Notable DVD and CD Releases for the Month of February

January did not have many great releases but February promises to show diverse operas and rarities for people explore. 

The first release is of Rossini's rarely heard work Mose in Egitto. The production by Graham Vick was one of the most controversial at the Pesaro festival receiving a round of boos at the opening night. The Cast however is exceptional starring Sonia Ganassi, Riccardo Zanellato, Alex Esposito and Dimtry Korchak. Roberto Abbado leads over the Bologna Orchestra.   

Rigoletto Opens tomorrow

After having seen the rehearsal of Rigoletto I decided not to do a preview for Rigoletto so that I do not assume anything. I am pretty sure that many will enjoy the production which is in Las Vegas. The opera is very much traditional and it will not have much controversy as Micael Mayer is very respectful to Verdi. The production stars Piotr Beczala, Diana Damrau, and Zeljko Lucic. Michele Mariotti conducts. 

For pictures and information click here 

For videos click here 

Rigoletto's First Video

The Met has released the first video of their 1960s Vegas production from yesterday's rehearsal. The production is quite striking if a bit safe. More it later. Enjoy the video!

The Met on "60 Minutes"

Thee New York Times has revealed that the Met will be on 60 minutes for CBS to promote their New Rigoletto production. Additionally Michael Mayer will be making a documentary of his own which was also filming at rehearsals of the opera. For more information click here. Below there are new pictures of Rigoletto so you could enjoy as we wait for the premiere on Monday.

Blythe is ill!

Elena Manistina will make her Met debut as Azucena in the Saturday, January 19 evening performance of Verdi’sIl Trovatore, replacing Stephanie Blythe, who is ill.

Le Comte Ory Opens Tonight

Juan Diego Florez returns to Rossini's delightful comedy Le Comte Ory with Pretty Yende in her Met debut. Nathan Gunn and Karine Deshayes join the cast with Maurizio Benini in the pit.

For more information on Le Comte read our preview linked here. 

For more on Juan Diego Florez Review our L'Elisir d'Amore review for last year 

Le Comte Ory Preview 2012-2013

Juan Diego Florez returns to the Met with his acclaimed turn as Le Comte Ory. Pretty Yende makes her anticipated Met debut.

The Production

Bartlett Sher made his third production with Le Comte Ory. He set the opera within a theater and it was supposed to be an opera within an opera. The concept was confusing because in the end the production did not work. Critics called it incompetent and stated that "Michael Yeargan's sets looked like something middle schoolers could knock together from cardboard boxes and shower curtains. But even they might have passed muster had Sher placed even a single witty scene before them. Instead, he settled for breast-grabbing, butt-groping and enough hammy business for actor Rob Besserer, in an extraneous role, to steal focus from every musical or dramatic climax." Some were less harsh stating that while it did not work they would accept it. The New York Times was one of the few to enjoy the production stating that Sher brought Nuance, and intelligence." The production is made up of an old barn of a place, with brick walls lined with candles. Within that big room there is a miniature theater with a low platform stage and a curtain in back." The sets are stark and sometimes boring to look at but if there are good performers on it the production works. With Juan Diego Florez back on board, Sher's production should be as refreshing as the first time around