Two Boys Preview 2013-14

Nico Muhly's First Opera makes its American premiere at the Metropolitan Opera. Alice Coote and Paul Appleby lead the cast which is conducted by David Robertson

Nico Muhly's opera was commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera but premiered in London at the English National Opera in 2011. The opera tells the story of Anne Strawson, a whisky-drinking detective who is investigating the case of Brian, aged 16, accused of stabbing Jake, aged 13. In order to find the truth Strawson immerses herself  in the world of chatrooms and internet role play, and then separate fact from fantasy in the story that Brian tells her. The opera received mixed reviews with the Guardian stating, "Musically it unfolds far too sedately." However the New York Times praised Muhly for his inventive musical score and using different types of instruments. 

Le Nozze di Figaro opens Tomorrow!

Tomorrow Jonathon Miller's hit production returns to the Met in Mozart classic masterpiece Le Nozze di Figaro. Ildar Abdrazakov leads an all star cast that also includes Mojca Erdmann, Christine Schaefer, Gerald Finley, and Maija Kovalevska. Maestro David Robertson leads the Met Orchestra.

For more information on Le Nozze di Figaro check out our preview linked here.

For more on Mojca Erdmann read our Don Giovanni review.

For more on Ildar Abdrazakov read our Anna Bolena Review.

For more on Mozart read our La Clemenza di Tito and Don Giovanni previews. 

Le Nozze di Figaro Preview 2012-2013 season

Jonathon Miller's production of Le Nozze di Figaro gets a starry cast led by Ildar Abdrazakov in the role of Figaro and Gerald Finley as the Count.

The Production

The current production of Le Nozze di Figaro returns to the Met after a 3 year absence. The production by Johnathon Miller had its premiere in 1998 and was immediately recorded on live television. Jonathon Miller who made his Met debut in 1991 directing Kata Kabanova and is known for his straight forward approaches to Opera. Sometimes he tinkers with relationships and settings but with this opera he sticks to the basics. For this production he keeps the work in the 18th century and lets the score tell the tale Mozart’s way. For the last run in 2009, Gregory Keller oversaw the stage direction and changed some scenes from their original staging. For example Figaro now sings “Se vuol ballare” while spit-polishing the Count’s boots and Cherubino no longer disrobes behind the Countess’s screen. According to critics, the balance of subtlety and slapstick were moved slightly toward comic broadness.As for the production's sets and lighting, Miller clearly designed it with with sensitivity to both the time span and the highly stylized fashions of the day. For example Miller used bright lights in Acts I and II to denote day time, and warm candle light with dark filter of blue light for Acts III and IV. While the staging isn't the most evolutionary production to come to the Met, audiences have loved it for years and this year with its exciting cast should not be an exception.