Opera in HD: Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Metropolitan Opera

Opera in HD: Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Metropolitan Opera

The Metropolitan Opera production of Verdi’s masterpiece about a court jester Rigoletto

Stream from anywhere on Saturday, May 16, 2020

A scene from Rigoletto by Verdi at the Metropolitan Opera
A scene from Rigoletto by Verdi at the Metropolitan Opera; photo by Marty Sohl

Rigoletto in Las-Vegas? Verdi’s extremely popular opera set to a powerful play by Victor Hugo seems to be destined for any epoch and impervious to the time and place transformations. With an ever-relevant fable and beloved arias widely familiar to opera fans and recognizable to those new to the genre, this opera is a time-tested favorite of every opera house.

Shifted to Las Vegas in the 1960s, Michael Mayer’s 2013 production of Rigoletto gets a modern look while telling the same centuries-old story of corruption, evil, and love. While the power of the old man curse put at the center of the tale seems less believable in the 20th century, the dirty intrigues and the ruthlessness of the lonely figures doing shady business look rather plausible.

For the free streaming on Saturday, May 16, 2020, Met Opera selected the production performance on February 16, 2013 with Zeljko Lucic as Rigoletto, Diana Damrau as Gilda, Piotr Beczala as Duke; Michele Mariotti conducts.

 

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Opera in HD: Verdi’s Aida at the Met Opera

Opera in HD: Verdi’s Aida at the Met Opera

Monumental Met Opera production of a timeless masterpiece by Verdi with the incomparable Leontyne Price in the title role and historic star-studded cast recorded in 1985

Stream from home on May 1, 2020  

A scene from Verdi's Aida at MetOpera; Photo: Marty Sohl / Met Opera
A scene from Verdi’s Aida at MetOpera; Photo: Marty Sohl / Met Opera

Verdi’s Aida, the ultimate Grand Opera, is a highlight of every opera season. The grandeur of the music calls for an equally magnificent cast.

The live recording of Aida in January of 1985 was Price’s farewell to the opera world which, brought historic significance to the event. The role of Amneris was performed by Fiorenza Cossotto with James McCracken as Radames and James Levine conducting.

The stage design recreates the pompous style of the Old Kingdom architecture in all its sumptuousness. The production director matched the decor with hundreds of performers including four horses, two brass choirs, ballet dancers, and supernumeraries trooping the stage. It all aims to convey the might and power of Egypt’s Pharaoh. And it surely fulfills the intent. That state omnipotence is skillfully contrasted against the lonely and touching scenes of soul-searching, love, and despair. This is the theater in all its might with its tricks finely brought together for the joy of the opera fans.

You can stream Aida from home on May 1, 2020.             STREAM NOW

 

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Opera in NYC: Falstaff at the Metropolitan Opera

Opera in NYC: Falstaff at the Metropolitan Opera

Verdi’s final opera Falstaff fills the house with magnificent ensemble singing. Bring the Metropolitan Opera’s magnificent experience to your home via streaming 

The review and the cast is based on the 2019 performances

Ailyn Pérez as Alice and Ambrogio Maestri in the title role of Verdi's "Falstaff."
Ailyn Pérez as Alice and Ambrogio Maestri in the title role of Verdi’s “Falstaff.” Photo: Karen Almond / Met Opera

Robert Carsen’s vibrant and colorful 2013 production of Verdi’s Falstaff brings together a powerful ensemble of opera stars with Ambrogio Maestri, baritone, in the title role, Ailyn Perez, soprano as Alice Ford, and Golda Schultz, soprano as Alice’s daughter Nannetta. Carsen’s clever shift from Shakespearean time to the mid-20th century expresses complex themes of renewal, gender equality, fidelity, and trust while telling an enlightening and joyful story full of lighthearted jokes, fateful misunderstandings, and a happy ending.

Falstaff, the last of Verdi’s operas, was based on Shakespeare’s comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor. The majestic music by the Italian master combined with a witty storyline in the libretto written by Arrigo Boito, an opera composer in his own right, makes for a triumphant career finale for Verdi. In this season’s MetOpera production, Maestri’s confidence and gusto in the portrayal of a fateful Falstaff fit perfectly with the rest of the powerful cast. Brightly colored stage design and vivid costumes add hilarity and buoyancy to the plot. The free-flowing ensemble singing creates a production that is a lively fete for the actors and a delight for opera lovers.

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Theater in NYC: Lambs for Slaughter by Russian Arts & Theater Studio

Theater in NYC: Lambs for Slaughter by Russian Arts & Theater Studio

Russian Arts & Theater Studio has suspended the performances from March 10, 2020

Russian Arts & Theater Studio presents new play Lambs for Slaughter on March 1 – March 21, 2020 at Pushkin Hall in New York City

Russian Arts & Theater Studio cast in a scene from Lambs for Slaughter
Russian Arts & Theater Studio cast in a scene from Lambs for Slaughter / Photo credit Tom Schubert

Aleksey Burago is never tired of expending the repertoire of Russian Arts and Theater Studio. After mounting a dynamic interpretation of Marquez’s The Rise and Fall of Macondo (One Hundred Years of Solitude), he turns to the short stories by Roald Dahl. Dahl, universally known as the author of the beloved children’s books “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Matilda,” and “James and the Giant Peach,” also wrote grotesque stories for adults. Four of his stories, The Man From The South, The Landlady, Mrs. Bixby And The Colonel’s Coat and The Great Switcheroo are adapted for the stage by the playwright Fred Pezzulli. Commonplace character shortcomings from deception to greed make for an eccentric and captivating theatrical spectacle.

Barring the stubborn desire to outsmart others, there are no lambs and no one gets slaughtered on stage. The vignettes, widely diverse in time and place, are connected mainly by satirizing crass arrogance.

The show starts with the high suspense of “The Man From The South”. A banal encounter leads to a ridiculous bet which ends up in a bizarre finale. The segment owes to the great stage presence by Christofer Zach (Carlos) who sets the bar for the artistic aptitude. Di Zhu, well-known to the audience for her successful prior roles with the theater most notably in Bunin/Berberova play, shines as Mrs. Bixby in “Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat”. Two powerful actors, Paulo Quiros and Riccardo Ripani play one against the other with gusto and dynamism in “The Great Switcheroo”.

Burago’s creative addition of the sound-making crew to the stage, inventive use of props, and the soundtrack full of familiar melodies from the past fit organically into the storylines. Instructive and funny, each situation progresses from innocuous to risky to rout. With a little more zest and at least one more story in the sequence, the play could reach enough potency and rigor.

Lambs for Slaughter

Russian Arts & Theater Studio cast in a scene from Lambs for Slaughter
Russian Arts & Theater Studio cast in a scene from Lambs for Slaughter / Photo credit Tom Schubert

Based on the short stories by Roald Dahl

Directed by Aleksey Burago

Adapted for the stage by Fred Pezzulli

Featuring: Luisa Menzen, Paulo Quiros, Riccardo Ripani, Christopher Zach, and Di Zhu

 

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Dates: February 29 – March 21, 2020

Venue: Pushkin Hall, 165 W 86th St, New York, NY 10024

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Music in NYC: Eliran Avni, piano and Natasha Farny, cello in GetClassical Recital

Music in NYC: Eliran Avni, Piano and Natasha Farny, Cello in GetClassical Recital

The concert on March 17 is cancelled 

GetClassical Salon Series presents Ekstasis Duo, Eliran Avni, piano and Natasha Farny, cello in a program Women’s Voices, music by female composers on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 7 pm at St. John’s in the Village Church in New York City. 

Ekstasis Duo: Elian Avni, piano, Natasha Farny, cello
Ekstasis Duo: Elian Avni, piano, Natasha Farny, cello / Photo credit Nir Arieli, Lori Deemer

In celebration of Women’s Month, GetClassical and Ekstasis Duo present Women’s Voices, a program of music that was written by female composers. Positioned in loose chronological order, the program starts with the mid-19th century works by Louise Farrenc and Clara Schumann which are followed by the contemporary classical scores by Judith Taafe Zwilich and Lera Auerbach. A jazzy arrangement for piano and cello by Kaufman as an hommage to Nina Simone tops the night.

A recently formed Ekstasis Duo of musicians, Eliran Avny, piano, and Natasha Farny, cello combine their passion and dexterity for this exciting music night at the Revelation Gallery at St. John’s in the Village Church in New York City. Graduates of the Julliard School of Music, Avni and Farny artistic partnership brings the lesser-known music and the masterpieces to the wider public. The program at the GetClassical recital on March 17, 2020 successfully underscores this mission.

Women’s Voices Program 

Louise Farrenc (1804-1875) – Sonata in B-flat Major, op. 46, I. Allegro moderato
Clara Schumann (1819-1896) – Three Romances, op. 22
Lera Auerbach (1973 – ) – Preludes (1999)
Judith Taafe Zwilich (1939 – ) – Lament (2000)
Ethel Smyth (1858-1944) – Sonata in A minor, op. 5
Hommage à Nina Simone arr. D. Kaufman

 

Enjoy an inspiring concert and get up close with the musicians in a warm and comfortable salon-style seating arrangement at the gallery.

 

Online prices: $25; At the door prices: $35 (cash only)           BUY TICKETS

 

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