Dance to the music

Claus Guth (not pictured) finally arrives in New York next month bringing Jonas Kaufmann (not pictured) with him for the world premiere of Doppelganger.

This pricey Park Avenue Armory show (top price: $259!) offers Schubert’s Schwanengesang plus other serious distractions to fill its 90-minute running time.

Guth presumably had more fun this summer producing an all-singing, all-dancing Semele, a production destined for the Met in 2024-25. The premiere was only broadcast on the radio, but a sneaky video pirate captured a dazzling Michael Spyres (what can’t this man do?) attempting to distract a needy Brenda Rae. Word is that co-star Jakub Józef Orlinski shows off his break-dancing skills (and slightly more effortful coloratura) as Athamas.

I can’t say it’s precisely my idea of Handel, but I’ve watched this clip at least a half dozen times!