Chicago, overheard.

"My one claim to fame is that I once almost killed Michael Tippett..." - Man standing on the stairs after Act One of Lyric Opera's The Midsummer Marriage on Saturday night. *

"The opera is totally awful. [pause] Yeah, it's a modern opera; I should have known it would be awful, like how any time you go to the symphony and it's a modern symphony, it's always awful." -- Man on a cell phone in the bathroom queue, moments after the above.

Since I'm being paid for a detailed opinion that has yet to appear, I'll say only this: The new production of The Midsummer Marriage at Lyric Opera of Chicago is a glorious evening of singing, dancing and playing. Also, stage construction and lighting. Really, it's a brilliant show. Whether it actually manages to overcome Tippett's idiosyncrasies to reveal the work as a masterpiece is subject to debate, but this production does make the strongest possible case -- and Sir Peter Hall even provides a visual cue attempting to explain the story's trippiness.

Already, John von Rhein's Tribune review is here. Although I was a lot more enthusiastic in  summation, most of my conclusions weren't all that far afield. I'll be interested to find out what Heidi Waleson, the only other New York critic I spotted, has to say. [Update: Wynne Delacoma's review is here.]

In my absence, my humble blog has continued to provide a nexus for ongoing revelations of connectivity between Marc Geelhoed, Amy Dissanayake, David Rakowski and Daniel Felsenfeld -- now also including Rick Moody. (If he turns up and posts here, I swear I'm going to freeze the entire site and sell screen shots on eBay.)

[* Yes, I know, I should have lingered to catch a little more of that exchange. But, unaware of how much more generous than Met are Lyric intermissions -- or maybe it just takes longer getting up the aisle in the Met -- I was in too great a hurry to get from Overheard the First to Overheard the Second.]

Comments

[Marc Geelhoed]

You've spotted it! Lyric intermissions are *insanely* long! Most places give you enough time to stand in line, drink half your drink, then pitch it as you run back to your seat, knocking over senior citizens. The Lyric lets you drink two or three, then totter back to your seat, knocking over senior citizens sharing your alcohol-tinged haze.

[David Rakowski]

Okay, so Rick Moody posted ......

[Ziggy]

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I'd love your input!