Opera Chic

Zubin Mehta Comments on the Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI

A pope (Benedict XVI), a president (Giorgio Napolitano) and a conductor (Zubin Mehta) walk into the Vatican bar. After a couple Grey Goose-soaked hours, a fight breaks out with a table of trust fund kids and their model girlfriends. Benedict XVI lunges Shaolin-style in red Prada slippers, Mehta blocks punches to his face with a Beethoven symphony score and Napolitano absconds with the models. *winks, points his index fingers into the "I'm that guy" pose*

Okay, well, we admit that what actually went down wasn't nearly as exciting: On February 4, Zubin Mehta and the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino orchestra played at the Vatican for Pope Benedict XVI and Giorgio Napolitano, prez of the Italian Republic, in remembrance of the 84th anniversary of the Lateran Treaty. The Italian VIPs were treated to Verdi's La forza del destino overture and Beethoven's Eroica.

With last week's memorable concert at his back, Mehta commented on yesterday's resignation of the Pope, saying that he was moved by the Pope's post-concert speech after he had played on February 4.

He reiterated that he had already met the Pope during his years in Munich and continues (OC's translation k thnx): "We all remained enchanted by the beautiful speech that the Holy Father had pronounced after the concert, words that revealed a great love and profound understanding of Beethoven and Verdi. Everything that he has accomplished to the end will remain within history, the peace and kindness that he brought through to his travels will remain in the future memory. I want to newly-renew my promise to play for him any time that he wants, and I hope that now that he has more time, he'll have a way to visit Firenze's Maggio Musicale Fiorentino so that he can return to listen to us."

Take Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra for a (Totally Not Free) Test Drive

This Saturday in Firenze ("Florence", you heathens), Maggio Musicale and the Robert F. Kennedy Center will magically turn the money in your wallet into a baton. Following the final Turandot dress rehearsal on November 24 at a post-performance gala, you can bid on a private lesson with Zubin Mehta, culminating in a live, onstage drive of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino orchestra. Bids start at €5,000. Happy Birthday, Samantha. Make a wish. ~*~It already came true~*~

Zubin Mehta in Presidential Company

President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano loves his opera -- and really, how much would we love to see American President Obama frequently drop into his neighborhood opera houses like the Washington National Opera, or even New York's, Chicago's, and California's gorgeous venues.

Last night the Italian Prez stopped by to visit the 74th Festival del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and take in Aida in a new staging by Ferzan Ozpetek, conducted by Zubin Mehta. Amneris is split between Luciana D’Intino and Mariana Pentcheva; Aida by Hiu He and Maria José Siri; and Radamès by Marco Berti and Walter Fraccaro.

 

Rehearsal Photos from the Mantova Rigoletto

 

ZDF offers a slide show of rehearsal photos from the live-action Rigolettothat's taking Mantova by storm on September 4. It's Rigolettowith Placido Domingo and Vittorio Griogolo in the true-to-libretto locations of Verdi's opera (OC posted about it here).

Access it here.

Mehta's Honor in Valencia

 

Monday night's performance of Carmen in Valencia wasn't special because of a new production or a celebrated opera singer. During a pause, maestro Zubin Mehta was awarded with the Cruz de Honor de Jaume I by Queen Sofia of Spain. Mezzo Elina Garance was also hanging with the maestro at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia since she's singing the lead. Judging by her costume below, this looks more like a wicked ~Carmen on Ice~ Ice Skating Spectacular.   

 

M8A @ Disney Hall: Zubin Flaunts His Wiener In Los Angeles

Zubin Mehta (who, tactfully, the LA Times informs us, chose "M8A" as his vanity license plate in California) led the Wiener Philharmoniker for the first time in Disney Hall.

The fun part? Their instruments almost got lost in the trip from New York (too much snow at JFK or something) -- imagine the mighty Wiener having to play with borrowed California instruments. The horror! Too bad, their luggage came in just in time.

Mark Swed was there to report.

65 Years Ago

Zubin Mehta, photographed last night while leading the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra @ Warsaw's Grand Theater National Opera, ending the commemorations of the 65th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Presidents of Poland and Israel, Lech Kaczynski and Shimon Peres were in the hall. (ph. EPA)

At midnight Zubin Mehta and a group of orchestra members took part in a short, impromptu concert at the Monument to the Heroes of the Ghetto Uprising. The orchestra’s leader played Bach’s Sarabande for solo violin and the principal clarinettist -- a Jewish tune.

Thank you Maestro.

Even Cowgirls Get The Opera: La Forza Del David Pountney

Carlos Alvarez, Nina Stemme, Salvatore Licitra, Nadia Krasteva et al. in La forza del destino on stage at the Vienna opera house. Conducted by Zubin Mehta, directed by David Pountney, premieres March 1, 2008. Come one, come all to the drrrtiest little wh0arhaUs in Hornachuelos.

Why Did They Make It Blue So Much?

 

(German version on the left, Italian version on the right *shudders*)

Are we the only ones that don't really get the cover design of the Italian-version Zubin Mehta official autobiography?

Released first in German-language titled, "Die Partitur meines Lebens; Erinnerungen" (The Score of My Life; Memories) to coincide with the maestro's 70th birthday last year, the cover sits on the bookshelf as a dignified portrait of a great maestro who traveled the word, held many influential posts, and filled his rich life with friends and family. The Italian version, not so much. We recommend someone in Mehta's group to get friendly with Chip Kidd for the US version.

//the first thing OC thought of was David Cross's Tobias from the late Arrested Development, and [possible NSFW link has strong language] his auditions for The Blue Man Group: "I figured if I blew myself early I'd be nice and relaxed for a nine o'clock dinner reservation". loalz.

We Got Teh *lolbombs* Up In Here

Those awesome avant-scammers of La Fura dels Baus have done it again, proving themselves to be the smartest con artists in the world of opera (with the exception, of course, of the canny musicologists who turned their technical inability to conduct an orchestra into an asset by calling themselves conductors of "historically informed performances", the lamer the better).

La Fura has created another incredulous spectacle -- this time, sadly lacking, from what we read, in bestiality and cannibalism...but there's always a first time I guess.

Below are a few photos of the La Fura del Baus-directed Das Rheingold, currently showing in Valencia, at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía and conducted by Zubin Mehta (la prima was this past Saturday).

The Rhinemaidens are transformed into s&m cage dancers (with water??), robots lurk in the background, and it all seems like a very demented nightmare...all an experiment in turning Wagner into Arthur C. Clarke -- Das Rheingold as 2001 Space Odyssey ( + Time Bandits + Space Pirates). It looks like a bunch of kids got into their crazy ex-vaudeville grandmother's closet and played dress-up with her old costumes after watching too many episodes of Doctor Who. Here are a few images from the production:

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(above: OMG HES ON A SEGWAY! WHAT A NERD!)

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ummmm, what?! Listen, OC witnessed a production of Die Entführung last year at Teatro Regio in Torino that was set entirely ON THE MOON, complete with costumes taken str8 outta Fifth Element, and it was such a disaster, that you actually had an affinity towards it, a strange sympathy...because hey, anything in space is kewl am i rite? Someday when you guys are old enough, I'll sit you on my lap and tell you aaaaaaall about it.

 

A "new" Traviata for La Festa Della Donna

Today, in recognition of "La Festa della Donna", (the lamest of lame holidays in all of Italy) you will be able to get your itchy little opera-loving hands on a brand new collector's edition DVD boxset of the Zubin Mehta-conducted film La Traviata à Paris, directed by Giuseppe Patroni Griffi, and starring Eteri Gvazava, José Cura, and Rolando Panerai.

This La Traviata was originally broadcast live (in four parts over the span of two days) on European television during the summer of 2000 (omg RUN its teh y2k millennium bug), where the singers and gigantic load of extras (numbered at 1,500) were dropped into actual locations around Paris (the opening scene takes place at L'Hôtel de Boisgelin) and the countryside. This new format allowed the opera unbridled, naturalistic expression and a 360-degree scope of acting/filming, but left many (Opera Chic included) with the distinct impression of perplexity. È strano, indeed.

This new boxset DVD comes with a book, and a 44-page libretto with special images from director-of-photagraphy Vittorio Storaro. Nicknamed "La Traviata del Terzo Millennio", it was also the winner of Four Emmy Awards and of the Prix Italia. Verdi's score is played by the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI.

It runs a bit over three hours, with lots of extras, including promos (witness the sickest, palest Violetta ev4r), outtakes (um, yeah, were going to need u 2 cough harder), historical location guides (welcome to our humble cottage, now plz remove ur riding boots tnx), and an hour-long "Making Of", which apparently took seven years to prepare from the mind of producer Andrea Andermann.

<spoiler>Guys, I have the leaked copy: VIOLETTA DIES!</spoiler>

heh.

ok, but can I just ask what is going on during the final scene? omg, we have filthy pornography here! WHY WAS I NOT INFORMED??!

(I SWEAR ON THE GHOST OF COUNT CHOCOLA AND BOO BERRY THAT THIS ABOVE IS A SCREENCAP FROM THE LA TRAVIATA À PARIS!!)

יום הולדת שמח Happy 70, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra!

...Bernstein disappeared from view in the middle of a concert. "He jumped up into the air to punctuate a particularly forceful part of a symphony," says Mishori, "but he then vanished. He'd fallen off the podium. Two of the musicians helped him regain his feet and the rest of us carried on regardless.

Priceless.

A big fat huge warm HAPPY 70th to the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, now engaged in a tour of the US! You all make Opera Chic's very proud.

It's OC's duty to remember the brave maestro who conducted the first-ever performance of the IPO, in the terrible year of 1936: Arturo Toscanini.

And in closing, let's hear it from two of Opera Chic's favorite maestri and humanitarians:

"For two and a half hours every evening, we have peace." -- Zubin Mehta

"...in an orchestra you learn to hear one another." -- Daniel Barenboim

יום הולדת שמח

(OK, the serious post is over: Opera Chic will now return to her usual pointless ways.)

Nancy & Zubin's Flying Circus

Opera Chic has long been a fan of the wonderful Nancy Kovack: today's Los Angeles Times interviews her conductor husband, Zubin Mehta. Nancy's husband (our favorite Yiddish-speaking Zoroastrian) has great anecdotes about his 46 years of work with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, and -- from the patio of his Brentwood mansion -- gives an interesting insight into a world-travelling condcutor's life:

"I arrived yesterday from Tokyo, I'm going tomorrow to Florence, and I thought Los Angeles is on the way. Two days in my home is my rejuvenation process."

Holy First Class Lounge, Batman!