Antoni Garcia

Mozart’s Idomeneo at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden Review

David McVicar’s production of Mozart’s Idomeneo may eclectically combine Feudal-Era Japanese, Middle Eastern, European, and Greek aesthetics, but how do the singers fare in their roles in this production? At least it was nice that I have achieved my dream of seeing Olga Peretyatko and Anna Prohaska together on stage as the two rivaling princesses Elettra and Ilia respectively. Enjoy my review and let me know your opinions as well.

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The Splendid Seven’s Grandfather and Parents

Greetings, Splendid Seven devotees, martial arts aficionados, and fighting video game fans. Antoni here with another written entry focusing on Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran specializing in the martial arts they do. This time I will be focusing on the very people who have shaped them to be the strong martial artists that they are. Those are Ayame’s and Shunran’s grandfather The Wolf Elder, Sesshoumaru’s and Inuyasha’s father and mother Toga and InuKimi, and Shuran’s, Hakkaku’s, and Ginta’s mother Izayoi. While four parental figures may appear to be a good picture to shape and mold The Splendid Seven to be the powerful Yokai fighters that they are, there are three more parental figures that I would gladly add to this roster of older veteran martial artists. Those are Raditz, Olibu, and Broly from Dragonball Z who will also serve as additional father figures to these seven mighty Yokai martial artists.   I know what some of you are thinking right now. Raditz and Broly? Those two overpowering and brutish Saiyan warriors? Olibu? That otherworldly warrior reminiscent of a Greek god? Please calm down because I always have a method to the madness. I figure that Raditz’s overpowering might, Olibu’s godly muscle power, and Broly’s brute fortitude are great outlets for Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran to not only emulate but also serve as well-deserved father figures, with Raditz and Inuyasha having a close uncle-nephew bond that also passes as Raditz being a second father to Inuyasha while Sesshoumaru honors Raditz, Olibu can be the strong father figure Shuran, Hakkaku, and Ginta need, and Broly can use his brute muscularity and otherworldly strength to protect and provide unconditional love to his surrogate daughters Ayame and Shunran. Therefore, Raditz, Olibu, and Broly are superb additions to my Splendid Seven AU headcanon as super strong and powerfully potent father figures to seven mighty Yokai martial artists and also complete the overall number of seven veteran martial artists.   Since this is my Splendid Seven AU headcanon, I thought the Wolf Elder shall have a humanoid design based on his appearance in the anime. I do have an idea of what he shall look like in humanoid form, but I have to fully achieve that vision by drawing him. Moreover, I will assign the four main martial arts that I believe fit The Wolf Elder, Raditz, Olibu, Broly, Toga, InuKimi, and Izayoi exceedingly well. Spoilers, all seven veteran martial artists have a background in Karate, with The Wolf Elder, Toga, InuKimi, and Izayoi also having a Kickboxing background and Raditz, Olibu, and Broly having a Shootfighting background. They would even mix Karate with the other styles they specialize in to form their signature martial arts. With that said, strap yourselves in for these parental figures to kick loads of butt while demonstrating abundant honor. Osu! Hajime!   The Wolf Elder: Ancient Roman Boxing, Catch Wrestling, Muay Thai, and Shorin-Ryu Karate With the Wolf Elder’s furious fists, everlasting endurance, and sterling strength, he is a well-rounded warrior worthy of emulation and respect. Ayame and Shunran have always looked up to their grandfather, for they have also acquired his exceptional striking power, because of how exceptionally well he has trained them since they were little girls and have kept true to his teachings as adult women respectively married to Inuyasha, Hakkaku, and Ginta. The Wolf Elder’s uppercuts, overhand punches, cross punches, knee strikes, foot-thrusts, triangle chokes, and clinches can overpower his enemies to a high degree of pain even in his old age.   Raditz: Combat Sambo, Brazilian Jujitsu, Shoot Boxing, and Shorin-Ryu Karate Radical ruthlessness, superbly super strength, and bionic barbarism are the hallmarks that define Raditz as a powerful prizefighter. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha are consistently inspired to be as strong and fierce as their uncle/second father is, thanks to how the latter always committed himself to intense sparring matches from boyhood to adulthood, thus making Raditz proud to see Inuyasha grow up to be the powerfully mighty husband he is for Ayame. Raditz’s gogoplatas, Guillotine chokes, knee mounts, Superman punches, hammer fists, double axe handles, sleeper holds, and liver punches can easily leave his foes tossed and torn.   Olibu: Ancient Greek Boxing, Ancient Greek Wrestling, Shooto, and Shito-Ryu Karate Magnificent muscle power, incredible imposingness, and bodacious brawn are the most valuable traits that make Olibu the mighty hero that he is. Shuran, Hakkaku, and Ginta are truly blessed that Olibu is in their lives as their father figure because he has always been the man to inspire them to live courageously, thus motivating them to grow well as martial artists and as men, especially since Hakkaku and Ginta are Shunran’s loyal husbands. Olibu’s camel clutches, drop kicks, headlocks, double uppercuts, leglocks, elbow strikes, and elbow drops can cause absolute and brutal destruction to his fiends’ skeletons, muscles, and organs.   Broly: Vale Tudo, Luta Livre Esportiva, Shoot Wrestling, and Shindo-Jinen-Ryu Karate Punishing potency, vociferous viciousness, and brutal bloodiness are the true signifiers that elucidate Broly and his magnificent might as a champion who holds nothing back when it comes to executing many a challenger. Ayame and Shunran may feel safe under Broly’s muscular might and fierce ferocity, but he uses his traits to show unconditional love and protection to his surrogate daughters as well as motivate them to never surrender to their foes. Broly’s armbars, headbutts, anaconda chokes, piledrivers, torture racks, elbow slashes, and flying knees can destroy his challengers’ nerves and spirits until their dying days.   Toga: Japanese Jujitsu, Judo, Dutch Kickboxing, and Shotokan Karate With Toga’s limbering limbs, dedicated determination, and sterling steeliness, he is a courageous combatant who is the apple of every martial artist’s eye as well as a paradigm of honor and truth as a warrior and as a person. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha have always emulated Toga’s code of honor as martial artists, thanks to how he always instills perseverance and discipline in his sons, thus seeing their remarkable growth as…

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Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte Starring Rainelle Krause Review

Rainelle Krause, a lyric coloratura soprano renowned for her fearlessness as an aerial acrobat, heralds the stage as one of her calling-card roles, The Queen of the Night, alongside the astounding light lyric soprano Victoria Randem as Pamina and the sweet soprano light lyric coloratura Regina Koncz as Papagena. Enjoy my review and let me know your opinions as well.

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