John Fenster

Wanting to go to the Met Opera Halloween Costume Contest but also so many people are going to have good costumes

I'm here for the second Lincoln in the Bardo (spoiler: it's Willie)

Opening night!

Curtain call for the cast, chorus, dancers, and puppeteers

I really loved act one, amazing all around. More mixed feelings about act two, but also had some of the highlights

Sometimes you are watching Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria and get jump scared by Jonas Kaufmann Telemaco

You leave San Francisco for a few years and wow it was nice forgetting just how low the blue angles fly over the city

Bows at the end of Cosí fan tutte at the Met Opera. A night of beautiful singing

I rather like Forest Hills Stadium! Here for Geese

It's time to try a bit of Mahler again, lured in by the WP opener by Tania León. Hilarious to have a 12-minute piece then an intermission

@possumacquainter.bsky.social

That was probably the most I've enjoyed a Mahler symphony in a decade. Not sure how much of that is Dudamel and how much is my pulling back from Mahler to reframe. And like, it's still a lot

John Fenster reposted

Possum Acquainter

Winkin' In The Boudoir: A Burlesque Tribute To George Saunders's "Lincoln In The Bardo" Oct 3, 2009 7:15 PM

deathofclassical.comLincoln in the Bardo Immersive Cemetery Preview (The Green-Wood Cemetery) | The Green-Wood CemeterySeptember 25, 2026 | Various Artists

Today! www.deathofclassical.com/concerts/bar...

Distracting and confusing Volta and Figment so Ritzy can get a birthday treat

I really loved The Surge at the Joyce!

@noralambert.bsky.social Did you manage a ticket for Friday?

Mungojerrie is in Queeney Todd is a thing that makes complete sense

I wasn't thrilled by Macbeth at the Met last night, but there was a lot to enjoy

The production felt somewhat disjointed, so it made a lot of sense that Proske replaced Sher only like a year ago

I love open window season, and so do the cats

John Fenster reposted

Chef Kennedy🐸🏳️‍🌈

@kennedy.northsky.social

17 Sept

Tired: asking if someone is your "real friend" or an "internet friend" Wired: asking if your friendship is real-time or turn-based

John Fenster reposted

Kyle Thomas

@kylehemingway.com

16 Sept

Went here and everybody knew you.

11 Sept

I realized my preferences for ice cream are that I miss Cold Stone Creamery

8 Sept

Heard the crows outside and there was so much commotion. Turns out they were chasing a fox off

30 Aug

Storm clouds are making their presence known! Just got some lightning

30 Aug

Open back with storm clouds

My first time at Santa Fe Opera! Tonight is Lili Elbe

And by singing, I mean Papageno led a sing-along, not just the guy that sat next to me that kept humming/singing throughout the rest of it. And, honestly, fair. He was a pioneer and anyone taking this too seriously (raises hand partially, puts it back down) wasn't going to enjoy themselves

Anyway, tonight's opera will be the first one I've seen here not in English! Madama Butterfly. But first there's a clown murder mystery show by a local theater ensemble on George RR Martin's train

My first time at Santa Fe Opera! Tonight is Lili Elbe

This newish English translation tries to smooth over some elements of the opera; not entirely successfully - and obv leaving intact the very trad core - but this old Pantomime style production also leans heavily into the variety show side of the opera

It was silly and fun and the audience sang more than at many operas I've attended. The circus animal costumes elicited lots of laughter. I might have enjoyed it more in a significantly smaller house (SFO holds ~2200) but it was nice enough.

My first time at Santa Fe Opera! Tonight is Lili Elbe

I really loved Lili Elbe! It really centers Lili and her journey. It's been interesting thinking about how much of a classic tale of the other it is, and the tragedy (there is some) is from how she didn't let go of trad ideas of gender and heteronormativity

I also really need to hear it again because I swear I heard some Rosenkavalier in there (which could make sense)

Do I know anyone in Santa Fe that wants tickets to the next two nights? Family arrived this afternoon and unfortunately have to head right back due to an emergency.

John Fenster@mountmccabe.bsky.social

My first time at Santa Fe Opera! Tonight is Lili Elbe

The Magic Flute (in English) and Madama Butterfly (in Italian, lol)

The pair for the Magic Flute have been taken. Saturday's Madama Butterfly are still available

My first time at Santa Fe Opera! Tonight is Lili Elbe

Which makes it a very curious pairing for tonight's opera, the Magic Flute, which is built upon and celebrates and reinforces those trad ideas and roles

My first time at Santa Fe Opera! Tonight is Lili Elbe

If I had a nickel for every new opera I've seen this year about a historical transwoman written by queer people for & with a trans singer who plays the title role I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, so please make more

My first time at Santa Fe Opera! Tonight is Lili Elbe

I am very glad my rental car is a blue SUV like I have at home because I rushed in to catch the first talk and have no idea where I parked