Submitted by mrmyster, Mar 21, 2007 22:53

New York seems so provincial! If "it" (whatever it may be) has not happened in New York, then the

assumption is, it has not happened in the USA. While I am always glad to read Jay's review, and find his

present one of Strauss's 'Helen' opera squarely in the ball park, "The Egyptian Helen" has been heard two

seasons at Santa Fe Opera, 1986 and 2001. I happened to attend in 2001 and found the event a pretty

dull affair, probably because of the conducting, but also because that score is, in the words of a well-

spoken local writer, "Strauss by the yard." It goes on and on -- and often to little effect. Yes, NYC's Met

had the N. American premiere a long time ago, but Santa Fe Opera has kept it alive in the meanwhile.

The same was true when NYCOpera did "Daphne" a few seasons ago -- all the NYC writers acted like

it was the American premiere. It was not! That occured in 1964 in Santa Fe, which also played "Daphne"

1981 and 1996 -- and it will be on again this summer. Wake up Jay! And New York! There is opera,

fine opera, pioneering opera, creative repertory, outside NYC!

JIM

sfe

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