General Opera News

[bhodges]

From NPR this morning, an excellent piece on The Island We Made, a new production by Opera Philadelphia (with nods to the company's innovation in general), from composer Angélica Negrón.

https://www.npr.org/2021/03/19/978900735/the-island-we-made-lip-sync-opera-and-high-drag-sing-an-ode-to-mothers

--Bruce

[Wendell_E]

Like many, I suffer from "not-another-Bohème" syndrome, but I don't know if Michigan Opera Theatre's solution's for next season is a good idea:

In a historic first, [Artistic Director Yuval] Sharon and MOT extract hope from tragedy, life from death, and love from loneliness by staging Puccini's tragic opera in reverse order—starting with Act IV and ending with Act I.

It will be a co-production with Boston Lyric Opera.

Full 2021-22 season announcement: https://michiganopera.org/michigan-opera-theatre-announces-2021-22-season/

[André]

Well, it would certainly end the evening on a high note !

[Wendell_E]

Well, it would certainly end the evening on a high note !

:laugh:

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Like many, I suffer from "not-another-Bohème" syndrome, but I don't know if Michigan Opera Theatre's solution's for next season is a good idea:

It will be a co-production with Boston Lyric Opera.

Full 2021-22 season announcement: https://michiganopera.org/michigan-opera-theatre-announces-2021-22-season/

Well, it would certainly end the evening on a high note !

Booooo!  :laugh:

PD

[Wendell_E]

The Met website has posted pictures of their upcoming (April) new production of Lucia di Lammermoor. I'm guessing some of their patrons will not be pleased.  :laugh:

https://www.metopera.org/season/2021-22-season/lucia-di-lammermoor/

WWCT? [What would Callas think?]

[Pohjolas Daughter]

The Met website has posted pictures of their upcoming (April) new production of Lucia di Lammermoor. I'm guess some of their patrons will not be pleased.  :laugh:

https://www.metopera.org/season/2021-22-season/lucia-di-lammermoor/

WWCT? [What would Callas think?]

It could work.  Much better to have a change of setting and/or time than to have an uber minimalist production with virtually no scenery--in my opinion anyway. 

PD

[Wendell_E]

Metropolitan opera announces 2022-23 season:

https://www.metopera.org/about/press-releases/the-metropolitan-opera-announces-its-202223-season-featuring-the-world-premiere-staging-of-the-hours-the-company-premieres-of-champion-and-medea-and-four-more-new-productions/

[idia legray]

It could work.  Much better to have a change of setting and/or time than to have an uber minimalist production with virtually no scenery--in my opinion anyway. 

PD

If you are into a story that has little to do with the composer's intent, you might like this nutty production that has little to do with the sensitivity of Lucia who in no way would ever wear jeans and leather jacket.  The excesses to which this production went, like not just a bloodstained gown but an entire dress engorged with blood from head to toe (like we get it!), were an embarrassment to the point that the producers who dared come out for the curtain call at the end were swiftly booed by an insulted audience -- their smiling faces slowly drained of expression.
Having said that, if you close your eyes and simply listen to the singers you will be amply rewarded.  Their voices, each and every one, were superb.

[Todd]

Irene Theorin Gives Middle Finger to Booing Audience at Bayreuth Festival

[Lisztianwagner]

Irene Theorin Gives Middle Finger to Booing Audience at Bayreuth Festival

Whether she was right or wrong, her gesture was inappropriate anyway; there is no point in countering something she considered rude by being rude herself. And to tell the truth, I think the audience can't be completely blamed for booing: the staging for Wagner's Ring was really questionable, and vocally and musically, the performances were good, but not extraordinary and unfogettable. Definitely not the standard expected for Bayreuth.