Dec 12: When the scenery almost melted at the Met
No, there wasn’t a danger of a real fire, but when June Anderson and Sam Ramey took on Semiramide and Assur, there was a tension that made the audience sit back in their seats!!!
Dec 11: The Ory staging dilemma
The final trio of Le comte Ory is tricky to stage. With the help of three first rate singers, the Metropolitan Opera was able to do justice to one of the most sublime interludes written by Rossini. Wonder how it was staged in Rossini’s day?
Dec 10: An American Cenerentola in a classic production
This lovely production by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle,a director who truly understood the beauty of Rossini is still in revival today. Here the much-loved Federica von Stade stars.
Dec: 9 Matilde from Texas
The final rondo from “Matilde di Shabran” by an American singer who many may not know is from Texas.
Dec 8: Rossini’s mother to the rescue
Legend has it ( and it’s reinforced in the wonderful movie ‘Rossini Rossini”) that Rossini’s father was so captivated by the voice and fame of the super-star castrato, Velluti that he hinted that such a future might be advantageous for the young Gioachino. Apparently Mama vetoed this idea.
Dec 7: Golden wings
Sometimes the Metropolitan Opera gets it right. It’s hard to believe that a bit of Rossini’s credo ( if he had one) does not reside in this aria of Alidoro. Pisaroni fortunately has not retired this role.. fits him like a glove.
Dec 6: A lesson scene like no other
Alberto Zedda was asked his opinion of “trunk arias”, those that singers elect to insert in operas where they otherwise do not belong. There was much discussion, but he said ” of course if the singer is Marilyn Horne she should sing whatever she wishes!” The audience apparently agreed.
Dec 5: An unstaged Tancredi duet
Jennifer Larmore is an internationally known Rossini singer. Her partner in this duet is the luminous Hei-Kyung Hong, who primarily appeared at the Metropolitan Opera.
Dec 4: Not only d’amore
Rossini’s Armida probably achieved its post-war ( WWII, that is) popularity on the basis of the spectacular soprano aria “D’amore al dolce impero”. But the opera cannot live by d’amore alone. It takes 3 superb tenors to do it justice. Here, from a legendary concert performance in Amsterdam, at about minute 17, the remarkable Bruce Ford leads the way.
BTW Ford offered an explanation of why he was not wearing a tux. Those who travel a lot by air can probably guess.
Dec 3: Rossini’s most mysterious opera
Ermione seems to defy all conventional categories; it’s unlikely we’ll see a performance that matches this one any time soon. Video quality shows its age, but the performance by Rockwell Blake is surely worth it.