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| re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met | |
| Posted by: AC126748 03:52 pm EST 01/01/19 | |
| In reply to: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met - NewtonUK 11:35 am EST 01/01/19 | |
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| I listened to the live stream last night. Netrebko sounded blunt and unmusical in "Io son l'umile," but she warmed up as the evening went along. Still, I find the current overall state of her voice worrisome. Rachvelishvili, on the other hand, sounded phenomenal from note one. Beczala sounded good over the air, but I could see how he might seem overparted in the house. What sounds right with a microphone at your feet doesn't always translate into the auditorium. I haven't heard him live since he switched over to heavier repertoire. Noseda is a very fine (and versatile) conductor. It was great to hear him leading the Met again. I have some friends who reject the idea of Adriana as merely a star vehicle and regard it as a neglected masterpiece. I'm not sure I would go that far, but on balance with much of the season so far, it definitely seemed like a success. |
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| re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met | |
| Posted by: NewtonUK 09:45 am EST 01/02/19 | |
| In reply to: re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met - AC126748 03:52 pm EST 01/01/19 | |
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| Not a masterpiece, for sure - but perhaps more stageworthy than THAIS or MARNIE! | |
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| re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met | |
| Posted by: AC126748 09:58 am EST 01/02/19 | |
| In reply to: re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met - NewtonUK 09:45 am EST 01/02/19 | |
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| No argument there!! | |
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| re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 07:16 pm EST 01/01/19 | |
| In reply to: re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met - AC126748 03:52 pm EST 01/01/19 | |
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| I've never understood why so many people seem to hate (or ridicule) the score of Adriana. Despite NewtonUK's comments above, I don't think that "Io son l'umile ancella" has anything at all to do with "Vissi d'arte," and I don't find that the melody is overused as a motif - in fact, the opera contains a number of musical motifs that are probably used no more or less than most operas with repeated themes. It's a very tuneful score with a good balance of light and dark, and, hearing the performance over Sirius last night, I though it was ultimately a nice choice for New Year's Eve - though it ends tragically, it has a lot of fun in it as well. Rachvelishvili was stunning. (Some people on another site were asking when the Met might do Gioconda for these 2 ladies, lol.) I also really enjoyed hearing Michonnet as sung by Ambroggio Maestri. I agree that Bezcala sounded quite good on the air, and Noseda's touch was perfect for the feel of the score. All in all, a nice evening of music making. Having not seen the production yet (I'm hoping to catch the encore showing of the HD in a few weeks), I can't judge the look of it at all, but I really enjoyed the broadcast. I do agree that Netrebko got started strangely at the top of the aria, but definitely improved over the course of the night. I think that all in all this is a good role for her. |
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| re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met | |
| Posted by: NewtonUK 09:51 am EST 01/02/19 | |
| In reply to: re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met - Chromolume 07:16 pm EST 01/01/19 | |
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| PS. I wasn't comparing the music of 'vissi d'arte' with the big Adriana aria - just the my life and art motif in the lyrics. I think this aria falls at an unfortunate place in the score for the soprano - she has barely uttered a sound, and has to to then come forth with her 'big number'. Puccini almost always handled this better - whether Rodolfo or Mimi or Tosca or Scarpia or Musetta or Mario etc etc, they get to enter, sing for a bit, and finally get to their first big arias after they have had a chance to get their sea legs so to speak. Her its pretty much, Hi, How are You, SING! Netrebko sounded OK - but as has been posted, her voice has had various issues over the past several seasons. The only negative thing I can say about the performance really is that there was a gent and a lady in standing room behind my seat, screaming 'Bravo' after every aria, I mean screaming. And every time Netrebko hugged a character or kissed, or looked sad, the gentleman let audible sounds and words. Truly annoying. (And of course, didnt know the difference between Bravo, Brava, and Bravi. But knew EEVRYTHING about opera, don't you know) |
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| re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met | |
| Posted by: Ordoc 01:31 pm EST 01/02/19 | |
| In reply to: re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met - NewtonUK 09:51 am EST 01/02/19 | |
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| NewtonUK states, "The only negative thing I can say about the performance really is that there was a gent and a lady in standing room behind my seat, screaming 'Bravo' after every aria, I mean screaming. And every time Netrebko hugged a character or kissed, or looked sad, the gentleman let audible sounds and words. Truly annoying. (And of course, didnt know the difference between Bravo, Brava, and Bravi. But knew EEVRYTHING about opera, don't you know)" I just loved Opera Snobs. Why don't you write "NewtonUK's Guide To Opera?" This site is called Talkin Broadway; not Talkin Opera! |
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| re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 01:48 pm EST 01/02/19 | |
| In reply to: re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met - Ordoc 01:31 pm EST 01/02/19 | |
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| "I just loved Opera Snobs." Umm...what? Anyway, opera is a form of theater and has always been welcome for discussion on this board. If you don't like it, feel free not to participate. (But you already did.) |
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| re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 04:22 pm EST 01/02/19 | |
| In reply to: re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met - Michael_Portantiere 01:48 pm EST 01/02/19 | |
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| And, context being what it is - we're also discussing an opera about a theatre actress (with her literal recitation from Phedre being a key moment in the opera). | |
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| re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 07:24 pm EST 01/02/19 | |
| In reply to: re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met - Chromolume 04:22 pm EST 01/02/19 | |
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| "And, context being what it is - we're also discussing an opera about a theatre actress (with her literal recitation from Phedre being a key moment in the opera)." Yes, but no need to justify your love :-) |
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| re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met | |
| Last Edit: Chromolume 11:28 am EST 01/02/19 | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 11:28 am EST 01/02/19 | |
| In reply to: re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met - NewtonUK 09:51 am EST 01/02/19 | |
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| Puccini almost always handled this better - whether Rodolfo or Mimi or Tosca or Scarpia or Musetta or Mario etc etc, they get to enter, sing for a bit, and finally get to their first big arias after they have had a chance to get their sea legs so to speak. Not Mario. Look at how little he sings before "Recondita Armonia." ;-) (Also compare with other composers - Verdi, for instance, who has Radames sing his huge and difficult aria right away, etc. It's not as uncommon as you may think.) Anyone can ostensibly sing about "life and art" etc. But in Tosca's aria, "I lived for art and love" isn't really a motif, it's just a starting thought that really don't get developed - the aria itself is a plea to god in a horrible situation, it's NOT about her being an artist (whereas Adriana's aria, sung in the context of her practicing her lines, is.) Tosca is really singing more about "I've really tried to do so much good in my life - how the hell have I ended up here?" I think you're making way too much of one single lyric, lol. Might as well compare "Poveri fiori" to Don Jose's Flower Song - hey, they both have a flower motif...;-) |
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| re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met | |
| Posted by: AC126748 01:15 pm EST 01/02/19 | |
| In reply to: re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met - Chromolume 11:28 am EST 01/02/19 | |
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| Puccini almost always handled this better - whether Rodolfo or Mimi or Tosca or Scarpia or Musetta or Mario etc etc, they get to enter, sing for a bit, and finally get to their first big arias after they have had a chance to get their sea legs so to speak. Not Mario. Look at how little he sings before "Recondita Armonia." ;-) (Also compare with other composers - Verdi, for instance, who has Radames sing his huge and difficult aria right away, etc. It's not as uncommon as you may think.) Musetta also has very little to sing before "Quando m'en vo," and there are a host of other Puccini characters who disprove this theory (hi, Turandot!) |
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| re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met | |
| Posted by: larry13 11:11 am EST 01/02/19 | |
| In reply to: re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met - NewtonUK 09:51 am EST 01/02/19 | |
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| I just want to say that, while "Puccini almost always handled this better," there is a long history of composers, great or mediocre like Cilea, giving characters big arias almost immediately. Most(in?)famous perhaps is Verdi, who definitely knew better, giving the tenor "Celeste Aida," a much more difficult piece of music than anyone in ADRIANA has to sing, virtually immediately at the opening of the opera. And Adriana herself still has "Poveri fiori," a VERY big number, waiting for her in the final act. |
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| re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met | |
| Posted by: Zelgo 10:45 pm EST 01/01/19 | |
| In reply to: re: New ADRIANA LECOUVREUR at the Met - Chromolume 07:16 pm EST 01/01/19 | |
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| Really looking forward to seeing this in the house this month. The greatest rendition of this opera I saw was the Opera Orchestra of NY’s semi-staged version at Carnegie Hall over a decade ago. It starred Aprile Millo, Delors Zajick, and Marcello Giordani. Everyone was on fire. Aria after aria after duet after duet was just electric. |
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