La Scala’s orchestra, chorus and ballet company have flown out of Milan for a month on tour which will see them in Korea, China, Japan and Russia.
Tomorrow night at the Lotte Hall in Seoul, Myung-Whun Chung will conduct a concert performance of Simon Boccanegra with Simone Piazzola, Carmen Giannattasio, Fabio Sartori and Dmitry Belosselskiy. On 31 August he will again be on the podium for Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, which he recently conducted at the open-air theatre of the Milan Expo site, with soloists Eva Mei, Michelle Breedt, Michael Schade and Detlef Roth. The same programme will be performed in China at Shanghai’s Oriental Art Centre on 3 and 4 September.
From China, the chorus and orchestra will head for Moscow where from 5 until 16 September they will perform staged performances of Simon Boccanegra in Federico Tiezzi’s production, recently seen in Milan, as well as Verdi’s Requiem under the baton of La Scala’s Music Director Riccardo Chailly with Maria José Siri, Daniela Barcellona, Francesco Meli e Dmitri Beloselskiy. Chailly will also conduct an Italian Concert on 15 September with pieces by Cherubini, Verdi and Rossini.
In a recent interview with DW, Eric Laufenberg had this to say about his interpretation of Parsifal:
This piece basically focuses on the religion of Christianity. On one hand, the grail knights in “Parsifal” inhabit a realm of charity, empathy and sympathy, and they come to the aid of the needy. Then there’s the other side: a crucified God, blood rituals and military symbolism.
I believe that Wagner wanted to bring out the factors of benevolence and mystery in this work. Not to openly criticize religion, but to enable one to experience it. That’s interesting in our own times of widespread religious fundamentalism – but also in times of a Pope Francis, who has been de-emphasizing the institutional side of the Catholic Church and stressing the factors of mercy, grace and benevolence.
It’s always been pertinent to ask: What are religions doing, and are they allowing themselves to be abused for ideological purposes? What do they really stand for?
If you just consider the text, “Parsifal” is difficult, yes. You need the music. It explains so much in detail, and you have to get a sense of that. Such is the case with the happy ending. Wagner knew this would be his last work. At the final uncovering of the Holy Grail, the violins soar upwards, the harmonies become clearer, and everything finally dissipates into nothingness. It’s like a final breath, the utopia of a dying man, as it were – a very beautiful, holy, peaceful utopia.
For Met lovers who desire a more consistent lighting experience, though, the Met Opera shop sells exact replicas of the chandeliers for prices ranging from $19,000 for a 24-inch chandelier to $83,000 for a 63-inch chandelier. Being a Met member pays off: Membership costs $85 a year, but with an automatic 10 percent member discount at the Met store, you can shave more than $8,000 off the list price.
Art (noun): ‘The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.’
Sport (noun): ‘An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.’
Combining extreme physical exertion with grace, beauty and subtle interpretation: are dancers athletes or artists?
‘Sport is about staying within the lines, art is about transgressing them.’
‘You find the same competitiveness in the ballet studio on a football pitch.’
“Stretch, Stretch, STRETCH! Stretching is key. Almost everyone either forgets or doesn’t take time to stretch pre workout when your body needs to be warmed up and post workout when your body needs to repair the muscles from your workout. Stretching can help prevent injuries and it can be very calming after an intense session.” – Nicholas
“Keep your core strong: it will help with everything that you do, in and out of class. Having a strong center will also help relieve you from back pain!” – Lucy
“I truly believe in moderation and listening to my body. In regards to my diet, I practice an 80/20 principle (80% healthy, 20% free). I never try to be extreme with my workouts either because that can lead to burnout and injury. I believe in sustainability for long term results.” – Danielle
“Never forget to breathe! During the workouts, so many people forget to think about their breathing patterns and can make the exercises much harder on themselves.” -Brittney
“Keep the body in motion and make exercise, no matter what kind, a part of your routine. Persistence is key. Walk as much as possible and avoid the elevator where there are stairs.” – Dioni
