Opera News articles from February 2001

Opera News archives from February 2001

BEYOND THE GOLD CURTAIN.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... "Today the proudest brevet which any artist can claim is `of the Metropolitan Opera Company.'... It could not be other than a feather in the cap of the Metropolitan that its title is spread across the United States and beyond the sea as...

LETTERS.(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2001... DRESS-CODE NO-NOS My thanks to Barrymore Scherer for bringing his quaint, old-fashioned ideas down from the attic and showing them to us in his coda, "Fashion Police Blotter" [November 2000]. I'm afraid that, like many things stored too...

CORRECTIONS.(Brief Article)(Correction Notice)
February 1, 2001... La Boheme had its American premiere in October 1897, in a performance by a touring American company, not the Met, as stated in November on page 6. In November's "Coda," Barrymore Laurence Scherer referred to the co-author of Full Gallop as...

OPERA WATCH.(performance-arts video stars singer Jennifer Larmore)(this and other items are discussed)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... 1. A new performing-arts video series, In Performance, debuts this month on VAI home video and DVD with a recital by JENNIFER LARMORE, taped in January at Purchase College in Westchester. Larmore, who is the Metropolitan Opera's Isabella in...

ON THE BEAT.(singer Jessye Norman files, but dones not win, a breach of contract suit against Trans World Airlines)(this and other items are discussed)
February 1, 2001... TWA grounds Norman; Daniels speaks up for countertenors; Jennings sings Violetta in Connecticut; Drattell takes on Nicholas and Alexandra; Silja crosses the Brooklyn Bridge JESSYE NORMAN's New York fans have been bereft in recent seasons,...

SOUND BITES: Michael Schade.(Brief Article)(Interview)
February 1, 2001... "There's no danger of someone making a pop idol out of me," quips lyric tenor Michael Schade, comparing himself to a certain Italian singing sensation. But Schade does wonder why the once-lauded "Mozart tenor" seems to be getting short shrift...

Singing on tap.(Wexford Singing and Swinging Pubs Competition)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... BRIAN KELLOW travels to Wexford, Ireland, for Guinness's annual Singing and Swinging Pub Competition "Christmas comes twice a year to Wexford," laughs a newsagent on Main Street in Wexford Town, one of the principal towns of County...

Dinner -- Italian Style.(opera singer Cecilia Bartoli)(Interview)
February 1, 2001... Cecilia Bartoli is one of the few great singers in our parched period. And, as is not always the case, her artistry is matched by her popularity. Her concerts, recitals and operas are mostly sellouts. Her two appearances at Carnegie Hall in...

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN.(Gioacchino Rossini's Italiana septet)(Critical Essay)
February 1, 2001... PAUL THOMASON believes that Rossini's hard-charging Italiana septet is slower than it sounds -- and smarter than you think Rossini's comedies are justly renowned for their brilliant finales, with singers and orchestra gradually piling up...

Guy of the Golden West.(opera singer Rodney Gilfry)(Interview)
February 1, 2001... Rodney Gilfry grew up in southern California and, after a long European sojourn, returned there to live in 1994. He'd like to spend more time at home, but the world's leading opera companies have ether ideas. This month he returns to the Met as...

Illustrious Setting.(set designer Willy Pogany)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... When Rossini's L'ltaliana in Algeri had its first Metropolitan Opera production, in the 1919-20 season, set and costume designs were provided by Willy Pogany (1882-1955), one of the most important illustrators of his day. Born in Szeged,...

Old School Ties.(opera singer Aprile Millo)(Interview)
February 1, 2001... Five minutes early for a diva interview. What was I thinking? The concierge suggests I take a seat. I'd rather pace, but why argue? Five minutes later, I am standing in front of a door, with a large oval proclaiming the name of the inhabitant,...

Hvorostovsky Unmasked.(Dmitri Hvorostovsky stars in 'Don Giovanni Unmasked')
February 1, 2001... LOTS OF SINGERS HAVE PLAYED BOTH DON GIOVANNI AND LEPORELLO. DMITRI HVOROSTOVSKY LEAVES THEM ALL IN THE DUST BY DOING BOTH AT ONCE -- IN A NEW MOVIE. From every conceivable angle, Dmitri Hvorostovsky seems born to play Don Giovanni. The...

METROPOLITAN OPERA BROADCASTS.(Gladys Swarthout)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Georges Bizet Carmen Giuseppe Verdi Un Ballo in Maschera Gioachino Rossini L'Italiana in Algeri Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Cosi Fan Tutte In 1924, Mary Garden cut in half a Spanish shawl she had worn as Bizet's Gypsy and...

CARMEN.(Metropolitan Opera radio broadcast)
February 1, 2001... BROADCAST OF FEBRUARY 3, 2001 SPONSORED BY TEXACO OVER THE TEXACO-METROPOLITAN OPERA INTERNATIONAL RADIO NETWORK, 1:00 P.M. CARMEN THE CAST (in order of vocal appearance) Morales baritone, KAMEL BOUTROS Micaela ...

UN BALLO IN MASCHERA.(Metropolitan Opera radio broadcast)
February 1, 2001... BROADCAST OF FEBRUARY 10, 2001 SPONSORED BY TEXACO OVER THE TEXACO-METROPOLITAN OPERA INTERNATIONAL RADIO NETWORK, 1:30 P.M. UN BALLO IN MASCHERA THE CAST (in order of vocal appearance) De Horn (Samuel) bass, PAUL...

L'ITALIANA IN ALGERI.(Metropolitan Opera radio broadcast)
February 1, 2001... BROADCAST OF FEBRUARY 17,2001 SPONSORED BY TEXACO OVER THE TEXACO-METROPOLITAN OPERA INTERNATIONAL RADIO NETWORK, 1:30 P.M. L'ITALIANA IN ALGERI THE CAST (in order of vocal appearance) Elvira soprano, JOYCE GUYER...

COSI FAN TUTTE.(Metropolitan Opera radio broadcast)
February 1, 2001... BROADCAST OF FEBRUARY 24, 2001 SPONSORED BY TEXACO OVER THE TEXACO-METROPOLITAN OPERA INTERNATIONAL RADIO NETWORK, 1:30 P.M. COSI FAN TUTTE THE CAST (in order of vocal appearance) Ferrando tenor, PAUL GROVES...

HANDEL: Rinaldo.(Review)
February 1, 2001... HANDEL: Rinaldo [] Bartoli, Orgonasova; Fink; Daniels, B. Mehta, Taylor, Finley; Academy of Ancient Music, Hogwood. Text and translations. Decca 289 467 087-2 George Frideric Handel first won the attention of the London public in...

KEISER: Croesus.(Review)
February 1, 2001... KEISER: Croesus [] Roschmann, Haller, Stojkovic, Eisenfeld; Azesberger, Trekel, Pushee, Gura, Schafer, Hager, Mannov; Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin, RIAS Kammerchor, Jacobs. Texts and translations. Harmonia Mundi 901714.16(3) ...

VERDI: Il Trovatore.(Review)
February 1, 2001... VERDI: II Trovatore [] Sweet, Mason; O'Neill, Opie, Bayley; Geoffrey Mitchell Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Parry In English. Chandos CHAN 3036 (2) One might have thought that the widespread success of surtitles (or...

HAYDN: Armida.(Review)
February 1, 2001... HAYDN: Armida [] Bartoli, Petibon; Pregardien, Widmer, Weir, M. Schafer; Concentus Musicus Wien, Harnoncourt. Text and translations. Teldec 8573-81108-2 Cecilia Bartoli followed her recording of Handel's Rinaldo with performances of...

STRAUSS: Capriccio.(Review)
February 1, 2001... STRAUSS: Capriccio [] Lott, Vermillion; Kunde, Genz, Allen, yon Kannen; SWR Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart, SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, Pretre. Text and translations. Forlane 268052 (Empire, dist.) Richard Strauss's last opera,...

HANDEL: L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato.(Review)
February 1, 2001... HANDEL: L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato [] Brandes, Dawson; Daniels, Bostridge, Miles; Bach Choir, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, Nelson. Texts and translations. Virgin Classics 7243 5 45417 28 Handel's mood-swinging oratorio...

MASCAGNI: Parisina.(Review)
February 1, 2001... MASCAGNI: Parisina [] Mazzola, Demurishvili, Brioli; Taraschenko, Vaneev, Ivanov; Latvian Radio Chorus, Montpellier Philharmonic, Diemecke. Italian/French libretto only Actes Sud OMA-34103 (3) (Harmonia Mundi, dist.) Parisina (1913),...

BERNSTEIN: A White House Cantata.(Review)
February 1, 2001... BERNSTEIN: A White House Cantata [] J. Anderson, Hendricks; Hampson, Acquah, Tarver, N. Jenkins, Watson; London Voices, London Symphony Orchestra, Nagano. English texts only. DG 289 463 448-2 In May 1976, Leonard Bernstein's last...

"KARITA LIVE!".(Review)
February 1, 2001... Karita Mattila [] "KARITA LIVE!" Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, cond. Ondine ODE 96-2 (Koch, dist.) Karita Mattila turned forty on September 2, 2000, and decided to throw a little party for herself and 11,000...

"A ROSSINI GALA".(Review)
February 1, 2001... Nelly Miricioiu [] "A ROSSINI GALA" Arias and scenes from Armida, Aureliano in Palmira, Bianca e Faliero, Elisabetta, Regina d'Inghilterra, Mose in Egitto, Semiramide, Vallace and Zelmira. With Biccire, Shkosa, Sotgiu; Banks, S. Bailey,...

VERDI: Otello.(Review)
February 1, 2001... VERDI: Otello [] Carbone, Beltacchi; Fusati, Granforte, Girardi, Palai, Zambelli, Spada; Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala, Sabajno. No text. Opera d'Oro OPD-9005 (2) This may not be one of the great recordings of the century, but it...

"THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS".(Review)
February 1, 2001... Reynaldo Hahn [] "THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS" Songs and arias by Hahn, Bizet, Chabrier, Gounod et al.; Hahn, Ragon, Gregory, Ferrant, Endreze, Vallin et al.; Hahn, piano and conducting. No texts. Romophone 82015-2 (Harmonia Mundi, dist.) ...

Amy Shuard.(Review)
February 1, 2001... Amy Shuard [] Arias by Verdi, Mascagni, Puccini, Giordano, Tchaikovsky. Royal Opera House Orchestra, Covent Garden, Downes; Royal Philharmonic, Weldon. No texts or translations. Dutton CDCLP 4006 (Harmonia Mundi, dist.) Like her great...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: NEW YORK CITY.(Review)
February 1, 2001... David Daniels showed once again his flexible range of expression, variety of dynamics and easy agility in rapid-fire coloratura. Christine Goerke threw caution to the winds in a exuberantly vocalized, splendidly campy portrayal. On October...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: WEXFORD.(Review)
February 1, 2001... The forty-ninth annual season of Wexford Festival Opera offered the company's customary mix of seldom-heard works. Often, the festival seems to score two hits and a miss, which was the case again this year. There was little disagreement about...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: MUNICH.(Review)
February 1, 2001... For a heavily subsidized company such as the Bavarian State Opera, commissioning a new opera from Aribert Reimann should have posed minimal risk. Reimann, sixty-five, is one of the most respected modern composers. His choice of Garcia Lorca's...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: CHICAGO.(Review)
February 1, 2001... The Great Gatsby arrived on a high sea of advance publicity when John Harbison's opera had its premiere at the Met in December of 1999. No doubt the volume and intensity of the hype raised expectations and, perhaps, helped contribute to the...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: LOS ANGELES.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Last year, when departing Los Angeles Opera general director Peter Hemmings passed the orb and scepter into new hands, he spoke to the press about a possible strengthening of company ties with the local cinema community. A flashy "Rodeo Drive"...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: BERLIN.(Review)
February 1, 2001... Hardly anyone gets very excited about Mozart's Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail, but emotions ran high on opening night at the Staatsoper (Sept. 29) when director David Mouchtar-Samorai and designer Heinz Hauser took their curtain calls -- and...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: LONDON.(Review)
February 1, 2001... Most opera-lovers know the story of how Puccini and Leoncavallo fell out over who should set Henry Murger's Scenes de la Vie de Boheme to music, how both nevertheless went ahead with their scores -- Puccini's reaching the stage fifteen months...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: HAMBURG.(Review)
February 1, 2001... Is Kurt Weill's Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny the twentieth century's answer to Gotterdammerung? That was the question posed by the Hamburg Staatsoper's new production (Nov. 12). Not by coincidence, for Mahagonny was produced by Peter...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: MELBOURNE.(Review)
February 1, 2001... Director Barrie Kosky is the Peter Sellars of Australia, trying to be outrageous at any cost and occasionally hitting the right spot -- perhaps accidentally. He was the center of attention of Opera Australia's new production of Wozzeck (seen...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: COPENHAGEN.(Review)
February 1, 2001... Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades resists tampering with its time and place. Its St. Petersburg setting includes specific locales anyone familiar with the city will know. Tchaikovsky took pains to evoke that era by lacing his score with...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: VIENNA.(Review)
February 1, 2001... The Staatsoper chose Marco Arturo Marelli to direct and design the company's first production of the new season, a double-bill of Arnold Schoenberg's oratorio fragment Der Jakobsleiter and Puccini's Gianni Schicchi. As basic component, Marelli...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: MONTREAL.(Review)
February 1, 2001... Following up on the critical success of Jenufa three years ago, Bernard Uzan scheduled another of Janacek's tragedies for his penultimate season as artistic director of Opera de Montreal. Kata Kabanova (seen Nov. 9) is sure to remain one of his...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: PORTLAND.(Review)
February 1, 2001... Portland Opera's first Otello in thirty-two years (Nov. 4) was a new production that left much to be desired but still made a good stab at Verdi's tragic masterpiece. In the title role, John Keyes was towering and sympathetic but needed more...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: BARCELONA.(Review)
February 1, 2001... Miguel Cervantes's Don Quixote is one of those compelling literary creations composers find irresistible -- Telemann, Purcell, Ibert, Massenet, Minkus, Ravel, Strauss and Falla have set his romantic delusions and wacky wanderings one way or...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: PHILADELPHIA.(Review)
February 1, 2001... Star singers and seasoned conductors have been missing from Opera Company of Philadelphia's productions in recent years. The difference they make could be heard in Rossini's L'Italiana in Algeri at the Academy of Music on November 8. In his...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: BOSTON.(Review)
February 1, 2001... Boston Baroque presented a polished, semi-staged production of Monteverdi's L'Incoronazione di Poppea (seen Oct. 27). Music director Martin Pearlman prepared his own performance version from Monteverdi's incomplete manuscripts; the result was a...

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: NEW YORK CITY.(Review)
February 1, 2001... The preamble to the Met's benefit concert on Sunday, October 29, was an opera plot in itself. A program, involving Bryn Terfel, Cecilia Bartoli and the Met Chorus and Orchestra, had been prepared and printed, emphasizing mainly Mozart and...

The Life of Verdi.(Review)
February 1, 2001... The Life of Verdi by John Rosselli Cambridge Univ. Press, 220 pp. $49.95; 204 pp. $17.95 (paperback) Two new, comprehensive studies of Verdi, of moderate length but offering fresh insights: at a time when such imposing works as Mary Jane...

Verdi with a Vengeance: An Energetic Guide to the Life and Complete Works of the King of Opera.(Review)
February 1, 2001... Verdi with a Vengeance: An Energetic Guide to the Life and Complete Works of the King of Opera by William Berger Vintage Books, 464 pp. $15 Two new, comprehensive studies of Verdi, of moderate length but offering fresh insights: at a time...

Training Soprano Voices.(Review)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Training Soprano Voices by Richard Miller Oxford University Press, 192 pp. $25 Richard Miller, a respected professor of voice at Oberlin Conservatory of Music with several books on singing already to his credit, begins with the premise...

BERLIOZ: La Damnation de Faust.(Review)
February 1, 2001... BERLIOZ: La Damnation de Faust [] Kasarova; Groves, White, Macco; Staatskapelle Berlin, Cambreling. Arthaus DVD 100 018, 146 mins. For those eager for the rare opportunity to see a fully staged version of La Damnation de Faust, this DVD of...

SALIERI: Falstaff.(Review)
February 1, 2001... SALIERI: Falstaff [] Ringholz, Ziegler, Brooks; Del Carlo, R. Croft, Gardner, Feller; Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ostman. Arthaus DVD 100 023, 120 mins. For those eager for the rare opportunity to see a fully staged version of La...

Robert Merrill: Telecasts from the Bell Telephone Hour, 1962-65.(Review)
February 1, 2001... Robert Merrill: Telecasts from the Bell Telephone House, 1962-65 [] Bell Telephone Hour Orch. and Chorus, Vorhees. VAI VHS 69713, 39 mins. Robert Merrill was a stalwart at the Metropolitan Opera from 1945 to 1976, during which time he sang...

HAIL TO THE CHIEF.(Abraham Lincoln's love for music, and opera in particular)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... All 4,600 seats of New York's Academy of Music were filled the night Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera appeared in its U.S. premiere run on February 20, 1861. But the aura of suspense and excitement that night came not so much from the production,...