momentarily delayed...

didn't end up waiting in line for rush tickets because winter showed up early, and with my health currently being what it is, waiting in sleet even for much-desired orchestra seats just didn't seem like the most attractive option.

things are in motion, however - this sat is il barbiere di siviglia - the barber of seville, one of rossini's most beloved opera buffas. i just learned on wikipedia that is the first opera ever performed in america - pretty sweet. and a good first comic opera, if you're an interested newbie.

then thursday, the plan is stand rush for der rosenclavier - renee fleming. who wants to join?

i told you!

i told you i'm worried about advent calendar-esque set design dominating the new productions. i found this on the met site, damnation of faust. it's robert lepage though, so i have to keep the faith. KEEP THE FAITH!

upcoming opera plans.

my friend bh is one of my favorite opera buddies. we've been to quite a few shows together, including my first ever ring cycle.

a kirov production and the beginning of my love affair with gergiev. even though i thought he did the valkyries all wrong - vegas showgirls much?

in any case, we just made plans to check out the barber of seville on 10/24! joyce didonato in a bartlet sher production - who has been on fire. he won the tony last year for his revival of south pacific and his last production, joe turner's come and gone, was on broadway this summer, nominated for a bunch of tonys, as well as being chosen for a presidental date night.

i just noticed - the met has changed its web address from www.metopera.org to www.metoperafamily.org. does anybody else find this cute?

about to begin

i. love. opera. it's that simple. i've listened to it since i was a kid listening to my mom's records of la traviata, carmen, tosca... norma was my favorite growing up. i've always loved the grand drama, the sheer sonic luxury... but i haven't been able to watch as much opera as i'd like. and a big part of my work as a filmmaker is influenced by my love for opera, so i think it's time i really committed to it. blogs are a really good place to geek out anyway.

this is a great year to start. it's the first season manned completely by peter gelb, all-around opera rock star and creative director at the met. he's the one who screened madama butterfly in times square and some say he has single-handedly revived the opera scene in new york, breathing new life into an art form that can feel staid and exclusive. he's staging some new productions (one which has already been boo'ed - by boring old people no doubt) and taking some huge risks - and i want to be there for all of it. and then blog about it. which will hopefully get you excited about it. and then maybe we can all watch some opera.



first up: tosca. the met opened with a new luc bondy staging this year that is reportedly hitchcockian - although i'll have to see it myself to see what that actually means. there was a scandal with the new staging because it meant the retiring of the beloved zeffirelli tosca - all velvet and swagger. if the newer productions i've seen at the met the past few years are any indication, this one will be pared down, almost surgical in its minimalism and precision. just please don't let the set look like an advent calendar, with singers popping out of holes for dramatic effect. (this happened twice last year, mr. gelb. benjamin britten? doctor atomic? there are betters ways to dress that enormous set to its full potential.)

i'm most excited to hear karita mattila in the lead, who i've never heard sing live. she'll have a lot to live up to in my mind: my favorite tosca is maria callas with tito gobbi at covent garden (again, zeffirelli.) check it out - maria callas will blow your mind.

see you at the opera! (cheese)