When Nadine Sierra/Amina took off that engagement ring and calmly put it back in Elvino’s hand, what had been a triumph up to that point shot into the stratosphere. Xabier Anduaga took a chance and played his character as a prig, but poured a golden voice all over it. How about Don Pasquale with these two?

Mr. Portafiori agrees:

For me the best thing I heard all year was La sonnambula at the Met. This past year I have just fallen in love with Nadine Sierra. I have watched every YouTube clip
She has such a distinctive and beautiful voice and I think she has a wonderful stage presence and is a natural actress. This performance also gave me an incredible appreciation of Anduaga. I was totally blown away by his performance. I had heard him in Elixir but I have not heard such beautiful Bel Canto singing in a long time. He caressed the words when he sang his connection to the music was so compelling. Yes, for me this performance was wonderful and very memorable.

And so does Mr. Snow:

I rarely get to live opera anymore. Sometimes I go to a Palm Beach Opera performance – but not as much as when I was teaching and could go for free with students to the dress rehearsal – and it has been many years since I have made the long treck into Miami (though I could be tempted by the upcoming Turandot). So the Met HD showing has become my main access to opera. This year’s La sonnambula was one of the best things I have seen in a long time – particularly for the performance of Nadine Sierra. It has been interesting to follow her career as she started out as a student here (I did not work directly with her but a number of my colleagues did). I thought that this was a real “a star is born” moment for her. Earlier roles showed her growth, and the La traviata and Roméo et Juliette showed where her trajectory was going. But….this was her moment! She knew it and showed everything she could do vocally and acting as well – beautiful cantilena and fiery fioratura as well as goofy comic to heart breaking moments. The production provides some interest, but it was mostly a showcase for her. Now that she has had her supernova moment, I am anxious to see what she will do next!