The Met’s premiere production of Verdi’s Attila is terrible. Are you surprised?
Attila is like a self-conscious stroll down Rodeo Drive – or even worse, to the Mall of America – reducing an opera about ruthless tyranny brought down by ruthless vengeance to a quaint and insipid fashion show.
Since then the production has been revived several times with galaxy of international mezzo-sopranos such as Jennifer Larmore, Sonia Ganassi, Olga Borodina and, just this past season, superstar Elina Garanca. Read more »
I checked back in on the Met’s revival of Ariadne auf Naxos yesterday, after a messy first night one week ago that left much to the imagination. Tenor Lance Ryan had been sick that night, and the cover who took his place was not much healthier, throwing the whole cast into a panic mode that made higher artistic values almost out of the question. Last night’s show was leaps and bounds forward, both musically and theatrically – a win for Strauss aficionados and an excellent save for the company. Read more »
Like Liza Minnelli at the Palace or Nomi Malone in Goddess, Renée Fleming's Thaïs is better understood as diva event than Gesamtkunstwerk. It’s an opportunity to watch a star lady do her voodoo in a work that exists largely to showcase her glamour and appeal. Read more »
La Cieca preens proudly to present a peerless pair of protégés (left to right) Squirrel and Maury D'Annato. The bromancers attended (or one should say "took in") last night's Ariadne auf Naxos at the Met, and as of early this afternoon they were still deconstructing. Read more »
There’s something happening at Zankel Hall. Lieder recitals are not what they used to be. Christine Schäfer threw us for a loop Wednesday night in a recital program juxtaposing just two composers - George Crumb and Henry Purcell – who have what, exactly, in common? Read more »
Gotham Chamber Opera presented Haydn’s Il Mondo della Luna on Tuesday evening at the Museum of Natural History’s Hayden Planetarium, in a production that took advantage of the museum’s NASA constellations and a multitude of other more economical yet impressive stage and lighting effects. Despite cramped quarters and inhospitable acoustics, the company made a strong case for the viability of this venue. Read more »
The last parterre chat of 2009, Carmen from the Met, begins at 6:00 pm for a 6:30 curtain. Read more »
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