Lately at the Staatsoper

[auntaugusta]

Welser-Moest was booed out the second time for his Tristan yesterday. Couldn't go myself, but a friend told me that he has never heard a worse Tristan. Must admit that we're both spoiled by Thielemann, who's unbeatable. Though, Welser-Moest didn't "turn down the volume" of the orchestra and went so fast, that Polaski failed partly at the Liebestod

Comments

[malibran]

damn, what has thielemann done? his tempi are the slowest ever

[auntaugusta]

I can't give a satisfactory explanation. All I can say is that I like his Tristan best so far, the one from Vienna, from 2002 or 2003. Especially his tempi at the Liebestod. The final chords are pure magic for me. I even prefer it to the Kleiber Tristan. I absolutely dislike the Karajan (don't know which year or cast, don't have it with me). Which one's your favorite?
BTW, speaking of the final chords of Tristan. Have you seen Andre Hellers portrait of Jessy Norman? It's wonderful until she sings Liebestod. I could kill Heller for not giving space to these final chords. He continues the interview and you hear the final chords of Liebestod in the background. That's worse than a coitus interruptus.

[jean_pierre]

Waaaaas?! Franzi was booed?! poor fellow! But then again, from what you described, he probably had it coming. ;-P

[auntaugusta]

A guy from Zurich who I met at a gay-cafe Sunday left after act two but because of this opera. He just doesn't like Tristan. He's currently teaching at the university. He also tries to make me come to Zurich. I told him that I already have a friend there who wants me to come.

[jean_pierre]

Hehehe... I'm sure he must have fallen under your charm and wished that you would come to Zurich not merely because of the operas... ;P

[auntaugusta]

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.