iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Apparently that’s not the real Royal Opera account. 🤣🤷🏻‍♂️

Came over to London last Friday with a friend who wanted to see a couple of plays. Plays seen, and she went back to the US yesterday. So for me, here’s the main event, my 2nd performance @royaloperahouse.bsky.social, the new Parsifal which I gather has garnered mixed reviews. Excellent cast!

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Saw a surprisingly large amount of that in Croatia in the spring. My sister the smoker was happy, her brother the ex-smoker less so. 😂

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Very enjoyable afternoon with Boston Lyric Opera’s Guillaume Tell. I had some issues with the production but nothing to ruin the experience. Standout singers for me tenor Konu Kim as Arnold and soprano Brianna J. Robinson as Gemmy. Great to spend the day with @y2000k.bsky.social and her son.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

The second half of the weekend’s program, Boston Lyric Opera’s production of my beloved Guillaume Tell. Tx3 to all!

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I was touched by the affection shown for Andris. He seems genuinely affected by it. It was a great evening and the weather added an extra dimension.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Tonight the final performance @ Salzburg Festival and the final one on this trip, which began 4 weeks ago in Savonlinna. Tomorrow I go to Vienna before returning to New York on Sunday.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

The other interesting thing for me is that, in comparison to the other da Pontes, this one transpires in a complete vacuum. Nozze and DG are filled with these immensely rich, detailed social worlds. Così is a Petri dish experiment. Nothing exists outside except an army, also part of the experiment.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

In the other da Ponte operas, even the characters that need a lesson - Don G and the Count for example - start as fully human characters however flawed or evil. The Così characters never engage me on a human level. In short I don’t care what happens to them. With the other 2 operas, I do care. 🤷🏻‍♂️

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

I’ve been trying to work out my feelings about Così. I suppose the short answer is that of the 3 da Ponte operas it has the weakest libretto by far. The principals are caricatures and even if done with the purpose of giving them a chance to become human, you don’t need to start as cartoons.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

The opera is on a Wagnerian scale, total duration 6 hours 20 minutes with 2 1 hour intermissions. Holy Bayreuth Batman, that’s even longer than Met intermissions, which usually feel interminable.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

One of the main events of the Festival. Not sure what I’m getting myself into 😂 but Messiaen is always interesting if not always easy. The cast unknown to me except for Pannikar, as is the conductor.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Another doubleheader day! Once again I begin with a Mozart-Matinee at the Mozarteum and this time I have a more elevated experience. @ Salzburg Festival

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

And some of it is quite witty! Why casually discard good material?

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Since I’m not a French speaker I don’t really notice whether they are spoken properly or not. But their absence IMO really upsets the dramatic flow. It creates questions because the recitatives provide vital information.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

At least they did it once. The Met will never do it. 😔

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Yes he’s very good. He’s been at the Met a few times and I’ve seen him over here too and he doesn’t disappoint. But if you unfortunately have to have a Plan B, Christopher Maltman is a good one.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

He’s become my favorite tenor in this rep. Oropesa and Osborn for the win!

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

I find the tendency to remove all the recitative (and everyone does it, it’s virtually gone at the Met) somewhat problematic since for me it disrupts the continuity and makes for some rough transitions between scenes. Not sure why everyone seems to hate it.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Interesting piece I’d LOVE to see again. Will gladly travel to SF or Santa Fe or …

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

The stage is bare, just a back wall with two doors - their lives are barren but there’s a possibility of change? In Act 2 as the women warm to the idea the back wall divides to reveal a tree and a hint of forest. Ah nature has appeared! Singers good, I’d say Karakacheva the best.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

I enjoyed it and I’m not a big fan of this particular work, but they did a good job. Αt the beginning, Kränzle was announced as suffering from asthma so he did the stage business and Maltman sang the role from the pit. Worked reasonably well.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

One can hope but yes it’s hard to be sure.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Up tonight an opera I last saw at the Met in early 2020 and at Juilliard in late 2024 so I’m looking forward to hearing it again. Tx3 to all @ Salzburg Festival.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Today merely a doubleheader, but getting off to a rousing start with this all-Brahms program. Couple of guys in the lobby killing a bottle of champagne to pregame. Respect! @ Salzburg Festival

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

I did, thank you! She’s an amazing artist. 85 years old!!!

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Many firsts tonight! I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen Martha Argerich live. If I have it was a long time ago. Have never heard the Kreutzer live before and quite likely have never hear the other two at all. Good job Salzburg Festival!

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

This is third opera by Henze I’ve seen, all in Austria. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I saw The Bassarids here in 2018 (there’s a DVD of that production available) and Das Verratene Meer in Vienna in 2021. Alas no DVD for that one.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Last night at the Salzburg Festival, a concert performance of Henze’s Der Prinz von Homburg, which I had never seen live before. I quite like Henze and wish we got more of him. I really enjoyed this, his modern idiom worked very well with the seemingly conventional operatic subject.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

This should be fun. A great violinist. A great orchestra and conductor. Pieces one rarely gets to hear - at least this one - and the Brahms is a particular favorite of mine. Simonyan sang Frasquita in Carmen a few days ago. @ Salzburg Festival

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Here begins a triple header day - the only one of this year’s visit - and absolutely no better way to start than with Mozart in this gorgeous little hall. I only came here for the first time last year. 😢 Was für ein Idiot!

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Last night’s recital by Yuja Wang was a memorable start to the festival but let’s get serious! Quite a cast. I’ve seen all the principals here and there. Mkhitaryan sang Musetta at the Met a few years ago. For me Currentzis is always interesting. Tx3 to all @ Salzburg Festival!

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Tonight my third and final performance at this year’s Rossini Festival, another work new to me and in the cast only one familiar name Paolo Bordogna. Tx3 to all! Thank you again for a wonderful festival!

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Last night the second performance of this year’s Rossini Festival, L’occasione fa il Ladro, or A Thief By Chance. Work and cast all new to me. It’s an early piece and a rather slender one, but an attractive young cast and effective production made for an enjoyable evening.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Finally the Rossini Festival is about to get underway, the first of 3 operas this year all new to me. Tx3 to all!

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Grazie! A buongiorno from Pesaro. First festival performance tonight.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

A buongiorno from one of my favorite train stations in the world, Milano Centrale! It’s noisy and chaotic but not nearly as sketchy as it was 20 years ago. 😔 I traveled down from Finland yesterday and continue on today via train to Pesaro, for the Rossini Festival which begins tomorrow.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

We’ve all left town! We know you’ll take good care of New York in our absence! 😉

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

I have to say that Olavinlinna Castle is about as handsome a venue in which I’ve ever seen an opera. Second Norma tonight, my final performance here and I believe the last of this year’s festival. Tx3 to all!

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Tonight a break between Normas! This cast is entirely new to me. Tobias Westman sings Alfredo tonight and Orhan Yildiz sings Germont. Tx3 to all!

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

So far I am digging Savonlinna. Very glad I came. Traviata tonight with a cast totally unknown to me and then another Norma on Saturday.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

It is in a courtyard of the castle, but it’s covered with an enormous tent. They set up wooden risers for the seating and people stomp on it to signify approval, like they did in Pesaro at performances in the basketball arena. The castle walls provide a pleasant reverb.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

The Savonlinna Opera Festival opens with a very strong hand. Two of my very favorite singers in a favorite opera, on a beautiful summer evening in a 15th century castle in Finland. 🥰🥰🥰

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

That’s the plan! 🍰 ☕️ 🐖

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Pesaro and Salzburg, and then a little recuperation time in Vienna.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Don’t know. The only time I saw her in recital was years ago at the Park Ave Armory.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

I believe it’s outdoors, in a courtyard or something, but this is my first time here so I’m not sure.

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Greetings from Savonlinna, Finland, where I’ve just arrived for a few performances at the opera festival here, most notably Lisette Oropesa in her role debut in Norma. Very pretty spot, lots of water and trees and of course the castle. Tonight great clouds too!

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Peter Brase @romapete.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Oh my god his pianissimi are exquisite.

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