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Seeing as there is no Italian-run English-style tavern within walking distance of the Lyric, we ended up dining across the street at Rivers last night. ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bunj was having a little trouble settling on an entree, so I helpfully suggested he ask himself "What Would Falstaff Do?" In the end, it's probably just as well he didn't take my advice, since Falstaff would probably have ordered the three most expensive things on the menu and found a way to stick me with the tab. It did guide me toward some lovely lamb chops with mascarpone polenta, however, so it wasn't completely useless.
Overall, I have to say I think I found this performance of Falstaff superior to the previous one--which pains me to say, because that one had Bryn Terfel in it and this one didn't, but I think that may have been almost a liability. Terfel has such celebrity presence that it's like watching Meryl Streep, whereas Shore could disappear entirely into the role. Also, I think the supporting cast was stronger this time, particularly Villarroel as Alice Ford and Arwady as Mistress Quickly. I don't really remember the young lovers from that last go-round, but I find it hard to imagine the performers did a better job than Griffin and our ownoff_coloratura. If only all love duets could be that charming, e. and I would never doze off during the first act of any opera again!
In fact, the only real drawbacks were Sir Andrew's clumsy conducting drowning out the lighter singers at key moments and not having our regular seats. (I could see them from where we were, and they were empty for the entire performance. What gives?) I didn't mind so much being squeezed into a row since we had an absolutely impeccable pair of young women on our left who were very patient with our comings-and-goings (curse you, Chicago Federation of Musicians and your need for two 20+ minutes breaks!), but I wanted to bludgeon the old bat behind me. I already can't stand someone kicking my seat, but if you want to really annoy me, by all means keep fidgeting with your sandpapery hands inches from my ears so I'm distracted by scraping sounds all through the last act.
As a bonus, it was snowing prettily on the way home but the walks were all clear and the bus came mere moments after I made it to the corner. Of course, that doesn't mean I didn't oversleep this morning and have to rush to work without washing my hair, but it makes me less tired sitting here than I expected. Only one week until Barber! The time, how she flies!
bunj was having a little trouble settling on an entree, so I helpfully suggested he ask himself "What Would Falstaff Do?" In the end, it's probably just as well he didn't take my advice, since Falstaff would probably have ordered the three most expensive things on the menu and found a way to stick me with the tab. It did guide me toward some lovely lamb chops with mascarpone polenta, however, so it wasn't completely useless.Overall, I have to say I think I found this performance of Falstaff superior to the previous one--which pains me to say, because that one had Bryn Terfel in it and this one didn't, but I think that may have been almost a liability. Terfel has such celebrity presence that it's like watching Meryl Streep, whereas Shore could disappear entirely into the role. Also, I think the supporting cast was stronger this time, particularly Villarroel as Alice Ford and Arwady as Mistress Quickly. I don't really remember the young lovers from that last go-round, but I find it hard to imagine the performers did a better job than Griffin and our own
off_coloratura. If only all love duets could be that charming, e. and I would never doze off during the first act of any opera again!In fact, the only real drawbacks were Sir Andrew's clumsy conducting drowning out the lighter singers at key moments and not having our regular seats. (I could see them from where we were, and they were empty for the entire performance. What gives?) I didn't mind so much being squeezed into a row since we had an absolutely impeccable pair of young women on our left who were very patient with our comings-and-goings (curse you, Chicago Federation of Musicians and your need for two 20+ minutes breaks!), but I wanted to bludgeon the old bat behind me. I already can't stand someone kicking my seat, but if you want to really annoy me, by all means keep fidgeting with your sandpapery hands inches from my ears so I'm distracted by scraping sounds all through the last act.
As a bonus, it was snowing prettily on the way home but the walks were all clear and the bus came mere moments after I made it to the corner. Of course, that doesn't mean I didn't oversleep this morning and have to rush to work without washing my hair, but it makes me less tired sitting here than I expected. Only one week until Barber! The time, how she flies!