Opera

Friday, December 30, 2011

Madama Butterfly

Capping off my Friday visit to New York, after Follies and a very satisfying dinner at Joe Allen, I headed uptown a few block to see the Metropolitan Opera production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. This is probably the most beautiful production I’ve had the opportunity to see at the Met, with high production values throughout from curtain rise to curtain call. And of course the music is beautiful and every single voice could have sung all night. Even sitting up in the Family Circle, I enjoyed the production a great deal, so much that I’ve ordered the Live in HD DVD. It was the perfect end to a great day in New York!

Posted by Randy on 12/30 at 04:31 PM
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Sunday, December 25, 2011

Faust

On Friday, December 23 I attended the live performance of Gounod’s Faust at the Metropolitan Opera. While I had seen this the previous weekend in HD, I had the opportunity to get a $25 ticket through the Agnes Varis and Karl Leichtman Rush Tickets program. The program offers discounted orchestra seats to a select group who enter a weekly drawing. I have tried to win tickets for several weeks, but this week my name came up, and I was able to purchase a decent seat (Row W, Seat 32) in the orchestra.

While I enjoyed being there for the live performance and actually able to see more than I would see in my normal Family Circle perch, I was somewhat disappointed since the two principals (Jonas Kaufmann and Marina Poplavskaya) were out that evening. Rene Pape was working as the Devel. The replacements, while certainly quality, seemed dim in comparison to the incredible singing I heard the previous weekend. That being said, one of the most exciting aspects of being present at the Met for a performance (and in the orchestra) is hearing the Met orchestra.

I’ll look forward to seeing Madame Butterfly later this week. From the Family Circle.  smile

Posted by Randy on 12/25 at 06:32 PM
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Sunday, December 18, 2011

Gounod’s FAUST

Since finishing my doctorate, I have enjoyed learning more about opera. In addition to subscribing to the current season at the Met in New York, I’ve been attending the various Met in HD productions held in theaters. The most recent Live in HD was the Met’s new production of Gounod’s Faust, set in the time between the two world wars. I by no means consider myself an opera aficionado - I go to broaden my understanding of the art form and to simply enjoy - but I did enjoy the performances, production values and story.

I have never seen this particular opera or even heard any music by the composer, Charles Gounod. I found the score very accessible, with many beautiful arias and a big chorus. The singing was magnificent. The three principals - Jonas Kaufmann as Faust, René Pape as the devil, and Marina Poplavskaya as Marguerite - have tremendous voices as well as acting ability. While I enjoy attending live performances at the Met, it is very nice to see faces, costumes and sets up close in the HD productions. That’s something that you lose sitting in the Family Circle of the cavernous Metropolitan Opera House! Another plus to the HD productions is the interviews during intermissions. All three principals were interviewed across the two intermissions. It’s interesting to hear each actor speak about their interpretation while seeing the set changes occur in the background. I definitely recommend attending the HD productions as well as getting to the opera house occasionally. There has been criticism about the Met’s move to movie theaters. I think it has done a lot to make opera more accessibly to the masses.

You can see excerpts from Faust on YouTube:

I’m looking forward to seeing Madame Butterfly at the Met later this month as well as the repeat of Philip Glass’ Satyagraha and the new Baroque pastiche, The Enchanted Island in HD.

 

Posted by Randy on 12/18 at 09:18 AM
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