BradS
Member
Keep in mind that Dialogues of the Carmelites is French. That's always a wildcard.
I think I saw Girls of the Golden West at the Houston Grand Opera about 25 years ago, but I may just be remembering a nightmare that I did. I sailed through Billy Budd. Britten is not bad once you get your earplugs in. You need about 20db of attenuation. Of course, that varies depending on where you are sitting.
ah...I caught your edit after my initial reply.
I think you must have seen a different "Girls of the Golden West". The one I saw was commissioned by and premiered at The SF Opera (ca. 2017?). It was written by John Adams (not the former president), is sung in English and was absolutely horrible.
Billy Budd....I guess the story was ok. I might have been able to enjoy it if I did in fact have ear plugs.
Rusalka was at the SF Opera before the pandemic. It was fabulous....up there on my list with Tosca and Turandot.
The production in SF was very well done. I think it may have been all new.
H&G also played at SF Opera before the pandemic. I wasn't bad but not one I'd make an effort to see again.
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