I loved all of the Zeffirelli productions I have seen--Tosca, La Boheme, Otello, and Aida. I trust you know that the new Met Tosca was booed by the audience for its obscenity and bad taste. The Met had to scrap it and revive the Zeffirelli production. Critics often hate the realism of Z's productions, but nowadays most of us rejoice to see an opera presented without gross directorial distortions.
I am no scholar of R.P. Warren's work. I've read nearly everything he wrote, and I heard him speak half a dozen times. If I had to venture an intuitive guess, I would say that Warren's mature religious vision was a vague sort of Christianity based in his response to the natural world. One might call it a sentimental Christianity or Christian brand of pantheism. Leaving the South and settling in intellectual New England made him a sort of Transcendentalist Unitarian--such as Longfellow or Emerson.
I saw Luc Bondy's Tosca in 2009, a few weeks after opening night when Met patrons turned into Yard groundlings. It was live-streamed just outside on the plaza in front, and there could be heard booing from there as well! It was a shock to the system. I agree with Alex Ross' autopsy detailed in The New Yorker piece titled "Fiasco" (9/28/2009). I have neither before nor after seen such a takedown with even Zeffirelli joining the fray by calling Bondy a "third-rate director." I can't help but think it hastened his death only six years later at the age of 67. Official cause was pneumonia, but I do believe everyone involved in the vicious international beatdown might be feeling some guilt. It was the stuff of opera and life imitating art.
Thank you so much for your time and response, and I very much look forward to reading more of your work.
And a Frost reference in the last paragraph! What a perfect thing for The Common Reader. Congrats on the scoop, Henry. Congrats on the book, Dana. I too have embarked on a few misguided adventures in the hopes of finding love. If I am completely honest with myself, many years ago I may even have went to grad school all because it kept me close to a girl. Yikes! (Don't tell my parents. Or my kids.)
In New York, the Zeffirelli set alone received applause from the audience! My favorite Zeffirelli production is Aida. I do not understand the turn to minimalism and digital sets. It just doesn't work with opera. I look forward to reading more of your work Mr. Gioia. I would like to know your thoughts on our first US Poet Laureate - Robert Penn Warren. Do you believe Warren's evolution was sincere? I want to believe it was sincere. The first evidence of his conversion lies in his 1946 short story "Blackberry Winter."
I loved all of the Zeffirelli productions I have seen--Tosca, La Boheme, Otello, and Aida. I trust you know that the new Met Tosca was booed by the audience for its obscenity and bad taste. The Met had to scrap it and revive the Zeffirelli production. Critics often hate the realism of Z's productions, but nowadays most of us rejoice to see an opera presented without gross directorial distortions.
I am no scholar of R.P. Warren's work. I've read nearly everything he wrote, and I heard him speak half a dozen times. If I had to venture an intuitive guess, I would say that Warren's mature religious vision was a vague sort of Christianity based in his response to the natural world. One might call it a sentimental Christianity or Christian brand of pantheism. Leaving the South and settling in intellectual New England made him a sort of Transcendentalist Unitarian--such as Longfellow or Emerson.
I saw Luc Bondy's Tosca in 2009, a few weeks after opening night when Met patrons turned into Yard groundlings. It was live-streamed just outside on the plaza in front, and there could be heard booing from there as well! It was a shock to the system. I agree with Alex Ross' autopsy detailed in The New Yorker piece titled "Fiasco" (9/28/2009). I have neither before nor after seen such a takedown with even Zeffirelli joining the fray by calling Bondy a "third-rate director." I can't help but think it hastened his death only six years later at the age of 67. Official cause was pneumonia, but I do believe everyone involved in the vicious international beatdown might be feeling some guilt. It was the stuff of opera and life imitating art.
Thank you so much for your time and response, and I very much look forward to reading more of your work.
delightful read
I’m sure you’ll enjoy Dana’s book in that case!
You should interview Dana Gioia on, well, anything. Would love to listen to that conversation.
yeah, I think you're right
Enjoyed the piece very much. Thank you.
You’ll like Dana’s book!
Ah, I suspect you will enjoy my interview with Dana Gioia: https://marytabor.substack.com/p/dana-gioia
Thanks!
And a Frost reference in the last paragraph! What a perfect thing for The Common Reader. Congrats on the scoop, Henry. Congrats on the book, Dana. I too have embarked on a few misguided adventures in the hopes of finding love. If I am completely honest with myself, many years ago I may even have went to grad school all because it kept me close to a girl. Yikes! (Don't tell my parents. Or my kids.)
In New York, the Zeffirelli set alone received applause from the audience! My favorite Zeffirelli production is Aida. I do not understand the turn to minimalism and digital sets. It just doesn't work with opera. I look forward to reading more of your work Mr. Gioia. I would like to know your thoughts on our first US Poet Laureate - Robert Penn Warren. Do you believe Warren's evolution was sincere? I want to believe it was sincere. The first evidence of his conversion lies in his 1946 short story "Blackberry Winter."
Athena,
My reply to your question is below. It appeared as a comment rather than a reply. Such is my command of this digital medium.
DG
What a great piece, Henry !!
Yes Dana is great!