Thank you for this!!  "Upstairs, Downstairs" is one of my favorite shows of all time (in fact, I just watched the whole series again recently), and I admire Ms. Marsh tremendously.  Great interview.  

Thank you for this!!  "Upstairs, Downstairs" is one of my favorite shows of all time (in fact, I just watched the whole series again recently), and I admire Ms. Marsh tremendously.  Great interview.  

I suppose I'm not entirely anti-Wagner-  I do like the "Liebestod" from Tristan and Isolde, as well as the overtures and bits without any singing…

I suppose I'm not entirely anti-Wagner-  I do like the "Liebestod" from Tristan and Isolde, as well as the overtures and bits without any singing…

If I have to be drowned, I'd definitely prefer to be drowned in bed.  But then, I'm pretty lazy.

If I have to be drowned, I'd definitely prefer to be drowned in bed.  But then, I'm pretty lazy.

I remember reading once about some disaster, where researchers found the people without life jackets were actually more likely to survive long periods in the water.  Apparently, fewer of them got hypothermia because they had to keep treading water and moving their leg muscles.

I remember reading once about some disaster, where researchers found the people without life jackets were actually more likely to survive long periods in the water.  Apparently, fewer of them got hypothermia because they had to keep treading water and moving their leg muscles.

"I didn't like it, there was too much water".

"I didn't like it, there was too much water".

Absolutely.  Even though I'm not a huge fan of the Ring, it's great to see opera on TV (and to see so many people are watching it!)

Absolutely.  Even though I'm not a huge fan of the Ring, it's great to see opera on TV (and to see so many people are watching it!)

"scares the bejesus out of the singers in the process"

"scares the bejesus out of the singers in the process"

I can easily imagine there would be a lot of overlap between "Ring" fans and Tolkein fans.  If it helps get people into opera, I'm all for it. 

I can easily imagine there would be a lot of overlap between "Ring" fans and Tolkein fans.  If it helps get people into opera, I'm all for it. 

"And I will note that I had a couple of different 20-somethings who'd
never seen an opera before join me for "Walkure" and about half of
"Gotterdammerung," and they all found it totally enthralling!"

"And I will note that I had a couple of different 20-somethings who'd
never seen an opera before join me for "Walkure" and about half of
"Gotterdammerung," and they all found it totally enthralling!"

"I still like my coffee black, my women flighty, and my opera Italian."

"I still like my coffee black, my women flighty, and my opera Italian."