For instance: "You could say one wine is like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz while another is like the mature Judy Garland, or that a big voluptuous chardonnay is like Marilyn Monroe -- round, bosomy -- you can remember that chardonnay, " says MacNeil.

CNN: Wine varietals: A glossary

Two other powerful, well-chosen actors were Rose Portillo, as Peer's long-suffering mother Peer's drive with her to death was superb and Peabody Southwell, as the Troll-King's bosomy daughter, who seduces Peer into making love to her energetically onstage, to very sexy music. (When she later warns him, "You will be a father next year, " we have reason to believe her.) Ragnar Bohlin's symphony chorus played its minor but important roles perfectly.

WSJ: "Peer" Pressure | Peer Gynt | San Francisco Symphony Orchestra | By David Littlejohn