The Opera Tattler
Reviews of Performances and their Audiences
Category: René Pape
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* Notes * The latest Don Carlo (Valentina Simi as Countess of Aremberg, Ana María Martínez as Elisabetta, Nadia Krasteva as Princess Eboli, René Pape as King Philip II, and Mariusz Kwiecień as Rodrigo in Act II Scene 2; photograph by Cory Weaver) that opened at San Francisco Opera this afternoon is impeccably cast from…
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* Notes * François Girard's production of Parsifal opened at the Metropolitan Opera on Friday. The contemporary set features stark imagery. The red lake that dominates the second act (pictured left, photograph by Ken Howard) is particularly striking. The angular choreography fits nicely with the staging and the clean costuming. The video is difficult to view…
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* Notes * A new production of Faust, directed by Des McAnuff, opened at the Metropolitan Opera last night. Robert Brill’s set is pleasingly spare, and the twin spiral staircases were put to cunning use. The transitions from scene to scene were clean and simple, aided by lighting designer Peter Mumford and video designer Sean Nieuwenhuis.…
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This season, the Metropolitan Opera is presenting two operas that weave personal emotional drama into the sweep of great historical events: Boris Godunov and Don Carlo. On October 8, the final dress rehearsal of Boris took place, and what follows are the Unbiased Opinionator's impressions. * Notes * After Peter Stein's cancellation due to visa difficulties,…
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August 29 2009- April 5 2010: Tristan und IsoldeSeptember 6- October 10 2009: La TraviataSeptember 5- November 14 2009: Il Barbiere di Siviglia September 7-22 2009: Die Entführung aus dem SerailSeptember 15-17 2009: Così fan Tutte September 23- October 25 2009 : Der RosenkavalierOctober 1- April 23 2010: SalomeOctober 24 2009- March 30 2010: Simon Boccanegra November 1-15 2009: LohengrinNovember…
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* Notes * Last night's performance of Die Walküre at the Met was more impressive than Das Rheingold. For the most part, the orchestra continued playing rather cleanly, though there was noticeable trumpet error in Act I. The singing in this act was especially strong. René Pape sounded very different as Hunding than as Fasolt the…
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* Notes * The second cycle of the Met’s Der Ring des Nibelungen began yesterday night. The orchestra sounded very clean and restrained under James Levine. The tempi were often rather slow. All of the singing was solid, though not terribly exciting. As Wotan, Albert Dohmen did well, though his voice was a bit thin at…
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September 26 2009- January 29 2010: ToscaOctober 5- November 7 2009: FaustOctober 27- November 23 2009: ErnaniNovember 22- Deceumber 12 2009: Katya KabanovaDecember 5 2009- January 16 2010: The Merry WidowJanuary 23- February 22 2010: L'Elisir d'AmoreFebruary 20- March 17 2010: La Damnation de FaustFebruary 28- March 27 2010: Le Nozze di Figaro René Pape and Kyle Ketelsen share the…
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August 16-17 2008: MedeaAugust 30- September 18 2008: FidelioSeptember 5-19 2008: The GamblerSeptember 7-21 2008: Tristan und IsoldeSeptember 16 2008- February 20 2009: Il barbiere di SivigliaSeptember 27- October 25 2008: Eugene OneginOctober 3 2008- January 25 2009: ToscaOctober 7- December 4 2008: La TraviataOctober 31- November 4 2008: Dido & AeneasNovember 7- December 11…
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* Notes * Intendant Peter Mussbach's production of Don Giovanni currently at Staatsoper Unter den Linden is muddled. It is difficult to believe Mussbach is a neurologist, given how brainless this co-production with La Scala was. There was quite a lot of ineffectual choreography, every person on stage falls to the ground at some point,…
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