Did anyone else see this this weekend?
I’ve been meaning to attend one of the Met’s HD screenings since they started, but didn’t quite get around to it until now. I’ve been a fan of Alagna since I saw his duet of “Au fond du temple saint” with Terfel at the Met gala in honor of James Levine. Seeing that he was starring in this production was the little nudge I needed.
My uninformed impressions -
I knew nothing about Gheorghiu other than that she is Alagna’s wife, and that didn’t give me high expectations. (Nepotism, anyone?) In addition, the manager announced before the performance that she was suffering from a cold. However, I was very impressed, both by her acting and her singing. Plus, in the intermission interview, when she was talking about why she loves this opera so much, she said, “I’m not dying, for once,” with such a cheerful laugh that I couldn’t help but like her.
Watching her and Alagna together was great. They have wonderful chemistry, and respond so easily and naturally to one another.
As good as they were, I enjoyed Lisette Oropesa and Marius Brenciu more. Oropesa in particular was charming, funny, and just inhabited her role perfectly. Her expression when she announced (at the end) that she gets off at 10 was wonderful.
I said this was my first broadcast, and I was surprised at how full the theater was. I go to movies there fairly regularly, and I don’t think I’ve seen it this full since the “Lord of the Rings.” Looking around, most of the patrons were over 40, but I saw several young children, and a good sprinkling of young adults.
Finally, this shouldn’t surprise me, but I noticed it. I go once or twice a year to the Minnesota Opera. They do a good job. They get wonderful touring productions. But they are second tier - no slam intended- and get lots of students and touring performers, no big stars.
The jump in quality was visible and stunning. I was literally open-mouthed at several points. I have been planning on taking my daughter to the Minn. Opera, to introduce her to the art, but my plan has changed. Her first exposure should be to this amazing quality of performance. (Actually, I do show her youtube snippets of favorite scenes, and have told her the stories of some as regular entertainment, so by the time she goes, it should be somewhat familiar.) As soon as one of the performances is something she would enjoy, I’m getting her a ticket. (She has a very limited tolerance for kissing, which she thinks is disgusting. That pretty much leaves me with Wagner.)
The only negative was the sound. Most of the opera itself was clear, but the interviews and informational segments were pretty much inaudible. The problem was at the Met, so I hope they manage to get it fixed.
All in all 4.5 out to 5 stars - due to technical difficulties. $20 very well spent.