed suicide about 5 years ago. Gassed herself in a car. The police said they had never encountered a more “organised “ suicide. She had in place all her superannuation documents laid out, appointments to be canceled, bank accounts in order etc. she had not taken into account the devastation to her parents, grandparents, friends etc. Her friends organised a wake and booked a venue holding 100. It became clear close to the event that this would be inadequate and the bottom line was that they required a venue holding 250. Everything to live for. A tragedy.

No, but he is on my list for my mid year visit to London. He is a stunner.

Do you understand what this blackmail business is all about? We all know the problems of physical safety in Brazil (I should know I was mugged once) but blackmail?

I’m sorry but I haven’t got the faintest idea what these recent posts are all about. Could someone enlighten me?

There is an analogy with Covent Garden and the English National Opera in London. The latter is suffering badly these days with managerial changes, constant changes of chief conductor, financial cutbacks, a totally inappropriate venue (the biggest theatre in London) and I would add mad productions.

Do I have facts right about the Lincoln Center venue? What is it used for now?

Can New Yorkers enlighten me on the current state of the New York City Opera? I know it was the “poor cousin” of the Met and I read many years ago it’s theatre had appalling acoustics and I believe Michael Bloomberg donated a large amount of money to rectify the acoustics and renovate the theatre. It later had major financial problems. I may have some of facts wrong but an update would be appreciated.

I am reviving this thread. At the time of writing there are 64 members and 65 guests. My advice to guests. Join our happy community and share experiences. The more the merrier.

Good question. I have never noticed him before.

An uncut Israeli. Unless he’s an Israeli Arab that would be a first.

Jakub Josef Orlinski took over the lead at short notice (replacing the mezzo Elizabeth DeShong) in Handel's Rinaldo at Glyndebourne a few months ago. He was originally cast in the role of Eustazio. This meant there were 4 countertenors in this production. I have just read a review of his performance in Opera magazine. The reviewer wrote "Orlinski is the real countertenor deal, one of the best I've heard on the operatic (or on any other) stage: an exceptional legato, no loss of power in the lower reaches, attentive diction, superb histrionic flair. He has in short, raised the bar decisively for what we can expect of this voice type in this repertory.'' Further proof, if it is needed, that he is a major operatic talent. As an aside, I attended Glyndebourne for the first time last July and heard a lovely performance of the Barber of Seville. I cheated a little by not wearing a dinner suit (I wore a lounge suit). Its a wonderful, quaint truly English experience. I hope to go again mid year when I'm in London to see Alcina and the Elixir of Love. This time I will hire a dinner suit.

To everyone on this forum happy Australia Day 2020!

To everyone on this forum happy Australia Day 2020!

Who knows? All I’ll say is that I have fond memories of experiences at Fragata.

It will be most interesting how the new Fragata in São Paulo shapes up.

On the Boytoy website there was a post dated 7 January which said in part ''On January 1, 3, and 4 I (was at the new Lagoa) always arrive late around 8 so that might influence my opinion. The number of clients went from 40-50 on the1st to 60-70 on the 4th with an abysmal number of boys of 5 boys on the 1st (checked at reception) to around 20 on the 4th. Please someone tell the boys in Rio there is much money to be made here in Lagoa this month.'' I don't know what to believe.

On the Boytoy website there was a post dated 7 January which said in part ''On January 1, 3, and 4 I (was at the new Lagoa) always arrive late around 8 so that might influence my opinion. The number of clients went from 40-50 on the1st to 60-70 on the 4th with an abysmal number of boys of 5 boys on the 1st (checked at reception) to around 20 on the 4th. Please someone tell the boys in Rio there is much money to be made here in Lagoa this month.'' I don't know what to believe.

The production looks like a shocker. Surely in an opera not in the mainstream repertoire “doing it straight” would aid the audiences appreciation.

Thank you William. When Herr Kaufmann was in Sydney last year for the stupendous Andrea Chenier he made it clear in media interviews he intended to sing Tristan. He is obviously building it block by block.

Please report back with your own view of this Wozzeck. Is Kaufman Tristan the full Opera in concert or only certain acts?

I further note on the Sydney performance. I was just reading the Sydney Morning Herald’s music critic, Peter McCallum’s highlights of the year. Across all classical music performances in 2019, opera, orchestral, chamber music and vocal he rated the William Kentridge Wozzeck number 1. He described it as genius and a triumph of music married to design and described the performance of local baritone Michael Honeyman as brilliant. New Yorkers don’t miss this production.

I am in London in July when Ms Netrebko is singing Tosca. As a Supporting Member I have high hopes of obtaining a seat when bookings open in mid February.

The death occurred on Christmas Day of the great German tenor Peter Schreier. A lyric tenor who appeared in Opera and lieder. He was a regular in the leading German opera houses as well as Vienna, the Salzburg Festival (where he appeared for 25 consecutive years), the Metropolitan and other major venues. I heard him in Sydney in a lieder recital in the mid 1990’s. A distinguished artist.