geek out alert. two down, two to go. these are exhausting! saw das rheingold yesterday and die walkure tonight. amazing seats thanks for my friend bob - 12th row orchestra, center right - some of the best acoustics at the met. the kirov production has a very consistently strong set of singers - especially alexei tanovitsky as wotan & olga savova as brunnhilde.
valery gergiev, the conductor, is easily one of the biggest badasses ever. i cant even being to imagine throwing yourself into this cycle twice in 9 days - thats ONE day off from this thing. his conducting is absolutely epic.
my one complaint would have to be the design. the set has some interesting symbolism going on, with these giant stone monoliths that change from scene to scene... the costumes, for the most part, have been a bit disappointing. i mean, the valkyries shouldnt look like tired vegas showgirls with tinfoil headdresses. theyre fucking goddesses! give them feathers!! the otto schenk met production is supposed to be better about this, but i haven't seen it.
but the singing is consistent. and thats what matters most. and sidenote - ny opera audiences are so lame! who walks out before the curtain call? they did this at the ballet/abt the other night too and i was so lamed out.
