Metropolitan Opera Archives - North West End UK

16May

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

REVIEWS

Madama Butterfly – Metropolitan Opera

Paula Williams’ revival of Anthony Minghella’s original production is full of good intentions but too many gimmicks get in the way of Puccini’s devastating tragedy about a young geisha who falls in love with an American naval officer. Marriage broker Goro (Tony Stevenson) shows US naval lieutenant Pinkerton (Jonathan Tetelman) around the home he will share with his bride-to-be in Nagasaki, although American Consul Sharpless (Lucas Meachem) warns him of the tragic consequences that may follow. The Butterfly duly lands in the form of young Japanese girl Cio-Cio-San (Asmik Grigorian) supported by maid Suzuki (Elizabeth DeShong), and they are married by the Commissioner (Paul Corona). Her love makes her willing to sacrifice everything which sees her disowned by her uncle, a Bonze (Robert Po...

9Jan

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

REVIEWS

Nabucco – Met Opera Live in HD

Verdi’s biblical story is brought to life in biblical proportions with this fifth revival from director J. Knighten Smit’s of the late Elijah Moshinsky’s original production complete with John Napier’s impressive set design taking full advantage of the stage’s turntable. In Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem, the terrified Hebrews await the arrival of the conquering Babylonian king, Nabucco (George Gagnidze), who is renowned for his cruelty. The Hebrew high priest Zaccaria (Dmitry Belosselskiy) has kidnapped Nabucco’s daughter, Fenena (Maria Barakova) entrusting her safe keeping to Ismaele (SeokJong Baek), and their love for each other is soon revealed. Nabucco’s elder daughter, Abigaille (Liudmyla Monastyrska), is also in love with Ismaele and offers to save the Jewish people if he will giv...

Lohengrin – Metropolitan Opera Live in HD

20Mar

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

REVIEWS

Lohengrin – Metropolitan Opera Live in HD

After nine years of peace, the enemies from the East are threatening again and King Heinrich (Günther Groissböck) arrives in Brabant to understand why it is in such strife and not providing the necessary support. Telramund (Evgeny Nikitin) accuses Elsa (Tamara Wilson) of the heinous crime of having murdered her brother, Gottfried, heir to the Brabant throne, and has also shunned her betrothal to him in favour of Ortrud (Christine Goerke). Elsa recalls a dream of a knight in shining armour who will come to save her and when the Herald (Brian Mulligan) calls for someone to defend her honour, the mysterious knight (Piotr Beczała) appears on the back of a swan. He pledges his troth to her on condition that she never asks his name or origin to which she agrees, and he duly defeats Telramund in ...

<strong>Fedora – Metropolitan Opera Live in HD</strong>

16Jan

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

REVIEWS

Fedora – Metropolitan Opera Live in HD

All artistic organisations need to make money to survive, and New York’s Metropolitan Opera is no exception, with its more recent challenge being that of an audience turning from the renowned classical productions to newer, more modern operas, despite these often lacking the depth in both libretto and orchestra of the established repertoire. The return of Giordano’s exhilarating Fedora – a new production directed by David McVicar rather than a revival – after a 25-year absence may reflect the perfect balance in its appeal to audiences old and new; it was certainly one of the most enjoyable productions I have seen and which at the time of its own writing would have been considered very modern and radical. Princess Fedora Romazoff (Sonya Yoncheva) has only just arrived at the home of her ...

<strong>The Hours – Metropolitan Opera Live in HD</strong>

12Dec

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

REVIEWS

The Hours – Metropolitan Opera Live in HD

The world-premiere staging of Kevin Puts’ The Hours, adapted from Michael Cunningham’s acclaimed novel, which also served as the inspiration for the Oscar-winning film, arrives in cinemas worldwide this December. In her highly anticipated return to the Met, soprano Renée Fleming joins soprano Kelli O’Hara and mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato to portray three women from different eras who grapple with their inner demons and their roles in society. As Virginia Woolf (DiDonato) tinkers with the opening line of her new novel – Mrs Dalloway – in 1923 England, 1999 New York sees Clarissa Vaughan (Fleming) throwing a party for her friend Richard (Kyle Ketelsen), who is dying of AIDS, whilst in 1949 Los Angeles, Laura Brown (O’Hara) reads Mrs Dalloway in bed whilst dreading her duties as wife and m...

The Met Live in HD: Medea – The Metropolitan Opera

24Oct

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

REVIEWS

The Met Live in HD: Medea – The Metropolitan Opera

Originally written in French in 1797, The Met premiere the later Italian version of Cherubini’s rarely performed masterpiece, based on Euripides’ and Corneille’s tragedies, to open their new season in a co-production with the Greek National Opera, Canadian Opera Company, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Spurning antiquity, director David McVicar sets the piece somewhere around the time of its original writing with a distinctly Gallic nod towards the French Revolution that would follow, and the straightforward simplicity of the set, which he also designed, is sympathetic to an audience mostly unfamiliar with the work. The breathless overture recedes to introduce Glauce (Janai Brugger), daughter of Creonte (Michele Pertusi), King of Corinth, and her impending marriage to Giasone (Matthew Po...