Wagner is not so much about sets, but these were the ugliest I've ever seen. The first Venus act was all lit in red with thongs and nudity, but the second act looked like the back-end of an suburban Oktoberfest restaurant complex. Of course the orchestra sounded heroic, like every part was tripled-up lush and sharp, the chorus was loud and intense. But it seemed like the song contest would never end. I just wanted to hear ''Evening Star.'' Even the dullest sets and rented tuxedos can't diminish that one. And they didn't. They gave away a Deusche Gramophon CD of Angela Gheorghiu (Mrs. Robert Alagna) who's singing solo in April. She talks about her conservatory years in Ceausescu's Romania...

I'm really looking forward to Wagener's ''Tristan and Isolde'' to be presented by the L.A. Philharmonic in April. Video artist, Bill Viola is doing the staging, with Salonen conducting with the participation of Peter Sellars. It's at the Disney Hall, a concert venue actually designed for concerts!