Questo e Quello
By the end of its 2012-13 season, the Met will have presented four HD transmissions in less than two years featuring countertenors in prominent roles.
When I first watched the DVD Hvorostovsky in Moscow with guest star Sondra Radvanosky, I was absolutely amazed at the superb quality of the singing.
So this is what it looks like when Faye Dunaway teaches Danielle DeNiese to sing “Vieni t’affretta” from Verdi’s Macbeth.
The case for this DVD production of Puccini’s La Boheme from Opera Australia is all about the “inspired concept” of director Gale Edwards to move this oft-told tale from 1840’s Paris all the way to the Berlin at the end of Weimar-era Germany. Hmmm.
Our Own JJ (pictured, center) hopes all the cher public will take full advantage of this week’s thread for off-topic and general interest discussion.
Let’s start with some refreshing news: Poèmes is the finest thing Renée Fleming has recorded in many a season.
“Though Mr. Herheim’s work is rigorous, it is also fun, and this Rusalka is serious but the opposite of dour.”
Which department at the Met must have had quite a shock at this bit of current news: apparently the son also rises!
Some, though certainly not many, guesses at the most recent Regie quiz, but no one quite hit upon the identity of the opera in question, Handel’s Alcina.
“Juan Diego Flórez made an untraditional Nemorino, his small but diamond-bright tenor unlike the luscious lyric voice usually heard in this part.”
A rare production of Rossini’s Otello, with a perhaps even rarer stage performance by Cecilia Bartoli (in her role debut as Desdemona) should provide an interesting afternoon’s viewing this Thursday.
L’elisir d’amore, Donizetti’s evergreen comedy about young love, returned to the Met last night with a strong cast, a high energy level from all the performers, and last but not least, a very full house.
Being an opera lover in Los Angeles is a lot like being a Red Sox fan. As hard as they try we never make it to the World Series, let alone the playoffs.
“Pound for pound, ton for ton, it is the most witless and wasteful production in modern operatic history.”
The cher public is reminded not to touch the ladies of the ensemble as they discuss off-topic and general interest subject during the week of March 4.
“Joined by Maestro Kohn, Ms. Gheorghiu was a vision of couture fit for the cover of Vogue.”
La Cieca (pictured, right) would like to take this opportunity before jumping on this afternoon’s Aïda chat to address a site issue or two.
La Cieca just glimpsed this “save the date” from NYCO’s development department.
La Cieca hears that soprano Latonia Moore will make her Metropolitan Opera debut this Saturday afternoon.
In what surely must count as La Cieca’s idea of a perfect storm, Zachary Woolfe interviews Calixto Bieito in the New York Times.
Two questions: 1) Why? and 2) How might this postlude be staged?
It is hard to know just who is the intended audience for this release of Pelléas and Mélisande.
“Jessye Norman, the renowned opera singer, will write a memoir about her family and professional life, her publisher said on Wednesday.”
YouTube yourselves into frenzy, cher public!
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
