I saw Elektra last night and went home totally confused. Don’t get me wrong: I enjoyed it. But it wasn’t because of beauty. I wasn’t bored for a minute, but musically there wasn’t anything particularly enjoyable about it. But I can’t say I disliked it either. It struck me as very much like a movie score. But because it’s an opera, it’s sung. But that didn’t add (or detract) much or anything from the piece. As I said I’m confused. Usually, when I like a piece, I can’t wait to sit down with the score or start playing the reduction at the piano. I can’t say that at all for Elektra. At this point I have no desire to ever learn it or conduct it. But I would certainly go see it again. It’s all about revenge. Dark. Murdering family members. Insanity. Death. Greek tragedy. But captivating. Confused? Confusing? Yes. But yes, I’ll go see it again.

Elektra by arutgers03

As I often say, I saw this opera for the first time tonight. Originally I had rehearsal until 9, but somehow everything got pushed early enough that I got a seat at the last moment. What a gift! It was a marvelous production of a delightful show. I can’t believe I almost missed it entirely. I’m including two clips of fun moments.

Don Pasquale by arutgers03

Don Pasquale by arutgers03

Eugene Onegin

Last night I saw Eugene Onegin for the first time. Wow. What a fantastic piece. I knew it a bit already, having coached some scenes and having listened to a recording a few times. But it is wonderful to see it performed. It is easily one of my favorite operas. I will certainly see every performance of it I can. Take a listen to the clips of opening and closing of the entire work to get a little feel for the haunting beauty of the work.

What is so satisfying about the piece is that there isn’t a weak moment. The gorgeous music powerfully drives from one emotion to the next. In this particular performance, I could nitpick about coordination problems between stage and orchestra, late entrances, and the stage hand follies, but overall it was solid and effective. Good, if not always loud singing, but again, effective singing. The dancing of black crow added to the emotional weight, calling repeatedly back to the heavy hand of fate. An awesome, totally moving and engaging opera!

Ernani, originally uploaded by arutgers03.

Tonight I saw Ernani, a Verdi opera brought back from last season five seasons ago (Thanks for the correction, Kai!) to

begin the new season at Zurich Opera. There was certainly some lovely

singing; I found Don Carlos’ aria in the Third Act especially pleasing.

However, the story is pretty boring.

It didn’t help that the acting was too wooden along with very traditional

staging/set/costumes. It was like a museum piece dusted off for show

for historical interest. Pretty uninspired.

Expecting rain/cold for the next week, everyone was out on the lake or river. As soon as I finished my last coaching late in the afternoon, I met some of my colleagues at Obere Letten for a swim. It’s a boardwalk on a canal off of the Limmat river. The current flows gently through it so you can float or tread as you are carried downstream. The sun disappeared early and now it’s pouring with high winds. Summer was lovely while it lasted.

Zürichsee bike ride, originally uploaded by arutgers03.

Today I went on a fun bike ride with my buddy Cyril. We climbed
through the hills above Lake Zurich, arriving at Pfannenstiel, a
lookout where we had lunch. We continued to Rapperswil and across the
dam to the south side of the lake to Pfäffikon, where we took the
train back. All in all, 5.5 hours filled with a great variety of
scenery and difficulty. My legs are going to be so sore tomorrow!

Sächsilüüte Sechseläuten, originally uploaded by arutgers03.

Sächsilüüte. Read all about it. It’s a unique holiday. My sister told
me that the LA Times described it as burning a snowman. Although it
looks like that, "Dä Böögg" is more like the boogey man. It is a very
crowded event. I was glad the balcony of the opera house was open (the
people density was a little more manageable). What’s amazing is that
so many people can totally trash the streets and by the next day (or
maybe within hours) there’s barely a trace of the event. Organized.
Clean. Efficient. Zürich.

Easter skiing at Titlis, originally uploaded by arutgers03.

Since we had this weekend off, Timo had the great idea of going skiing
Easter Sunday and Monday. We just finished day one, which was
absolutely magnificent. The mountain is high enough that there’s still
good snow at the top, and even the slushier part further down was
quite manageable.

Angelica came along just for today, her first time skiing since she
was little. We stayed at the top so she could practice, and she really
improved over the hours. Too bad she can’t go tomorrow.

I wore many layers and peeled them off one by one in the morning, to
just a t-shirt by noon. I’ll bring less tomorrow. It’s certainly my
favorite skiing on the first warm days of spring, when the snow hasn’t
melted but it’s comfortable just in a t-shirt. Awesome.

MAS
(from my phone)

A magnificent spring day in Basel, originally uploaded by arutgers03.

Today was just great! Breakfast and lunch al fresco, basking in the
sun. Gym and sauna at Migros Fitnesspark. Hanging out with Vince.
Hearing Timo sing. Studying my scores and librettos. Just about perfect.

We ate lunch on the bank of the Rhein in front of the ferry (see the
pictures), which is attached to a cable but unpowered. To cross the
river, the ferryman switches the direction of the rudder, and the current
of the river moves the ferry horizontally. I thought that was a pretty
cool design so I’m sharing. Enjoy.

MAS
(from my phone)

Johannes-Passion, originally uploaded by arutgers03.

Tonight I went to hear Timo perform Jesus. His part was all recit and
no aria, as another Bass sang the arias only. Bach was one creative
guy. You can hear the same chorale melody harmonized many different
ways, which can all seem like entirely different pieces. Number 32 is
especially impressive. It is a bass aria and a reharmonized familiar
chorale interwoven– a fantastic effect. The orchestra played on
period instruments, which certainly suggested a feeling of other-
worldliness. I loved seeing the lute along with the traverso, other
strings with frets, and a gigantic contrabassoon (not folded over in
half like its modern descendant). The music geek in me couldn’t have
been more pleased.

MAS
(from my phone)