Tag this
Help others find this
by tagging it.
|
I am just too busy to blog and there would be many things to blog about: Rusalka and Wozzeck from Basel (great!), a few superb shows from Berlin, a couple of excellent concerts from Paris, great Alcina from Dresden... I will NOT blog about the tragically bad new productions from Paris, such as Faust or/and La Forza del destino.
BUT, tonite is the night of La Prima della Prima: Don Giovanni from La Scala. I was told it was not inventive (after Calixto Bieito, Martin Kusej, and Dmitri Tcherniakov it is hard to keep up the quality level) but Robert Carsen shows are always intelligent and pleasant to see. Plus a superb cast will make us forget one of the biggest let-downs in recent years -- the live broadcast of Don Giovanni from The Met.
Tonight's cast should be great: beside our faves, Peter Mattei, Anna Netrebko, Kwangchul Youn, we will enjoy the wonderful Anna Prohaska, Bryn Terfel, Barbara Frittoli, Giuseppe Filianoti. Daniel Barenboim will conduct.
Arte @ 20:15 et on ouvre une boutelle de Chinon (my new fave French wine)
Radio live broadcast here
Edit: I am speechless: 2400 €/seat for la prima of Don Giovanni! Mann
_________________________________________
Boy do I love this opera!!!
Peter the Great
Apparently the Loggionisti are ready to boo two singers on the curtain calls tonight (just heard on the Rai radio -- no name was mentioned)! Tradition oblige... I guess?!
 | | EXCELLENT Leporello! |
 | | Weirdly enraged Masetto... |
 | | Always beautifully singing Anna Prohaska -- I wonder if she has enough power to fill up La Scala... |
 | | Donna Netrebko and Don Filianoti |
Filianoti has become a great actor. Spontaneous and remarkable in every sense of the word -- although this role is not exactly fitting his voice.
HUGE Or sai chi l'onore! Anna Netrebko!
 | | Anna ??????? Netrebko! -- Or sai chi l'onore to remember |
 | | Peter's effortless wonderful singing -- a real treat! |
 | | Anna dominates... She deserves every bit of the global praise she receives... and more! |
Pleasant show so far, with the party scene cleverly staged. I guess the constraint of having to please the La Scala crowd weighed quite a bit in what Carsen did here. Zero risk, no audacity, rehashing his old formulas... that invariably work with crowd
Or sai chi l'onore to keep for future generations...
Act-2
And just when Barenboim was about to start Act-2, the crowd was finishing clapping, and someone objected "Lento!" What standard does he have in mind?! Even if it was slow, how uncouth do you have to be to say that out loud at that very moment?!
 | | Donna Elvira Frittoli |
 | | This is where the innate musicality makes difference... |
It seems like Filianoti might the one to soak a pile of boos from la loggione tonight...
 | | Ah mio tesoro -- this is definitely not a role for you |
 | | Mi tradì quell'alma ingrata... - Brava Barbara! |
LOL @ Carsen: Il commendatore is singing from the presidential box -- right between Napolitano and Mario Monti! Ha
 | | Left upper angle is a mirror reflection of Commendatore who sings omenously from the prez box |
 | | Brava! |
 | | Brilliant duo! |
Yes, the game with mirrors help helps Carsen emphasizing his usual statement: theater is life, and life is theater. Warlikowski was the first to play with that as far as I know -- Just saying! ;)
 | | Donna Elvira joins in for a meal... |
 | | Always great - Kwangchul Youn... You noticed maestro's hand, didn't you?! |
I liked Claus Guth Don Giovanni for its numerous qualities, including the fact that the epilogue was cut off. To me this is simply redundant. What's the point?! To moralize? To make sure everyone gets the story the "right way"?! The show would be more efficient without it... BUT Carsen cleverly steps in and makes the final twist... and saves his show ;)
Ovations for Frittoli, and especially for Anna Netrebko (flower showered), Peter Mattei and Bryn Terfel.
Only a few boos for Carsen and I don't understand why for such a tamed (yet pleasant) show... None of the singers was booed. Good!
Second show and a much better night for Filianoti
|
|
Click fields to tag this
Blog Entry
Tagging makes it easy for you and others to find Classical Music on InstantEncore.
|
No categories set
|