"I don't despair about the cultural scene in Australia, because there isn't one here to despair about".
The dancer Sir Robert Helpmann, an early winner of the Australian of the Year award, did not help much when he scoffed, "I don't despair about the cultural scene in Australia because there isn't one here to despair about".
It was a scene of despair for anyone convinced faiths and peoples can be disentangled in the Holy Land.
By 4 a.m., less than an hour after the defeat, the Angel of Independence was a scene of despair.
Why do we always have to be fantastic, or die?" Yashere despaired of the UK scene two years ago and moved to California.
The tone is apt, akin to that of a tall tale; the theme, dear to John Ford, of eliding fact into legend is given a striking new life; and a single brief scene of despair and degradation is more harrowing than those found in most hard-edged dramas.
The tone is apt, akin to that of a tall tale; the theme, dear to John Ford, of eliding fact into legend is given a striking new life; and a single brief scene of despair and degradation is more harrowing than most hard-edged dramas.
Besides the wicked sisters, special mention goes to Wil Johnson as Kent, giving depth to straight simplicity; to Miltos Yerolemou as the Fool, whose despair in the storm scene is extraordinary; and to Fraser Ayres, an Edmond who traps himself in his own mask of villainy.
Chekhov's characters are full of contradictions, insisting on their happiness one moment, flagellating themselves in despair a few scenes later.
And the opera ends with a compelling scene for the despairing Leonora after Oberto is killed in a duel he goads Riccardo into fighting.
In a final mad scene of quiet despair over obsessively pealing bells, Ms. Garanca was tremendously moving.
