Opera News articles from December 1999

Opera News archives from December 1999

OPERA WATCH.
December 1, 1999... San Francisco names its next chief, a new countertenor arrives on the block, fifteen tenors head wish list for Christmas HOLIDAY TREATS Yes, yes, Nanette, there are more than three, so look into THE GREAT TENORS, from Caruso to the...

ON THE BEAT.(Brief Article)
December 1, 1999... Anne Sofie von Otter goes Home for Christmas; Dawn Upshaw transforms herself into Fitzgerald's Daisy Buchanan ANNE SOFIE VON OTTER's "Home for Christmas" is the best holiday disc I've heard in years -- a completely original undertaking...

THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS ARE THE HARDEST.(phonograph - centennial retrospect)(centennial retrospect)
December 1, 1999... "The phonograph is to music what the printing press is to literature," observed Jacques Barzun, the first historian to recognize the phonograph as a cultural force. His bold comparison now seems vindicated in this season of centennial...

THE TRISTAN TEST.
December 1, 1999... Why does Wagner's masterpiece terrify heroic tenors? When we meet Beethoven's Florestan in his dungeon, he cries out "God, what darkness here!" The line starts on high G: yearning and the upper middle of the tenor voice are natural...

VOYAGE IN THE DARK.(plot, analysis, discography: Tristan und Isolde)
December 1, 1999... With his score for Tristan und Isolde, Wagner sends listeners on a remarkable musical journey Wagner finished Tristan und Isolde on August 6, 1859, and the next day he posted the last installment of his manuscript to Breitkopf & Hartel....

From Princeton to Paradise.(F. Scott Fitzgerald)
December 1, 1999... As a young man, CHARLES SCRIBNER III, the fifth generation of the famous publishing family, settled down for a train ride with a silver flask and a copy of "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz." On the occasion of the Met's world premiere of John...

The Sound of Gatsby.(The Great Gatsby - opera plot/analysis)
December 1, 1999... In the past few years, many new operas have sported superb librettos -- but no one has remembered the music five minutes after leaving the theater. John Harbison's The Great Gatsby places the emphasis where it belongs -- in the musical fabric....

Jerry Speak.(Jerry Hadley)(Interview)
December 1, 1999... THE VOLUBLE TENOR TALKS ABOUT COLLEAGUES, IDOLS AND HIS LATEST ROLE --THE MET'S JAY GATSBY Jerry Hadley is holding forth at a table in El Farol, a cafe at the point on Santa Fe's Canyon Road where the galleries thin out and real life...

THE ELUSIVE Gatsby.
December 1, 1999... In its many stage and screen versions, The Great Gatsby seems to defy dramatization. Will John Harbison's new opera break the Gatsby curse? The Great Gatsby has been adapted once as a play (1926), twice (1955 and 1958) as a television...

Still Moments.(tenor Ramon Vargas)
December 1, 1999... Ramon Vargas doesn't need to emote heavily to make his point -- his elegant phasing and beauty of tone let the music speak for itself Last season's Met Lucia di Lammermoor produced a rare phenomenon: in this most diva-centric of operas, the...

Long Range.(Christa Ludwig - 1959 Metropolitan Opera debut)(Brief Article)
December 1, 1999... Gaetano Donizetti Lucia di Lammermoor Richard Wagner Tristan und Isolde Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Le Nozze di Figro John Harbison The Great Gatsy On December 10, 1959, the young Christa Ludwig -- a "dramatic mezzo-soprano,"...

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR.
December 1, 1999... BROADCAST OF DECEMBER 11, 1999 SPONSORED BY TEXACO OVER THE TEXACO-METROPOLITAN OPERA INTERNATIONAL RADIO NETWORK, 12:30 P.M. Music by Gaetano Donizetti Libretto by Salvatore Cammarano, after Sir Walter Scott's novel The Bride of Lammermoor...

TRISTAN UND ISOLDE.
December 1, 1999... BROADCAST OF DECEMBER 18, 1999 SPONSORED BY TEXACO OVER THE TEXACO-METROPOLITAN OPERA INTERNATIONAL RADIO NETWORK, 12:30 P.M. Music by Richard Wagner Libretto by the composer, after a Celtic romance TRISTAN UND ISOLDE THE CAST...

THE CASTS:.(profiles of opera singers)
December 1, 1999... Bronxville, New York native Ruth Ann Swenson (Lucia) made her Met debut as Zerlina in Don Giovanni in 1991. The soprano was Adina in Los Angeles' L'Elisir d'Amore this fall, then sang Lucia in San Francisco. Last month, Swenson sang Barber's...

LE NOZZE DI FIGARO.
December 1, 1999... BROADCAST OF DECEMBER 25, 1999 SPONSORED BY TEXACO OVER THE TEXACO-METROPOLITAN OPERA INTERNATIONAL RADIO NETWORK, 1:30 P.M. Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte LE NOZZE DI FIGARO THE CAST (in order of...

THE GREAT GATSBY.
December 1, 1999... BROADCAST OF JANUARY 1,2000 SPONSORED BY TEXACO OVER THE TEXACO-METROPOLITAN INTERNATIONAL RADIO NETWORK, 1:30 P.M. Music by John Harbison Libretto by the composer, based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, with popular song lyrics by Murray...

WHAT TO READ AND HEAR.(information about select operas)(Brief Article)
December 1, 1999... LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR William Ashbrook's Donizetti and his Operas (Cambridge, out of print) remains the basic reference; Ashbrook also collaborated with Julian Budden on the Donizetti chapter in The New Grove Masters of Italian Opera (Norton...

TEXACO-METROPOLITAN OPERA INTERNATIONAL RADIO NETWORK: 1999-2000 SEASON.(Directory)
December 1, 1999... STATION AM FM ALABAMA Birmingham WBHM 90.3 Dothan WRWA 88.7 Gadsden WSGN 91.5 Gadsden ...

MESSIAEN: Saint Francois d'Assise.(Review)
December 1, 1999... MESSIAEN: Saint Francois d'Assise [] Upshaw; van Dam, Merritt, Aler, Malmberg; Renard, Krause, D'Ase, Banlaky; Schoenberg Chorus, Hall/Orchestra, Nagano. Libretto & translation. DG 445176 (4) Since it first appeared, in Paris in November...

PUCCINI: La Boheme.(Review)
December 1, 1999... PUCCINI: La Boheme [] Gheorghiu, Scano; Alagna, Keenlyside, de Candia, D'Arcangelo, Mariotti; Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Chailly. Text and translation. Decca 466 070-2 First, to answer the logical question in the reader's mind: no,...

WEILL: Der Silbersee.(Review)
December 1, 1999... WEILL: Der Silbersee [] Lascarro, Wyn-Davies, Karneus, Dernesch; Kruse, Gruber, Zednik, Clark. London Sinfonietta Chorus and Orchestra, Stenz. Texts and translation. BMG 09026-63447-2 Hindsight adds all kinds of historical resonance to Der...

GLUCK: Alceste.(Review)
December 1, 1999... GLUCK: Alceste [] Ringholz, Treichl; Lavender; Drottningholm Theater Orchestra and Chorus, Ostman. Texts and translations. Naxos 8. 660066-68 This superb new recording of Gluck's 1767 Alceste is one of the most important opera releases to...

TAN DUN: Bitter Love.(Review)
December 1, 1999... TAN DUN: Bitter Love [] Ying Huang; New York Virtuoso Singers, Instrumental Ensemble, Tan Dun. SONY Classical ASK 61658 This severely reduced version of the classic Chinese opera The Peony Pavilion, directed in the theater by Peter Sellars,...

WEBER, arr. Berlioz: Der Freischutz (French version and recitatives by Hector Berlioz).(Review)
December 1, 1999... WEBER, arr. Berlioz: Der Freischutz (French version and recitatives by Hector Berlioz) [] Perrin, Constantin; Soulet, Perroni, Henry, Bernadi, Dudziak, Lenaerts; Choeurs de Saint-Eustache, Duchesne; Philharmonie de Chambre Hongroise, Penin....

ARRIETA: Marina.(Review)
December 1, 1999... ARRIETA: Marina [] Bayo, Santana; Kraus, Pons, Baquerizo, Rodriguez; Rondalla and Symphony of Tenerife, Perez. Text and translations. Valois/Auvidis 4845 (2) This is a graceful farewell from the late, great Spanish tenor Alfredo Kraus in...

BORTNIANSKY: Alcide.(Review)
December 1, 1999... BORTNIANSKY: Alcide [] Datsko, Zagorulko, Pasichnyk; Garayt; Gloria Chamber Chorus, Leopolis Chamber Orchestra, Lord. Libretto & translation. Erol 98001 (Qualiton, dist.) Though he was a Ukrainian composer and an important figure in the...

STRAVINSKY: Sacred Choral Works.(Review)
December 1, 1999... STRAVINSKY: Sacred Choral Works [] Hardy; Saudelli, Bostridge; Netherlands Chamber Choir, Schonberg Ensemble, de Leeuw. 1996. Texts and translations. Philips 454 477-2 Stravinsky's Mass is probably the best known of this varied and...

IRELAND: Songs.(Review)
December 1, 1999... IRELAND: Songs [] Milne; Ainsley, Maltman. Johnson, piano. Texts. Hyperion CDA 67261 John Ireland wrote songs throughout much of his compositional life, and this collection of sixty-eight, written over the course of more than thirty years,...

ORFF: Carmina Burana.(Review)
December 1, 1999... ORFF: Carmina Burana [] Oelze; Kuebler, Keenlyside; Chor und Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Knabenchor Berlin, Thielemann. Text and translations. Deutsche Grammophon 289 435 587-2 In an interview in the publicity materials...

"STRAUSS HEROINES".(Review)
December 1, 1999... Renee Fleming [] "STRAUSS HEROINES" Arias and scenes from Der Rosenkavalier, Arabella and Capriccio. With Bonney, Su. Graham, Berry; Vienna Philharmonic, Eschenbach. Texts and translations. Decca 289 466 314-2 In the beginning we had...

"VERISMO".(Review)
December 1, 1999... Jose Cura [] "VERISMO" Arias and orchestral selections by Leoncavallo, Catalani, Giordano, Cilea, Franchetti and Mascagni. Philharmonia Orchestra, Cura. Texts and translations. Erato 3984-27317 This all-verismo recital proves to be a...

"L'AMOUR, L'AMOUR".(Review)
December 1, 1999... Ramon Vargas [] "L'AMOUR, L'AMOUR" Arias by Gounod, Massenet, Donizetti, Tchaikovsky, Verdi and Puccini. Munich Radio Orchestra, Viotti. Texts and translations. RCA/BMG 74321-61464 This all-verismo recital proves to be a comfortable fit for...

"WHEN NIGHT FALLS".(Review)
December 1, 1999... Angelika Kirchschlager [] "WHEN NIGHT FALLS" Songs and arias by Brahms, Schubert, Sondheim, Copland et al. Williams, guitar; Bashmet, viola; Deutsch, piano; Vignoles, piano. Texts and translations. Sony Classical ASK 64498 Following on the...

"MAORI SONGS".(Review)
December 1, 1999... Kiri Te Kanawa [] "MAORI SONGS" Maori Group, The Abbey Road Ensemble, Day and Lynch. Synopses only. EMI 56828 2 6 Kiri Te Kanawa's new disc is a unique collection of Maori melodies, clearly a labor of love and a reflection of the pride she...

"VOCE DI DONNA".(Review)
December 1, 1999... Denyce Graves [] "VOCE DI DONNA" Arias by Purcell, Donizetti, Bizet, Saint-Sagns, Cilea, Barber et al. Munich Radio Orchestra, Barbacini. Texts and translations. RCA Red Seal 09026-63509-2 With her first recital album for RCA, mezzo-soprano...

Loewe: Lieder und Balladen.(Review)
December 1, 1999... Monica Groop [] Loewe: Lieder und Balladen, Complete Song Edition, Vol. 11. Garben, piano. Text and translations. CPO 999 612-2 Monica Groop's musicianship and intelligence shine through in her excellent diction and dramatic intuition,...

"GLORIOUS HANDEL".(Review)
December 1, 1999... Julianne Baird [] "GLORIOUS HANDEL" Arias from Berenice, Semele, Faramondo et al. Brewer Chamber Orchestra, Palmer. Texts and translations. Newport Classic, NPD 85646 Soprano Julianne Baird's collection of Handel arias is consistently...

WAGNER: Gotterdammerung.(Review)
December 1, 1999... WAGNER: Gotterdammerung [] Varnay, Hongen, Modl, Schwarzkopf, H. Ludwig, Tripper, Siewert, Malaniuk; Aldenhoff Uhde, Weber, Pflanzl; Bayreuth Festival Orchestra and Chorus, Knappertsbusch. 1951. Texts and translations. Testament SBT 4175 (4)...

STRAUSS: Elektra.(Review)
December 1, 1999... STRAUSS: Elektra [] Borkh, Schuh, Resnik; Rayson, Crofoot; New Orleans Opera Orchestra and Chorus, Andersson, 1966. No texts. VAI Audio VAIA 1170-2 (2) Though this is a respectable enough provincial performance of Strauss' Elektra, it...

MASSE: Galathee.(Review)
December 1, 1999... MASSE: Galathee [] Morlet; Gresse, Jouvin, Vaguet; Archainbaud. With other excerpts from French opera. Notes, no texts. Malibran-Music 128 The Pygmalion and Galatea story has attracted many musical-theater giants, including Suppe, Lerner...

"THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS".(Review)
December 1, 1999... Jane Bathori [] "THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS" Songs by Mozart, Milhaud, Debussy, Satie, Ravel, Tailleferre et al. Piano accompaniments by Milhaud and Bathori. No texts or translations. Marston 51009-2 Though she enjoyed some successes under...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: SAN FRANCISCO.(San Francisco Opera)(Review)
December 1, 1999... San Francisco Opera's production of Gustave Charpentier's Louise represented an end-of-century triumph for the company. Louise, an unqualified success after its world premiere at the Opera Comique in 1900, was pretty much a back number in the...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: NEW YORK CITY.(Metropolitan Opera)(Review)
December 1, 1999... On September 27, the Metropolitan Opera season opened with Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci. Standard operas, but a special occasion: Placido Domingo was slated, as Canio in Pagliacci -- Enrico Caruso's most famous role -- to surpass Caruso's...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: LOS ANGELES.(Los Angeles Opera)(Review)
December 1, 1999... In November 1984, Peter Hemmings became general director of the Music Center Opera Association in Los Angeles. In two years, he masterminded the creation of L.A. Opera (now renamed Los Angeles Opera), which bowed in October 1986 at the Dorothy...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: COOPERSTOWN, NY.(Glimmerglass Opera)(Review)
December 1, 1999... The summer season at Glimmerglass Opera (July 1-Aug. 23) consisted of four co-productions with New York City Opera, beginning July 1 with Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail (seen Aug. 7). Stewart Robertson led a rousing performance, with Mozart's...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: SANTA FE, NM.(Santa Fe Opera)(Review)
December 1, 1999... A season ago, Santa Fe Opera renovated its auditorium extensively. One result was that the theater's roof was redesigned to cover all the audience seats, many of which had formerly offered a direct view of the heavens above. Some regulars...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: BERKSHIRE, MA.(Berkshire Opera)(Review)
December 1, 1999... On August 28, Berkshire Opera presented the world premiere of Summer, a two-act opera by Stephen Paulus to a text adapted by Joan Vail Thorne from Edith Wharton's book of the same title. The work was commissioned by the company together with...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: SEATTLE.(Seattle Opera)(Review)
December 1, 1999... After the heady success of last summer's Tristan und Isolde, and with anticipation mounting for the company's third new Ring cycle, to be launched next year with Das Rheingold and Die Walkure, Seattle Opera's Speight Jenkins came up with an...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: BERLIN.(Berlin Staatsoper)(Review)
December 1, 1999... Elliott Carter (b. 1908) may well have a stronger following in Europe than in the U.S., so it came as no particular surprise that his first opera had its world premiere at the Berlin Staatsoper (Sept. 16). The surprise is that Carter wrote an...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: PARIS.(Opera de Paris)(Review)
December 1, 1999... Les Indes Galantes holds a special place in the history of the Opera de Paris. In 1952, Maurice Lehmann, then director of the Opera, produced Rameau's ballet heroique (1735) in a spectacular popular staging, with an updating of the score by...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: LONDON.(English National Opera)(Review)
December 1, 1999... Weber's Der Freischutz does not get many outings in the U.K. these days; the new staging by David Pountney for English National Opera (Sept. 10) was the company's first since 1963. The work's historical importance as one of the foundation...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: SYDNEY.(Opera Australia)(Review)
December 1, 1999... Opera Australia's new Don Carlo (four-act Italian version, seen Sept. 19) displayed the tremendous strides being taken in staging traditional grand operas in the grand manner at the Sydney Opera House, which is only externally grand. This was a...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: BREGENZ.(Review)
December 1, 1999... With its Festspielhaus production of Bohuslav Martinu's Greek Passion (July 20a) and its outdoor staging of Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera (July 21) on the Lake Stage, Bregenz 1999 scored two bull's eyes -- perhaps its most successful season...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: AIX-EN-PROVENCE.(Festival d'Art Lyrique d'Aix-en-Provence)(Review)
December 1, 1999... A surfeit of ideas crippled this year's Festival d'Art Lyrique d'Aix-en-Provence. For instance, the idea that vocal style in Monteverdi's day was "straight" and "white" -- accurate as it may be -- meant in practice that otherwise able singers...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: LUCERNE.(Review)
December 1, 1999... "Myths" was the theme of this year's Lucerne Festival, a leitmotif reflected in the semi-staged performance of Othmar Schoeck's opera Penthesilea, presented in the Culture and Congress Center on August 15. Virtually unknown in the U.S., and...

Can't Help Singing: The Life of Eileen Farrell.(Review)(Brief Article)
December 1, 1999... Can't Help Singing: The Life of Eileen Farrell by Eileen Farrell and Brian Kellow Northeastern Univ. Press, 256 pp. $29.95 The components of any performer's autobiography -- the personal story, the industry gossip, the technical tidbits --...

Jon Vickers: A Hero's Life.(Review)(Brief Article)
December 1, 1999... Jon Vickers: A Hero's Life by Jeannie Williams Northeastern Univ. Press, 369 pp. $29.95 "There is literally no other tenor who sounds or ever sounded remotely like him," writes Jeannie Williams about Jon Vickers in this finely-researched...

STANDING DATE WITH TEXACO.(Review)
December 1, 1999... Six years ago, a book called The Queen's Throat had a brief vogue. Among the opera fans presented for our amusement was a woman "lame and on crutches," who "dresses up for the Saturday afternoon broadcasts as if she were really attending the...