Anna Bolena Returns to the Met

Anna Netrebko returns to her acclaimed turn as Anna Bolena. The production by David McVicar opened the season earlier in September.




For more information read our Review or our Preview.
http://salazarfamilycircle.blogspot.com/2011/09/anna-bolena-preview-2011-12.html
http://salazarfamilycircle.blogspot.com/2011/10/anna-bolena-review.html

Manon Preview 2011-2012

Anna Netrebko returns to the production that the Guardian called the Best performance of the year.

The Production

Laurent Pelly's Manon premiered in the Royal Opera House back in 2010. The production was to star Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon. However Villazon dropped out leaving Netrebko. Laurent Pelly's production brings the opera to France in the second Empire. When the production premiered Pelly was criticized for his harsh, abstract and sometimes dull sets. However he was praised for bringing clarity to the story. He wasn't trying to hide the human tragedy under sugar coated sets and lavish costumes. He was trying to tell the story with clarity. As the telegraph stated, Pelly's production will not appeal to those used to traditional productions. However it will impact audiences who pay close attention to character and story.

Gotterdammerung's production team greeted with boos

Today's debut of Gotterdammerung seemed to go smoothly from a musical standpoint. I was not at the performance (I'll be there Tuesday), but heard it on the Met's Live Player and it sounded incredible. Voigt was at the top of her game, Morris was the ideal Siegfried, and Luisi conducted the best I've heard at the Met in YEARS!

But as has become custom at the Met, poor productions are starting to get more noticeable animosity. LePage was booed out of the house TWICE when he went for his curtain call. First during his first bow, then during a second round of bows.

Can't wait to see what all the hatred was aimed at on Tuesday. But on the flipside, I can't wait to hear that sublime music performed live (sans Morris, who will be replaced by Stephen Gould) A review will promptly follow thereafter. 

Gotterdammerung opens tomorrow

Robert Lepage's conclusion to the Ring Cycle opens tomorrow. The cast includes Deborah Voigt, Jay Hunter Morris and Waltraud Meier.

For more information on the production or on the singers check out the links below.
http://salazarfamilycircle.blogspot.com/2011/09/ring-cycle-preview-2011-12.html
http://salazarfamilycircle.blogspot.com/2011/11/siegfried-review.html

San Francisco Opera announces their 2012-2013 season

The 2012-13 San Francisco Opera season has just been announced. Angela Gheorghiu, Patricia Racette, Joyce Didonato, Ben Heppner, Natalie Dessay and Brand Jovanovich headline the season.

Rigoletto Zeljko Lucic/Marco Vratogna, Aleksandra Kurzak/Albina Shagimuratova, Francesco Demuro/David Lomelí. Conducted by Nicola Luisotti and Giuseppe Finzi. Directed by Harry Silverstein.

I Capuleti e i Montecchi. Nicole Cabell and Joyce DiDonato. Conducted by Riccardo Frizza. Directed by Vincent Boussard.

Moby-Dick. Music by Jake Heggie, Libretto by Gene Scheer. Stephen Costello, Ben Heppner, Jay Hunter Morris, Morgan Smith, and Jonathan Lemalu. Conducted by Patrick Summers. Directed by Leonard Foglia.

Lohengrin. Brandon Jovanovich, Camilla Nylund, Petra Lang, Gerd Grochowski, and Kristinn Sigmundsson. Conducted by Nicola Luisotti. Directed by Daniel Slater.

Tosca. Angela Gheorghiu/ Patricia Racette/, Massimo Giordano/Brian Jagde, Roberto Frontali/Mark Delavan. Conducted by Nicola Luisotti and Giuseppe Finzi. Directed by Jose Maria Condemi.

The Secret Garden. Music by Nolan Gasser, Libretto by Carey Harrison. Directed by Jose Maria Condemi.

Les Contes d’Hoffmann. Matthew Polenzani, Natalie Dessay, Alice Coote and Christian Van Horn. Conducted by Patrick Fournillier. Directed by Laurent Pelly.

Così fan tutte.  Ellie Dehn, Christel Lötzsch, Heidi Stober, Susannah Biller, Francesco Demuro, Philippe Sly, and Marco Vinco. Conducted by Nicola Luisotti. Directed by Jose Maria Condemi.

The Gospel of Mary Magdalene. Music and libretto by Mark Adamo. Sasha Cooke, Maria Kanyova, William Burden, and Nathan Gunn (as Jesus [!]). Conducted by Michael Christie. Directed by Kevin Newbury.

Chicago Lyric Opera announces their 2012-2013 season

The 2012-13 Chicago Lyric Opera season has been announced. Anna Netrebko, Joseph Calleja, Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, Thomas Hampson, Ferruccio Furlanetto and Renne Fleming headline the season.  Andrew Davis the company's music director conductor's 4 productions

Elektra  (New production)  Christine Goerke, Jill Grove, Emily Magee, Alan Held  Sir Andrew Davis/cond., David McVicar/dir.

Simon Boccanegra (Covent Garden production)  Thomas Hampson, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Krassimira Stoyanova, Frank Lopardo . Sir Andrew Davis/cond., Elijah Moshinsky/dir.

Werther  (New production)  Matthew Polenzani, Sophie Koch, Kiri Deonarine, Craig Verm.  Sir Andrew Davis/cond., Francisco Negrin/dir.

Don Pasquale  (Dallas Opera production – “new to Chicago”)  Ildebrando D’Arcangelo, Marlis Petersen, René Barbera, Corey Crider. Stephen Lord/cond., Sir Thomas Allen/dir.

Hansel and Gretel  (LOC production)  Elizabeth DeShong, Maria Kanyova, Jill Grove.  Ward Stare/cond., Richard Jones/orig. prod.

La bohème  (San Francisco Opera production – “new toChicago”)  Ana María Martínez/Anna Netrebko, Dimitri Pittas/Joseph Calleja, Elizabeth Futral. Emmanuel Villaume/cond., Louisa Muller/dir.

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg  (New production)  James Morris, Johan Botha, Amanda Majeski, Bo Skovhus.  Sir Andrew Davis/cond., David McVicar/orig. prod.

Rigoletto (“New staging with Lyric sets/costumes”)  Andrzej Dobber/Željko Lucic, Albina Shagimuratova,  Giuseppe Filianoti, Andrea Silvestrelli. Evan Rogister/cond., TBA/dir.

A Streetcar Named Desire  (“Staged concert performance”)  Renée Fleming,Susanna Philips, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Anthony Dean Griffey.  Evan Rogister/cond., Brad Dalton/dir.

Marcelo returns to Mario

It has just been announced that Marcelo Alvarez will sing the January 28 performance of Tosca. Alvarez first sang the role at the Met when Luc Bondy's production opened in 2009.

 

Antonenko drops from Bondy's controversial production

Aleksandrs Antonenko has withdrawn from this month’s run of Tosca at the Met due to illness. In his place, Robert Dean Smith will make his Met role debut as Cavaradossi on January 18, 21 and 24. For the January 28 matinee broadcast the leading tenor role will be sung by a familiar standby, TBA.

Anthony Roth Costanzo gets a big break

Anthony Roth Costanzo, winner of the National Council Auditions and currently singing Ferdinand at the Met will sing the role of Prospero in The Enchanted Island tomorrow night, replacing David Daniels, who is ill. Jeffrey Mandelbaum will replace Costanzo in the role of Ferdinand.

Luc Bondy's Controversial Tosca opens tonight

Patricia Racette and Roberto Alagna bring their star power to Luc Bondy's disastrous production of Tosca.

For more information click here. 

Giordani to the rescue

Marcelo Álvarez  is canceling the final three performances of his Met role debut as Radamès in Aida to “return to Europe for eye surgery.” 

The tenor will sing February 9, 13, 16, and 20 before handing off to Riccardo Massì (February 23) and Met favorite Marcello Giordani(February 28 and March 3)

Rolando Villazon returns in Werther

Deustche Grammphon has just announced that on February 17th Rolando Villazon's highly acclaimed interpretation of Werther will be released on CD. 

David Daniels, Danielle De Niese, William Christie, and Joyce DiDonato Sign at the Met Store

Just got back from the Met Store where "Enchanted Island" cast members David Daniels, Danielle De Niese, William Christie, and Joyce DiDonato all signed autographs and CDs for devoted fans.

We were there a few months ago for Anna Netrebko's signing, if you recall and the event as just as well organized this time around as it was then.

Notable DVD and CD releases for January

Last month it was impossible to compile a list. However this month many new operas will be released this month.

My number one pick of the month is Simon Boccanegra with Placido Domingo and Anja Harteros from La Scala di Milano. The performance is conducted by Daniel Barenboim and also features Ferrucio Furlanetto. It also marks the third Simon Boccanegra released for Placido Domingo. If you haven't already seen his interpretation, Domingo's Boccanegra is one that should not be missed.

The poet returns from Bayerishe with Villazon

A few months ago from the Bayerische staatsoper presented a production of L'Contes d' Hoffman which was recorded live with Rolando Villazon and Diana Damrau. Today we have videos of the performance. A DVD is expected to come out soon.


Enjoy!

Tosca from the Royal Opera House