In recovery mode today after a wonderful evening. Allowed plenty of time yesterday afternoon to get on train and get to London and just as well as on arrival at Colchester station the dreaded words 'signal failure' were being bandied about. Still, it was ok in the end we arrived safely, had a meal at a restaurant opposite the opera house and then in we went.
No matter how many times I visit the ROH I always get a thrill when I walk through the door and into the auditorium and see the lights, the red curtain, the sweep of the galleries and the buzz of an audience anticipating a good evening. We had brilliant seats in the Grand Tier which I have bought in the light of my New Year's Resolution last year, that as I don't go to the opera that often, while I can I will buy good seats and treat myself, and we had great sight lines, could see and hear beautifully and felt much more at one with what was happening on the stage, whereas sometimes up in the amphi you can feel a tad isolated.
Last time I saw Tales of Hoffman, Domingo was singing the title role which gives some idea of what a sing this is. Offenbach is known for Orpheus in the Underworld, La Belle Helene and the famous barcarole from this opera and, really, very little else. This is his Grand Opera as I have already discussed at length in an earlier mail, so will not repeat here, but suffice it to say, you are sitting there enjoying the wit, the music and the fun and then suddenly out comes a stunning, glorious aria, duet or trio that would not be out of place in Verdi's grandest of grand, and knocks you for six, pins you to the seat and make every hair stand on end. The trio in Act 3 with Antonio, the ghost of her mother and the devilish Dr Miracle, was simply sensational and brought the house down.
Now, what of Rolando Villazon who sang Hoffman last night? He had to take a long break from singing a year or two ago as his voice was suffering and he also, it seems, was depressed and anxious and his come back last year was eagerly awaited. I saw him in Don Carlos, which I do not think he should ever sing again if he wishes to retain his tenor voice which is not a golden, free voice but, in my opinion, a more dark, back of the throat tenor which will crack under pressure. He has triumphed in Hoffman at the House in the past and, while I thoroughly enjoyed his performance and thought he brought great charisma and charm to the role, once more I have to say, I do not think he should be singing this role any more than that of Don Carlos. His voice has similar qualities to Domingo and there were times if you closed your eyes that you could mistake him for that tenor, but Domingo has a solid lower register which comes of him being a baritone before a tenor. This has supported his voice throughout his magnificent career and I really do not think that Villazon has the physical attributes to last as long. He is a slight man, whereas Placido is broad chested, taller and strong. From my years of opera going and listening to various singers throughout my attendance at opera houses, and witnessing singers attempting roles they should never have essayed, my feeling is that Villazon should be singing Mozart, Donizetti, perhaps Rossini (though not sure his voice is flexible enough for that) and Bellini, in short singing which calls for a lighter brighter tone. It won't be easier - nobody ever said Mozart was an easy sing, but it will suit his voice better.
But, hey what do I know? He was very very good last night, husbanded his resources beautifully so that in the last act and the epilogue he could really let rip, it is a four hour opera after all, and was a delight to watch. The supporting cast not quite so brilliant, the baritone completely cocked up the wonderful Diamante aria in the second act, last note so flat that he came off it quick instead of floating it over the orchestra as he should have done, and some of the lesser parts a but underwhelming. But, I have not desire to sound like an operatic pedant of the worst kind, and it was a great experience all round.
And an enjoyable evening made more so by two London cabbies. First one took us from the station to the House, turned out to be a child singer who had auditioned and appeared in a couple of operas at ROH when he was a little lad, and who was hugely entertaining and interesting. Second, was the lovely driver of the cab which took us back to the station in the evening. My friend Rosemary, with whom I saw the show, has very bad arthritis and cannot walk very far and when I grabbed this taxi, in the teeth of a man who had also hailed it, but I nipped in front and practically threw myself across the bonnet (much to his fury which I cannot blame him for), the driver parked it and as he could not turn it round said he would wait for me while I went to fetch her, even offering to come with me. Then very helpful all round and chatty and nice and little things like this just added to the joy of the evening.
Should mention that as I plunged into the traffic in search of a cab, I stepped out right in front of a cyclist who I nearly unseated and who, quite rightly, hurled abuse at me. I apologised profusely and said I was sorry to give him such a fright and he was so taken aback at somebody actually admitting they were in the wrong, he nearly came off his bike anyway and mumbled 'oh that's alright love'.
So an eventful night all round, but glad to get home, curl up in bed and think about it all. And then this morning found myself with a car load of rubbish at the local Tip and could not help laughing at the contrast from the night before... tiaras and arias to trash.
