| Page Views: 6,653 Last Visit to Ulm: September, 2005 | Opera in Ulm by Nemorino - last update: Feb 19, 2007 |
This is Ulm: the world's tallest church steeple rising like a fata morgana from a sea of mediocre post-war architecture.
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In September 2005 I went to Ulm to see their premiere of the opera Aida, by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901). It was an ambitious production, set in 19th century Egypt under British rule, with a puppet king (shades of "The King and I") dominated by the British colonial administrator. The stage set was an authentic-looking colonial hotel, intact in the first act, full of bullet holes in the second act and severely damaged by artillery fire in the third and fourth. The staging was resolutely anti-war, which I always like, because Aida is actually a quite militaristic opera, and I think it is the duty of any stage director to counteract this.
What didn't work so well in the Ulm production was that Verdi's eerie ancient-Egyptian priests' music was sung by a chorus of chubby British colonials, presumably Anglicans, wearing khaki shorts and wide-brimmed hats. Incongruous, to say the least.
Also I found the ending rather lame. I mean come on guys, having two people get stuck in an elevator just does not have the same dramatic impact as having them sealed into a tomb with bricks and mortar. |
In 1962 Ulm was the fifth stop on a seventeen-day canoe trip that I took with some German friends down the Danube River to Vienna. We camped at an official campsite on the riverbank, as I recall, and spent part of one day exploring the city. |
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Nemorino's Ulm Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do
Tips: 9 - Photos: 23 | | | | Restaurants | Hotels & Accommodations
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1 | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers | | | | Transportation | Local Customs | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips |
 Comments for Nemorino about Ulm | | | | |
richiecdisc Sat Aug 29, 2009 00:53 UTC
Ulm is on my list of places to visit from Munich (of course, a great brewery is there) so thanks for this peek into the "other" sights. Fischerplatz looks lovely and interesting story about Einstein too. | BruceDunning Thu Jul 30, 2009 23:45 UTC
It has such a history and endured many times of the past that it still prevails as a great area. Thank you | magor65 Mon Jul 20, 2009 21:48 UTC
I'll be visiting Ulm next week so I've found your tips really interesting. It seems Ulm has quite a few reasons for fame. | csordila Tue Jun 2, 2009 14:26 UTC
Just reflecting to your Pisa comment I have to mention, among your useful tips, I have not found the leaning Tower of Ulm - der Metzgerturm. Many thanks for your visit on my Italian pages. Laszlo |
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