Pavarotti Without Borders happens tonight in the desert outside Mexicali.
It was over 100 degrees yesterday in Borrego. Laguna Salada has to be somewhat comparable.
I know there are a few from the board going to see him. Let's hope everything goes smoothly....can't wait for a first-hand report.Anonymous - 10-18-2003 at 12:48 PM
I am on my way out to the concierto, see you tomorow amigos, ohhh soleeeee miooooo!!!!!!!!
why Yes, Jeans....I Am going out to do karaoke
capt. mike - 10-18-2003 at 03:47 PM
tonight. oh - wait a minute....you meant the other big guy, that Italian with the kerchief.....yeah, he is going to wail a bit too. Bookerman - 10-18-2003 at 11:23 PM
I would consider going if Carlos Santana was headlining. Otherwise, forget it. I don't want to hear some geek sing opera in italian.Oso - 10-19-2003 at 05:36 PM
Aw gee, the other 39,999 people and I missed you so much.:moon:David K - 10-19-2003 at 10:50 PM
Come on Oso... tell us about it!!!Oso - 10-20-2003 at 10:22 AM
Well, the traffic was about what you'd expect. Took us from 4:30 to 6:00 to get from the center of Mexicali to the site, 26km out and about the same
to get back. I'm glad we were running a bit late. It was 119 at 1pm, but cooled off enough when the sun went down. The maestro didn't start singing
until about 7:30. He was sick with the flu and almost canceled but decided to do his best. He coughed and blew a note the first song, started over
and did a little better, got progressively better after that. At 68 and sick, he can still belt 'em out and hit the whole range.
I was amazed at the quality of the audio & video equipment, giant speakers suspended by cranes, 5 very large screens. Definitely at least 40,000
there.
On the down side it was a long, long way from the beer & porta-pottis to the seating area and the dinky plastic folding chair was rough on this
arthritic old fanny. But the lay-out was well organized for a crowd that huge in the middle of nowhere.
At the end, there was a fantastic fireworks show, almost a bit too close for comfort right behind the stage.
When the man sang, I forgot all the discomfort. You don't really have to be a die-hard opera fan or understand Italian to appreciate such an
incredible performance. A friend who knows said it wasn't his greatest and the maestro himself acknowledged and apologized for that, both in Italian
and English. But you couldn't have proven it by me. Annalisa Raspagliosi was very very good too.
Bottom line, I'm glad I went. It's very probably the one and only time I will have seen such a great talent live.Bob H - 10-20-2003 at 10:29 AM
Oso, thanks for filling us in. Seems like it was a success.
Bob H
makes me want to go put on some of
capt. mike - 10-20-2003 at 11:03 AM
my Louie Prima albums tonight!
the big guy
thebajarunner - 10-20-2003 at 04:04 PM
Oso, thanks for your report. Too bad it was so hot and too bad it was so far away. Also too bad that most of us have not seen or heard him in his
absolute prime.
I remember the first time that I saw Placido Domingo in person, SFOpera about 15 years ago. It was a very pleasant start to the opera, overture,
first couple of arias. Then Placido strode on stage, leaped on top of a table in the middle of the stage and started to sing. Absolutely
electrifying!!! One of those life moments you never forget.
That is why it is so sad to hear someone put down opera, Italian or otherwise. It is truly the music of heaven. Glad that Baja got such a well
deserved reward.
(And I remember starting a 200 mile BRA off-road race from that very spot, what a difference 30 years makes.)
Do you suppose we could hope that someday the Spanish born, Mexico City reared Placido might also sing in our desert???
Baja Vida!!JESSE - 10-20-2003 at 05:22 PM
It was a great evening, as Oso mentioned, the mestros voice is not what it used to be, but he still leaves Domingo and the other guy far behind, i
wouldn't do it again if Domingo was singing, but i would definately pay top $$$ to hear Cecilia Bertoli if she came here.Oso - 10-20-2003 at 06:31 PM
Actually, the promoters asked Placido first. But he had throat problems and declined. IMHO, the 3 (inc. Carrera) are peers, but Luciano is the
senior member. I'm way far from being knowledgeable on this. I'd go to a Placido concert in a NY minute, mainly because he could be expected to do
more in Spanish and would probably mix in more traditional Mexican songs with the Opera. Anyway you cut it, it put Mexicali on the international map.Oso - 10-20-2003 at 06:33 PM
Jesse, were you there?
Tenors
thebajarunner - 10-20-2003 at 09:54 PM
You appreciate great tenors by the voice, not the hype.
Pavarotti is simply wonderful, and has all the press clippings to prove it.
Placido is equally wonderful, and never bothered to pad his image through the press.
And, Placido is still within his range, which sadly, the big guy has passed some time back.
They are both awesome!!!
And Baja is the better for having hosted this event.
Had it been Placido I would have driven the 550 miles to be there...
Cecilia, simply marvelous... just way too much of her!!! Such a sweet smile, such an awesome voice, such an astounding appetite and girth!!!
Give me Rene Fleming any day.
Did you catch Rene on Letterman last week? My nephew backed her up on his cello, pretty proud day for the "Tio Viejo"
Baja Vida!!JESSE - 10-21-2003 at 03:22 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
Jesse, were you there?
Si mi amigo.David K - 10-21-2003 at 04:42 PM
Pavaratti cancelled his next engagement (in Panama) claiming he caught a cold in Mexicali... reported in the paper today.
Pavoratti cancels
thebajarunner - 10-21-2003 at 04:53 PM
Probably one too many "cold ones"
or then again, perhaps he got the dreaded Dengue fever...
