Posts Tagged ‘Metropolitan Opera’
Opera Goes to the Movies, 1935-Style
It’s less and less common to see classical music represented in popular culture these days, especially in a positive sense, so imagine my delight when I recently saw that Turner Classic Movies was airing Love Me Forever, a 1935 film starring Metropolitan Opera soprano Grace Moore. I’m rather ashamed to admit I didn’t know Moore’s […]
A Rossini Rarity
When Gioachino Rossini was 23 (in point of fact, since he was a leap year baby, he was 5¾), he became composer in residence at the Teatro di San Carlo opera house in Naples. At the end of his 7-year stint, in 1822, he left with nine new operas and his future wife. Isabella Colbran was one of a […]
Julius Caesar re-invented
Here’s an interesting factoid: our Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, goes to the opera. As I was walking out of the auditorium at the Metropolitan Opera at the end of Handel’s Giulio Cesare yesterday afternoon, there she suddenly was! We had noticed some security personnel during the second interval – their spiral earpieces and […]
My turn to play groupie!
Judith recently had a wonderful fangirl moment with Emanuel Ax; now it’s my turn. For some years, I’ve been a devotee of Dmitri Hvorostovsky’s singing. Jim and I have seen him perform operatic roles, song cycles, and recitals, all brilliantly. I had the chance to interview “Dima” in 2002 when he was in town to […]
Verdi hits the jackpot in Vegas
Last Saturday, I attended the Metropolitan Opera’s HD broadcast of Rigoletto at the Charles Theater. I was delighted to see that there wasn’t an empty seat in the room and the audience demographic ranged from high school to retirement age. As a fan of Rat Pack-era design, I was pretty excited about seeing this production, which […]
Wonderful Town, Indeed: Our Top 5 New York Recs
When Jim and I go out of town, we often get away to it all rather than from it all. As such, New York is one of our favorite vacation spots. Here are our Top 5 NYC recs! 5. Take the subway or walk whenever possible. Both will afford you a wealth of people-watching opportunities! […]
05/05/12 – The Makropulos Case – 1:00pm
By Leoš Janáček Librettist: Leoš Janáček Sung in Czech Approximate running time 2 hrs. 40 min. Count on a tour-de-force performance from Karita Mattila in Janácek’s absorbing drama of a diva’s supernatural fight against her destiny. Czech expert Jirí Behlolávek conducts. Cast Conductor: Jiri Belohlávek Emilia Marty: Karita Mattila Albert Gregor: Kurt Streit Jaroslav […]
04/28/12 – Die Walkürie – NOON
By Richard Wagner Librettist: Richard Wagner Sung in German Approximate running time 5 hrs. 10 min. The second installment of Robert Lepage’s new production of the Ring cycle, conducted by Fabio Luisi, features a stellar cast led by Bryn Terfel as Wotan, lord of the Gods, and Deborah Voigt as Brünnhilde. Jonas Kaufmann and […]
04/21/12 – Siegfried – NOON
By Richard Wagner Librettist: Richard Wagner Sung in German Approximate running time 5 hrs. 30 min. In part three of the Ring, Wagner’s cosmic vision focuses on his hero’s early conquests, while Robert Lepage’s revolutionary stage machine transforms itself from bewitched forest to mountaintop love nest. Jay Hunter Morris sings the title role […]
04/14/12 – La Traviata – 1:00pm
By Giuseppe Verdi Librettist: Francesco Maria Piave Sung in Italian Approximate running time 2 hrs. 35 min. Natalie Dessay will put on the red dress in Willy Decker’s stunning production, in her first Violetta at the Met. Matthew Polenzani sings Alfredo, Dmitri Hvorostovsky is Germont, and Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi is on the podium. Cast […]
