Comments on On An Overgrown Path: The audience of course loved it

aw, again re the Dictionary of Stage Production Te...

2007-06-20T13:37:00.000+01:00

aw, again re the Dictionary of Stage Production Termini:
I've just overlooked another great expression so worthy of an entry

champagne-quaffing (mainl Engl.) as in
"champagne-quaffing English country-house audience"

btw, anybody interested in co-authoring teh
Dictionary of Modern English Stage Production Termini?

To Daid's Dictionary of Stage Production Termini I...

2007-06-20T13:29:00.000+01:00

To Daid's Dictionary of Stage Production Termini I would add

eccentric turkey

a (great!) example of it's use would be:

"eccentric turkeys gobbling their way round provincial houses" that "attract those lovely people who broker private equity deals"

Somebody should publish a dictionary of stage prod...

2007-06-18T12:42:00.000+01:00

Somebody should publish a dictionary of stage production cliches in classical opera and drama. It would include entries on:

Nazi greatcoats (a bit passe now)
Station platforms (with luggage piled up)
Tennis rackets
Boating parties
Cocktail bars
Bikers

Etc etc .... Apropos 19th c Italian opera in particular, see Henze's wonderful essay Visconti and Opera Production. I'll scan it and send it over.

Sorry that I appear to be replying as just "David". Not sure how to change this.

"Perhaps it is because he's American that Alden si...

2007-06-18T07:49:00.000+01:00

"Perhaps it is because he's American that Alden signs up to the general belief that black-tied, champagne-quaffing English country-house audiences must be made to laugh, and have a jolly evening out, whatever the work on offer."

Hmm, probably more like: "The audience, of course, loved it." SOunds like a BRITISH problem to me.

Critics may thumb their noses at regional opera, b...

2007-06-17T18:05:00.000+01:00

Critics may thumb their noses at regional opera, but these engagements are important to the careers of many singers and musicians, as well as to the thriving of both opera and classical music. The country bumpkins that Mr. Holden derides are often the very ones that own large classical music collections on disc and travel large distances to see major productions.

In addition, summer festivals are a godsend to small towns, whose small businesses often thrive with the visitors that these performances bring into town.

From a dedicated summer festival junkie...