Anna Netrebko has just revealed her new photos by Ruven Afanador. Enjoy!
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Pictures from Manon at La Scala and Les Troyens from the ROH
While we've already seen this production here are a couple of stills from La Scala featuring Ermonela Jaho
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Faust Preview 2012-2013 Season
Des McAnuff's incomprehensible production returns to the Met starring Piotr Beczala and Marina Poplavskaya.
The Production
Last year the Met unveiled The English National Opera's production of Faust replacing Andrei Serban's visually lavish production of Faust. Gelb's reason for replacing a production that had only been shown 13 times was because he wanted a more theatrical Faust. However what he got was an incomprehensible and confusing production. Rather than pleasing the audience with a dazzling, energetic and colorful take on the simple love story, Gelb bored audiences and critics alike. The production which takes place during World War 2 in Faust's laboratory has interesting and diverting sequences as well as interesting lighting effects. However when McAnuff is forced to work with the heavy material, he runs out of ideas and relies on the singers to engage the audience. As an audience member it did not matter how beautiful the singers were singing because I was confused and uninterested by the action. Critics were also not impressed by the work. They stated that "there was something about an atomic bomb, and Faust being a middle aged man with a mid life crisis who actually DRINKS the poison and then suddenly has a flashback because he returns to that moment where he drank the poison and dies as the final curtain comes down. Confused? So was I. McAnuff mentioned a flashback sequence, but only confusion arises from this: in a flashback, someone goes back to their youth, which Faust promptly does after Mephistopheles gives him the potion. However, Faust does not immediately turn young when he drinks the poison. He remains old, and invokes the devil to make him young again and the story proceeds as it normally does. It could have been interpreted that he flashed back when the devil showed up except McAnuff shoots this interpretation in the foot the moment Faust returns to the moment when he drank the poison the first time at the end of the performance." Critics also questioned many aspects of the production including where Marguerite goes when she dies, Where are those stairs leading her to at the end, Is there a heaven in a universe where Science has presumably become/ destroyed God, and why is the Atomic Bomb concept abandoned after the Walpurgis Night Scene and make no impact on the opera's final scene. The point is the production was unclear and unfocused. Gelb's decision left me never wanting to see another Faust until this production is removed forever from the Met.
The Production
Last year the Met unveiled The English National Opera's production of Faust replacing Andrei Serban's visually lavish production of Faust. Gelb's reason for replacing a production that had only been shown 13 times was because he wanted a more theatrical Faust. However what he got was an incomprehensible and confusing production. Rather than pleasing the audience with a dazzling, energetic and colorful take on the simple love story, Gelb bored audiences and critics alike. The production which takes place during World War 2 in Faust's laboratory has interesting and diverting sequences as well as interesting lighting effects. However when McAnuff is forced to work with the heavy material, he runs out of ideas and relies on the singers to engage the audience. As an audience member it did not matter how beautiful the singers were singing because I was confused and uninterested by the action. Critics were also not impressed by the work. They stated that "there was something about an atomic bomb, and Faust being a middle aged man with a mid life crisis who actually DRINKS the poison and then suddenly has a flashback because he returns to that moment where he drank the poison and dies as the final curtain comes down. Confused? So was I. McAnuff mentioned a flashback sequence, but only confusion arises from this: in a flashback, someone goes back to their youth, which Faust promptly does after Mephistopheles gives him the potion. However, Faust does not immediately turn young when he drinks the poison. He remains old, and invokes the devil to make him young again and the story proceeds as it normally does. It could have been interpreted that he flashed back when the devil showed up except McAnuff shoots this interpretation in the foot the moment Faust returns to the moment when he drank the poison the first time at the end of the performance." Critics also questioned many aspects of the production including where Marguerite goes when she dies, Where are those stairs leading her to at the end, Is there a heaven in a universe where Science has presumably become/ destroyed God, and why is the Atomic Bomb concept abandoned after the Walpurgis Night Scene and make no impact on the opera's final scene. The point is the production was unclear and unfocused. Gelb's decision left me never wanting to see another Faust until this production is removed forever from the Met.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Elina Garanca's new album
Deutsche Grammophon has just released the first images of Elina Garanca's new Album entitled Romantique. The album features works by Tchaikovsky, Saint Saens and Gounod and is conducted Yves Abel. The CD will be released in September.Thursday, June 14, 2012
Netrebko pulls out of La Scala Manon
The Teatro alla Scala has just released the following statment: Due to health reasons, Anna Netrebko has withdrawn from the performances of Massenet's Manon.
The role of Manon Lescaut will be sung by Ermonela Jaho in all the performances.
Netrebko was scheduled to sing the opening two performances of the run replacing originally scheduled Natalie Dessay.
After battling with a series of respiratory infections over the past month, Anna Netrebko has been advised by her doctor to rest for at least the next two weeks. She therefore must regretfully withdraw from her scheduled performances of Manon at La Scala on June 19 and 22. She was also forced to cancel her scheduled concert at the White Nights Festival in St Petersburg today.
Anna is devastated to miss these performances as she was very much looking forward to singing in her home town St Petersburg, and to performing Manon at La Scala for the first time. She appreciates everyone's understanding during this difficult time for her. She looks forward to returning to the stage as soon as possible, and especially to her next engagement at La Scala in La Boheme this October.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Don Giovanni to be released
Today news comes that Don Giovanni starring Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, Luca Pisaroni, Diana Damrau, Joyce Didonato, Rolando Villazon, and Mojca Erdmann will be released. The recording, done last year at Baden Baden, is slated to be released on September 7, 2012. Stay tuned.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
The Final poll tallies
The final poll tallies revealed that Jonas Kaufmann disappointed the fans more than anyone else.
The original question was which cancellation is the most disappointing?
The original question was which cancellation is the most disappointing?
50 (65%)
|
13 (17%)
|
13 (17%)
|
Votes so far: 76
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