Down to earth American soprano Deborah Voight has released a memoir – Call Me Debbie, and is now on a book-tour. Being one of the most famous opera singers in the world doesn’t make you famous enough to sell books these days. There’s got to be more of a hook, some shiny metal that will attract people who’ve never heard of her, or been anywhere near an opera house.
Richard Eyre’s new production of Mozart’s Le Nozzi di Figaro, set in the 1930s, opened the Met season with glowing reviews. The original cast including Ildar Abrazakov, who triumphed last year as Prince Igor. He triumphed again as Figaro, and Susan Leonard who went on to sing Rosina in this season’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia, won raves for her Cherubino.
We’d seen a lackluster revival of Jonathan Miller’s Figaro a couple of years ago, and didn’t run out to this one, but I finally made it (without the better-half) on Thursday, and thanks to the Met’s FANTASTIC new rush program, I got to sit with the swells IN FRONT of the overhang for little more than the price of a movie ticket.
Barihunk SchrottThe world's coolest soprano.
All but two of the featured roles have been recast since the opening, but the singers worked so well together and seemed so comfortable, not only singing but with with the dancing and physical comedy that they might have been performing with each other for years. Bass-baritone Erwin Schrott proved his true barihunk chops as Figaro. Mariusz Kwiecien played the sleazy count with petulance and more than a hint of danger. We’d seen him as an aimless Eugene Onegrin in last year’s dreadful production, so it was great to see him get into the groove here. Making her Met debut, Serena Malfi was a scene stealer as Cherubino, really enjoying the physicality of playing a boy. Her voice was faultless. I can’t imagine her NOT becoming a Met favorite within the next few years. Rachel Willis Sorensen sang the Countess. She was no slouch at the physical comedy either, but for all of the antics she brought the heart into the evening. When she sang the Act III aria, Dove Sono, lamenting the mysterious loss of love, off-stage tears may have been shed. The world’s coolest soprano, Danielle de Niese sang Susanna. I’ve seen her live twice, as Ariel in The Enchanted Island and as Continue reading Oh Susanna! Idiots at the Opera Go To Le Nozze di Figaro→
The Met recently changed its rush ticket policy for the SECOND time this season. The important thing to remember is that there are still these FABULOUS day-of-the-performance tickets available for only $25. The change was to get rid of an online lottery for rush tickets. The lottery was introduced in September to replace a physical line that would form daily to get these tickets from the box office. The lottery, however, proved to be unpopular, and based on “audience feedback” the Met is now selling these seats online on a first come, first served basis. In addition, there are other “cheap” seats scattered around the Met – these include $25 orchestra standing room places, $25 “partial view” seats in the balcony and family circle, and $30-$50 (depending on the night and the show) “full view” seats in the family circle section.
That’s a lot of very reasonably priced opera tickets. So what am I complaining about?
Katerina a big blonde bombshell (sung by Eva-Marie Westbroek, the original Anna Nicole) is bored. Her wealthy merchant husband can’t give her a baby and neglects her for his business. Her father-in-law, Boris, is controlling, rude, and crude.
She starts screwing one of the workers, Sergei, who may have been fired from a previous job for sleeping with the boss’ wife. Then she poisons Boris. Her husband comes home from a business trip and finds Sergei’s belt in the bedroom. Katerina and Sergei kill him and hide his body.
This is just in, in my inbox that is! So now it looks like the Met Opera has given up on the rush lottery — due to “audience feedback”. Instead they are now going to release rush tix from the website only at noon (most days) on a first come first serve basis on the day of the performance. Info on the new system here.
I was NO fan of the rush lottery introduced in September. Only time will tell if this will work better OR TOTALLY CRASH THE SYSTEM.
11/21 update: You can go to my “how-to-get-cheap-seat” post, which now includes the low-down Rush 2.2.
Down to earth American soprano Deborah Voight has released a memoir – Call Me Debbie, and is now on a book-tour. Being one of the most famous opera singers in the world doesn’t make you famous enough to sell books these days. There’s got to be more of a hook, some shiny metal that will attract people who’ve never heard of her, or been anywhere near an opera house.
