John Fenster

For all my Yannick yammering I'm also still eager to go again

Going to sleep at 3 AM last night is making me question my plan of Dudamel and the NYPhil on Friday morning followed by Tristan #2

What a run to be near sold out

Very much agreed!

Reading the director's note reminds me how off this idea of the opera is.

Next time I gotta remember to not pay attention to the text during Isolde's finale so I'm not rolling my eyes that they're trying to make it about a baby

Babylon 5 My Destination

And I paid more than $100 less for the seat in front of that one

Page from program booklet. Synopsis When his mother dies in childbirth, Tristan earns his name ("full of sorrows") and is adopted by his uncle, the widowed and heirless King Marke of Cornwall. As a young betrothed to the princess Isolde, who blessed his sword for victory with magic powers man, Tristan is sent to Ireland to battle their fearsome warrior, Morold. Morold is learned from her mother. But Tristan beheads Morold, leaving part of his sword in Morold's head. The head (and shard of sword) are sent back to Isolde as a cruel sign of Cornwall's triumph. The victory comes at a cost: Morold has wounded Tristan so deeply that his only hope of survival is Isolde's healing potion. He sets sail to Ireland in disguise (as "Tantris") pleading for mercy. Isolde begins to heal the stranger. She finds the broken sword and notices that the shard in Morold's head perfectly fits the missing piece in the stranger's sword, realizing that "Tantris" is really her betrothed's killer. She takes a sword to Tristan's neck, ready to claim revenge, when Tristan looks deeply into her eyes. Against her will, she lets the sword drop. She continues to heal Tristan and sends him back to Cornwall, as the two swear an oath of silence over what happened between them.

Production was visually interesting. Too busy, but they always are. Honestly a lot better than I expected after the surprising number of changes/misinterpretations in the opera intro in the program booklet (going to read the rest of it on my train home)

I guess that would explain why Tristan didn't appear at the end of the tunnel; he's already back at it again

Cast, dancers/doubles, and production team on stage in front of the set which looks not unlike an eye

Thunderous applause for Tristan und Isolde, even after the conductor and production team showed up

Does one of them get to escape?

She looks very difficult to argue with! Sorry

From what we see I'm good with considering both the Norns and the Rhine daughters to be elementals. Along with of course Father Rhine, though we don't see him.

I wouldn't include animals. Do we see more (alive) than the wood bird, the bear in Siegfried, and some ravens? Deer Siegfried is hunting?

What great helpers!

No one wants to sit directly behind me?

I'll be there!

I know, right?!

That the piece itself was too modern to be any good

I heard a surprising number of people complaining about the Elgar!

Comparing only as conductors, yes, I would say so. Resisted it but have come around

Whoah

Picture of the stage inside the theater

Program page in front of the stage. New York Philharmonic March 5-7, 2026 Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Conductor 17,305th-17,307th Concerts Vilde Frang, Violin (New York Philharmonic Debut) ELGAR - Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61 (1909-10) Allegro Andante Allegro molto - Cadenza (accompagnata: Lento) - Allegro molto VILDE FRANG, violin Intermission KURTÁG - Brefs messages, Op. 47 (2010) 1. Fanfare (à Olivier Cuendet) II. Versetto: Temptavit Deus Abraham [apokrif organum] III. Ligatura Y IV. Bornemisza Péter: Az hit... FRANK HUANG, violin CYNTHIA PHELPS, viola CARTER BREY, cello NICK MASTERSON*, English horn ANTHONY MCGILL, clarinet BARRET HAM, bass clarinet RICHARD DEANE, horn CHRISTOPHER MARTIN, trumpet JOSEPH ALESSI, trombone R. SCHUMANN - Symphony No. 1 in B-flat major, Op. 38, Spring (1841) Andante un poco maestoso - Allegro molto vivace Larghetto Scherzo: Molto vivace - Molto più vivace - Tempo I Allegro animato e grazioso

Afternoon with the NY Philharmonic! Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla conducts Elgar, Kurtág, and R. Schumann

Large banner draped over the right side of the front facade of the Met Opera building. It is abstract but there are two figures, one with their head in the other's lap. Lots of green and blue on a white background. The bottom reads Tristan und Isolde

Banner is up

The Jellicle Ball was incredible So excited to see how it in the new home!

My cat is going to be so mad once I go in for my CPAP training

I think Flight is 1998.

Great operas, though!

Oh, I'm sorry. Definitely get plumbing and remediation people in. Sewer backups are destructive

Juniper, fresh mint, fresh sage, chrysanthemum buds, angelica root

I wanna say the sage was the worst choice but wow the juniper lingers

Juniper, fresh mint, fresh sage, chrysanthemum buds, angelica root

And a little wildflower honey which is always more floral than I expect