25 July 2009

premiering tonite



Paul Moravec is the composer of "The Letter" which opens tonite at Santa Fe Opera. he & his portly librettist talkd at a seminar this morning ably led by our local composer John Kennedy. I learnd that Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd" was among the influences for the new opera. & that its star Patricia Racette was a generous collaborator -- even writing one of the libretto's best lines.

I won't be seeing it for another couple of weeks when my cousin Regina arrives for a visit.

8 comments:

monica said...

The Husband and I are going to see it Aug 15, an early anniversary outing, and our first Opera outing ever. Are you going that day? or another? Would be nice to see you again -- it's been ages!

Alex Gildzen said...

wow.... you're still here?

Regina & I are going on the 7th.

let's plan on getting together some other time.

cinemage books said...

Is this based on the Maugham bette davis film?

Alex Gildzen said...

yes. in fact the old Davis film got a dusting off at the local cinemateque.

& for the opera one of our more famous residents Tom Ford designd costumes.

cinemage books said...

I love Bette in that movie. Just saw it recently again. Wyler's smooth direction and the fake Warner Bros. sets are devine, and not too mention Gale Sondergaard as the dragon lady. Pure joy, but don't know how an opera will work.

Alex Gildzen said...

wonder if there's a tape of the tv version with the great Anna May Wong as the dragon lady?

cinemage books said...

who else was in the tv version. When was it. The last wong movie I saw was the awful Portrait In Black. Love her in of course Shangai Express and Piccadilly, there is a beautiful photo of her at some party in Hollywood in the 30's with her girlfriend Marlene and some one else. Maybe you know the one I mean.

Alex Gildzen said...

Michael Rennie. John Mills. Sioban McKenna. 1956. NBC series calld "Producer's Showcase."