This is from an interview with him backstage at La Scale, as reported in one of today's newspapers:

"Opera is, 95 percent of the time, very unsatisfying. There are too many elements and they don't always operate at the same level."

He rattles off a list: music, orchestra, conductor, singers, stage director, sets, costumes, lights.

"One is very often disturbed by one of those elements. But when it all clicks, it is the most wonderful thing, because it has everything."

Does anyone have any comments?

Agreed. We balletomanes have a much easier time.There's lot less to the mix in ballet and in ballet one or two strong performances can distract the audience from defects in other parts of the ensemble. A star performance can carry the whole piece.On the other hand, a weak lead can do so much damage that perfection in everything else will not save the evening.

quote:

"One is very often disturbed by one of those elements. But when it all clicks, it is the most wonderful thing, because it has everything."

Yup.