José Carreras, my favorite tenor, and Leonard Bernstein, one of my favorite conductors, working on the recording of Bernstein's "West Side Story," (released by DG) in which Kiri Te Kanawa starred along with Mr. Carreras. circa 1984-85. Who knew he was Tony and Madame Kanawa was Maria?
聽著José Carreras唱"O sole mio"，很高興自己有機會擺脫了Pavarotti從多年來三大男高音演唱會累積下來的「標準版」，還有多年前Bryan Adams為Pavarotti & Friends慈善演唱會扯著喉嚨雞貓子喊叫的版本，雖然我還蠻喜歡的。從"José Carreras: The Golden Years"的第一首浦契尼名曲《妳那好冷的小手Che gelida manina》(朋友曾笑稱應作《妳那好冷的雞爪》)，就讓我深為傾心。雖然我聽得還不夠多(這點老媽可能會反對...)，但我知道這會是我最喜歡的魯道夫之一。趕著永無止盡譯稿的星期天，我忍不住被這溫柔抒情的聲音吸引，而從古夫金字塔裡爬出來，一陣乾坤大挪移，彷彿置身米蘭的史卡拉歌劇院，聽這聲音的主人為我一人彩排。
(好吧，想太多了...)
今年只剩幾天，現在才想要去國家音樂廳聽跨年歌劇大概是來不及了喔？本來朋友還想在我生日時搞一個附庸風雅的「歌劇之夜」，但那天沒演什麼想看的節目，可惜可惜。說到這個就想到新年音樂會，今年又是慕提在維也納掌廚囉！蠻期待他會搞什麼東東，他應該是歷年來指揮最多次的了吧？(純憑記憶亂猜，沒查資料，敬請指正)
1985年DG出的《西城故事》宣傳照，有人笑說卡娜娃看起來像卡列拉斯的大姐，果然「娶某大姐，坐金交椅」，害我看到就很想笑。
看著他們當年合作的照片，這首歌不停在腦袋裡轉了又轉，只好放上來囉。小時候和爸爸一起看過電視播的電影版，男女主角比較青春洋溢一點，接近現在音樂劇裡的樣子，不過卡列拉斯的藍領青年扮相這麼少見，我是不會忘記的啦！
Tonight (from the musical "West Side Story")
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Tonight, tonight,
Won't be just any night,
Tonight there will be no morning star.
Tonight, tonight, I'll see my love tonight.
And for us, stars will stop where they are.
Today
The minutes seem like hours,
The hours go so slowly,
And still the sky is light . . .
Oh moon, grow bright,
And make this endless day endless night!
真是太神奇的音樂。前年小提琴家Joshua Bell出過一張"West Side Story Suite"，美則美矣，但不知怎地我聽起來就是有什麼不對勁，也許就是器樂與人聲之間那條鴻溝吧！
Hey, how cool! West Side Story's one of my favourites too - can just about recite the entire show.... Also love Bizet's Carmen, and of course Raoul, Christine and the masked man.
Years ago (come to think of it, when I was at school!) I went to see Hair in Düsseldorf. Perhaps the Germans are rather too conservative, many were offended and walked out, especially during the Sodomy number.... Can't imagine how they'd have reacted had they stayed for the finale!
Yes, Carmen is spectacular: )And my last musical seen was Phantom so I know exactly what you're talking about. When I read the book, somehow I wasn't as touched by Erik's strong emotions or saddened by his way of life. Maybe I was too young. But when I saw the show for the first time, I just couldn't stay unaffected anymore, esp. when the part was so well performed...
(So many memories...)
As for Hair in Düsseldorf....ahahaha!!