Summer fun, now in HD

Well, it's that time of year again.  You know which one.  Summer, of course!  Summer is nearly upon us.  And you know what that means!

Well, yes, it also means sunshine, ice cream, and... um... maybe not so much playing in the ocean.  This is Oregon, after all.  But it also means that it's almost time for the Met Live in HD Summer Encores!  And who can think of a better way of spending those sweltering July evenings than sitting in an air conditioned theater, watching an opera?  Well, there are family barbecues and the like, but come on.  Opera!  It's not like it's every night, right?
 Anyway, it's time to mark your calendars.  Make sure your friends and family know that your Wednesdays are booked.  Because the Met has put together quite a lineup for you!
The fun begins on July 8th, with Willy Decker's production of La Traviata, starring Natalie Dessay, Matthew Polenzani, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky.  The set is rather stark and minimalist, and some of the staging is a bit unconventional.  But in this case, it doesn't really matter whether that's your cup of tea or not, because the performances are so phenomenal.  Here's a bit of what you can expect.

The fun continues on July 15 when Natalie Dessay returns, this time with some much lighter fare.  She joins bel canto's superstar tenor, Juan Diego Florez, in Laurent Pelly's hilarious production of Donizetti's delightful comedy, La Fille du Regiment.  That's right, the one with nine high Cs in a single aria.  Here, Mr. Florez sails through them as though nothing could be easier.

Next up is the queen of opera herself, Renee Fleming, starring alongside Nathan Gunn in Franz Lehar's operetta The Merry Widow.  This is one that I have actually never seen, but it looks like a thoroughly enjoyable performance.  Here is the Met's official trailer for this production, which was staged there for the first time this past New Year's Eve.

And finally, we wrap up the summer just as we started: with another great Verdi tragedy.  The final broadcast stars Liudmyla Monastyrska and Roberto Alagna in Aida.  They are joined by Olga Borodina as Amneris and George Gagnidze as Amonasro in this performance from 2012.  The Met's classic production of this grand opera is truly a stunning spectacle.  Here is the Triumphal March from a 2009 performance.

Now isn't that a great way to beat the heat?  I know I'm looking forward to a summer of great opera.  I hope to see you there!

Coming soon to an opera house near you: Eugene Edition

Hello again, everybody!  The time has come to start looking forward to next season's offerings, both in our area and slightly beyond.  We will take a look at what is planned for each opera company in Oregon, or at least those of whose existence I am aware, and then we will broaden our view and see what's going on to the north and south of our beautiful state.  I will be starting off with Eugene Opera, as it is very near to my heart (and every other part of me).

First things first: a very exciting announcement that you may or may not have heard at some point over the last few months.  For the 2015-2016 season, Eugene Opera will be producing not two, but four operas!  Yes, you read that correctly.  They will be adding two chamber operas to their schedule, and will begin their season in October, a full two months earlier than their traditional New Year's Eve opening night!  And it promises to be a very exciting season, too!
First up, just in time for Halloween, is Benjamin Britten's haunted telling of Henry James' Gothic ghost story, The Turn of the Screw.  The performances will sandwich the holiday, with opening night on October 30th and a matinee show on November 1st.  Here is a little taste of what you can expect to see and hear.

Last season, operagoers in Eugene were treated to the delightful spectacle that is Donizetti's Elixir of Love.  This season brings us a much darker work by the bel canto master, Lucia di Lammermoor, with performances on New Year's Eve and January 3rd.  Based on the novel by Sir Walter Scott, The Bride of Lammermoor, Lucia has showcased many great coloratura sopranos, and features one of opera's greatest mad scenes.  Here is Natalie Dessay performing said scene at the Metropolitan Opera.

March brings us one of my personal favorites, Tchaikovsky's beloved Eugene Onegin, based on the novel in verse by Alexander Pushkin.  This thought-provoking tale of missed opportunities, set to an unspeakably beautiful score, is not one that is easily forgotten.  Performances will be on March 11th and 13th.  Here is the great baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky performing Onegin's Act I aria.  

And finally, Eugene Opera will wrap up its season with Mark Adamo's adaptation of Little Women on May 13th and 15th.  Growing up, I was probably one of the only little girls I knew who never really felt inclined to read Louisa May Alcott's classic story, so I'm going into this one blind.  But I did find a little excerpt for you, featuring the incomparable Joyce DiDonato.

And that, my dear readers, is what we have to look forward to in the coming year.  It promises to be a very exciting season.  I hope to see you there!