Thursday, November 08, 2007
Verdi still sets the standard
If the Met had a fall from grace last week with its casting of Verdi’s “Aida” and “Macbeth”, it certainly made up for it with a cast change in “Aida” and with Renee Fleming singing “La Traviata.”
The reigning Diva at the Met, Renee Fleming, brought her Violetta back (with, what looks like new gowns and stunning jewelry that the Met had made for her). Though I’ve seen this opera many times and listened to the greats such as Sills, Callas, and Sutherland sing it, I was thrilled and moved by Ms. Fleming: Her passage work in the first act was top-notch Bel Canto, and her lyricism and drama in the remaining acts had even the jaded opera-goers in the front row of the balcony, where I sit, in tears. “I’m sorry, it got to me” my neighboring season ticket holder, Meredith, said as she wiped her eyes. By commandeering Verdi’s Violetta, a soprano-crusher, Fleming has solidified her place in Diva-dom and operatic history.
If that wasn’t enough to put the Met back into my good graces, Mary and I splurged on Orchestra seats to hear Angela Brown sing Verdi’s “Aida.” The last time I saw it, the opera sucked. This time, energized by an Aida with the pipes to fit the role –a nearly extinct breed – the cast and conducting were brought to a vibrant life and took this powerful music to where it was intended to be. Soaring into the high notes with a restrained power and grace, then down to the low notes with passion, belting out above a 200+ chorus and orchestra, Brown demonstrated she is, perhaps, the only singer that should be singing this role. All those difficult Verdian lines sounded easy to do. They are NOT. The house came down for her. Even Mary, who I was concerned that these 4-hours of singing would be too much for (this is only her second opera) was totally moved by the performance. She sat with an intense concentration throughout the opera and finally said that “It went so quickly”. It was midnight. She certainly “gets” it, and is able to enjoy a formidable evening.
So though the twilight of the tenors is upon us, the divas, now, have taken up the slack and reign supreme. They are taking on some of the most difficult music written and winning over, even, Verdi fans. Perhaps turning in his grave last week, Verdi can get a little P&Q.
Angela Brown (Aida) and a fantastic Mark Delavan (Amonasro) in Verdi's Grand Opera, "Aida", the best work the met has done this season.
The reigning Diva at the Met, Renee Fleming, brought her Violetta back (with, what looks like new gowns and stunning jewelry that the Met had made for her). Though I’ve seen this opera many times and listened to the greats such as Sills, Callas, and Sutherland sing it, I was thrilled and moved by Ms. Fleming: Her passage work in the first act was top-notch Bel Canto, and her lyricism and drama in the remaining acts had even the jaded opera-goers in the front row of the balcony, where I sit, in tears. “I’m sorry, it got to me” my neighboring season ticket holder, Meredith, said as she wiped her eyes. By commandeering Verdi’s Violetta, a soprano-crusher, Fleming has solidified her place in Diva-dom and operatic history.
If that wasn’t enough to put the Met back into my good graces, Mary and I splurged on Orchestra seats to hear Angela Brown sing Verdi’s “Aida.” The last time I saw it, the opera sucked. This time, energized by an Aida with the pipes to fit the role –a nearly extinct breed – the cast and conducting were brought to a vibrant life and took this powerful music to where it was intended to be. Soaring into the high notes with a restrained power and grace, then down to the low notes with passion, belting out above a 200+ chorus and orchestra, Brown demonstrated she is, perhaps, the only singer that should be singing this role. All those difficult Verdian lines sounded easy to do. They are NOT. The house came down for her. Even Mary, who I was concerned that these 4-hours of singing would be too much for (this is only her second opera) was totally moved by the performance. She sat with an intense concentration throughout the opera and finally said that “It went so quickly”. It was midnight. She certainly “gets” it, and is able to enjoy a formidable evening.
So though the twilight of the tenors is upon us, the divas, now, have taken up the slack and reign supreme. They are taking on some of the most difficult music written and winning over, even, Verdi fans. Perhaps turning in his grave last week, Verdi can get a little P&Q.
Angela Brown (Aida) and a fantastic Mark Delavan (Amonasro) in Verdi's Grand Opera, "Aida", the best work the met has done this season.
# posted by otas : 10:45 PM
