metropolitan opera
Overall, it was hard to truly love this Otello. Everyone involved had brilliant individual moments, but as a whole the performance lacked cohesion and made the tragedy unmoving and empty. To end on a positive note however, it is great to have Verdi's superb score (my personal favorite) back in New York at the world's most renowned opera house.
Verdi's masterpiece Otello will return to the Met stage after a four year absence in the production by Elijah Moshinsky.
If we strip the production of any pretensions that Sher stated in his videos and take it as it is, it is a solid one that could be a Met staple for years to come. I can see this production seeing better days with a more focused stage director who is more concerned with the characters on stage than any half-baked ideas that this current run hints at but never fully embraces.
The Met has already gotten off to a strong start in this new season with a solid production of "L'Eslisir D'Amore" and a strong cast for "Turandot." However, Carmen, with its ideal marriage of cast and production, is already a high point in what looks to be a successful season.
Verdi 's masterpiece Il Trovatore returns to the Metropolitan Opera on Saturday September 29 in David McVicar's powerful production.
On Friday September 28, The Metropolitan Opera will revive the acclaimed Richard Eyre Production of Carmen.
On Wednesday September 26, the Metropolitan Opera House will revive Franco Zeffirelli's 1987 production of Turandot.
Before the premiere of the Met season, the opera company rolled out its Red Carpet and invited a number of celebrities from fashion designers, actors to Athletes and of course opera singers.
The Metropolitan Opera opens its 2012-13 season with the first comedy under the Peter Gelb era.
I would like to preface this article by stating that this is not intended to be a review but simply a reaction to the dress rehearsal I was present for of the Met's new production of Gaetano Donizetti's "L'Elisir D'Amore." I refrain from considering this a review for a number of reasons. First off, I will make many comments on the singers (which were all excellent) because this was a rehearsal and they were not singing at an hour optimal to their voices. As such I will focus mainly on addressing my reaction to Bartlett Sher's new production which will open the season this coming Monday September 24. But bear in mind that since this is a rehearsal any comments I make on what I saw may very well be altered or changed by the time Monday rolls around.
Next Monday, the Metropolitan Opera begins its 129th season with its yearly pomp and circumstance, but will also throw in a little grace and charm into the proceedings. For the first time during General Manager Peter Gelb's tenure at the Met, the opera company will initiate their season with a comedy.
