you’re an old smoothie
Plácido Domingo will sing the role of Maurizio in Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur at the Metropolitan Opera for six performances in February 2009, replacing Marcelo Ãlvarez, who, as we heard before, is jumping into the title role in the Met’s new production of Verdi’s Il Trovatore.
As the press release from the Met notes, “With these performances of Adriana Lecouvreur, Domingo returns to the role of his Met debut, forty years ago on September 28, 1968. Since then, Domingo has only sung the role of Maurizio once at the Met, in 1983.”
And, wouldn’t you know it, there’s YouTube documentation of that performance. Not only does Domingo sing “L’anima ho stanca,” he even kvells a bit with Beverly Sills, the Renée Fleming of her day.
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/mijdI0dIfyM" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
If he rests, he rusts.
that REALLY should read “in the Met’s premiere of a new co-production of Verdi’s Il Trovatore with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and San Francisco Opera”
THANK GOD!! At least they got a STAR! Now maybe they can give Mr. Domingo a movie-cast!!! …. in a REAL opera! … and don’t even THINK of telling us what a second-rate opera ADRIANA is. More music in the first 10 bars….than ALL of DR. ATOMIC or any of the contemporary CRAP we’re forced to sit through these days! If you need proof …. look at the new VAI issue with Caballe/Carreras/Cossotto!
Henry Holland is gonna kick your ass, Operaman50!
Yeah, I’ve never understood why every discussion of Adriana Lecouvreur has to begin with “it’s a lousy opera that’s only put on to keep some aging diva happy.” Every time I’ve experienced it (two or three time, only on video), I’ve found the music gorgeous and the drama quite moving.
I completely agree with Pavel. I find the opera is a guaranteed hit: it just keeps getting better over the four acts. I find Act I the least interesting (and also find that Levine’s recording is far, far, far too slow at this point: whilst I love Scotto’s metallic qualities at times, this really isn’t the time for it!).
By the time we get to Act 4, dear old Giordano is firing on all cylinders. It’s not a vehicle for old divas although I can see why it is: it needs the declamation and sensivity that often only comes with experience. And to echo a post on another thread, Raina (she can raina all she wants as far as I’m concerned) rocks on youtube in this act.
Correction to my above post: “It’s not a vehicle for old divas although I can see why it is” should read:
“It’s not a vehicle for old divas although I can see why it has become accepted that it is”.
Time for the largactyl shuffle in my dotage.
I, too, love Adriana L. Sure, the composer repeats the same melodies over and over again–but they’re great melodies!!
It’s a wonderful opera with some of the most stirring duets this season.
Dear Billydowcar,….I agree with ALL you say, except I’m sure you meant CILEA and not GIORDANO! An easy mistake to make…..in all the excitement!
Oh operaman50. Shucks. You can tell the yard arm has well past! I do mean Cilea. I was just reading about Giordano’s Siberia in “The Record of Singing” and I slipped up…..
Oh well. Caught again lol