Comments on: Tragic choice averted

By: Thomas Dent

Thomas Dent — Fri, 14 May 2004 11:24:08 +0000

The Times review is hidden behind a screen of registration and subscription charges… The Telegraph review doesn’t sound prejudiced, it backs up its criticisms cogently (to my mind, at least) and doesn’t indulge in rhetoric. E.g. “It’s work-in-progress, and still too early to make a judgment of its qualities.” “Wotan helping Sieglinde to escape: an instance of a producer thinking she knows better than the dramatist.” This is quite contrary to Wotan’s emotional state and intentions at the time. He is disgusted with his former proteges the Walsungs and wants no more to do with them. Unless you want to recompose Act 3 from scratch, it makes no sense. On a par with Wotan not wearing a hat in Siegfried, when the text contains the line “Why are you wearing that enormous hat?”.

By: musclehead

musclehead — Fri, 14 May 2004 04:17:53 +0000

I still have a great deal of pride resting on the match at Anfield, though. My friend is a huge NUFC fan and although I won our bet about which club would finish higher in the table, I could not stand to hear her gloat about winning the last match all summer.

By: musclehead

musclehead — Fri, 14 May 2004 04:15:20 +0000

By: Stewart Kelly

Stewart Kelly — Fri, 14 May 2004 03:52:37 +0000

We got into Champs League! Yay! We get to keep Houllier for another season! No comment…

By: P O'Neill

P O'Neill — Thu, 13 May 2004 23:01:52 +0000

>> Happily, thanks to Southampton third-choice goalkeeper Alan Blayney , I can relax and enjoy myself as nothing now hangs on the Liverpool—Newcastle match. Thanks Alan! >> Indeed. The Sun’s report re Alan gets pretty close to Colemanball territory: The nervous Ulsterman did not just tread water on an unforgettable night — he swam the flipping Channel.

By: Another Damned Medievalist

Another Damned Medievalist — Thu, 13 May 2004 21:15:15 +0000

To the Thai Prime Minister—Just say NO! There ought to be a law against it. Of course, they ought to bring back the maximum foreigner rule, too. It would kill the Gunners for a while, but I think overall, it would be a good thing.

By: Louisville Palace

Louisville Palace — Thu, 13 May 2004 20:52:20 +0000

Palace have their playoff against Sunderland at 3:00 p.m. (my time) on Friday. My dilemma, therefore, is leaving work early! FWIW, a friend told me the ENO presentation was first-rate….

By: Rod

Rod — Thu, 13 May 2004 16:23:44 +0000

Forget the opera – who arranged it so that the last day of the season clashes with Eurovision!

By: Michael Otsuka

Michael Otsuka — Thu, 13 May 2004 16:07:52 +0000

But why spoil the staging by reading the reviews in advance??? The unorthodox first ‘note’ was brilliant because it was such a jolt. I thought there had been a terrible accident backstage.

By: reuben

reuben — Thu, 13 May 2004 14:02:36 +0000

Good reviews, but will Emile Heskey have a role?

By: Anthony C

Anthony C — Thu, 13 May 2004 13:31:40 +0000

Arrrgh! Yes, the Telegraph. Sorry, I was reading it on the train yesterday – but I normally read the Times so I managed to get myself mixed up. Well apparently it’s won some awards and if the Times likes it too maybe it’ll be ok. It’s far from impossible that the Telegraph critic is just a miserable old crust.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 13 May 2004 12:30:34 +0000

Must have been a different review to the one in The Times Online that I read, which was glowing… http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-245-1104450,00.html The Telegraph wasn’t impressed though… http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2004/05/10/bmwag10.xml&sSheet=/arts/2004/05/10/ixartright.html

By: Anthony C

Anthony C — Thu, 13 May 2004 12:11:09 +0000

I don’t want to sound like a git in mentioning this – but the ENO Valkyrie got a terrible review in the Times. Apparently the director was booed when she came on stage at the end. The performances were good though, apparently.

By: stefan

stefan — Thu, 13 May 2004 11:16:16 +0000

Too true. I was quite distressed when I realized that I would be at the “Lion King” during the game. So I was greatly cheered when I listened to the game last night (not having Sky) and Southampton drew. Now I don’t have to tape the game (and put earplugs in on the way home so as to not know the score). Now if we can just buy a winger or two with some of that £30 transfer kitty…

By: push

push — Thu, 13 May 2004 10:46:07 +0000

opera over your football team? tsk tsk!