All articles tagged with #metropolitan opera
The Metropolitan Opera's adaptation of Michael Chabon's novel 'The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay' is criticized for being superficial and not capturing the depth of the original story, which explores complex themes of Americanness, Jewish identity, love, and pop culture during WWII.
The Metropolitan Opera returns to its roots with the premiere of Mason Bates's 'The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay,' a modern opera based on Michael Chabon's novel, blending traditional and contemporary elements, and addressing relevant social themes with a vibrant production and strong performances.
Matthew Christopher Pietras, a prominent arts donor in New York, was found dead after a controversial $10 million donation to the Metropolitan Opera was questioned, raising suspicions about the source of his funds and the circumstances of his death.
Angelina Jolie is set to portray the legendary opera singer Maria Callas in an upcoming film. The article details Jolie's visit to the Metropolitan Opera as part of her preparation for the role, highlighting her dedication to authentically capturing Callas's life and career.
Lise Davidsen delivers a powerful performance in Puccini's 'Tosca' at the Metropolitan Opera, showcasing her vocal prowess and emotional depth in the title role. The production highlights Davidsen's ability to capture the dramatic intensity of the opera, making it a memorable experience for audiences.
The Metropolitan Opera put on a semi-staged version of Puccini’s “Turandot” after a backstage lift got jammed, forcing the company to improvise a set. Despite the technical mishap, most audience members stayed for the performance, which featured the cast and chorus singing from an improvised set. This is not the first time technical issues have affected productions at the Met, but the general manager expects things to be back to normal for the next performance.
Lise Davidsen cements her stardom in the Metropolitan Opera's new production of Verdi's "La Forza del Destino" with her pure and powerful soprano voice, despite some moments that called for a more fiery delivery. Davidsen's coolly powerful authority and generosity in her singing make her a rare artist, even as she enters the Italian repertoire at the Met.
The Metropolitan Opera has withdrawn nearly $40 million from its endowment to cover operating expenses as it continues to recover from the pandemic. Despite the financial challenges, the company sees signs of improvement, with increased paid attendance, growing interest in Live in HD cinema broadcasts, and a younger audience for contemporary opera. The Met expects substantial cash gifts to replenish the endowment in the coming years and is also seeking a transformative gift to support its recovery efforts.
Lois Kirschenbaum, a frugal opera fan who left a $200k bequest to support young singers, has posthumously revealed savings of $4 million, much of which will go to arts organizations, but none to the Metropolitan Opera, which banned her from the backstage in the 1990s.
Lois Kirschenbaum, a devoted opera fan who passed away in 2021, surprised cultural groups with $1.7 million in donations from her life savings. Despite living a modest lifestyle as a former switchboard operator, Kirschenbaum left substantial gifts to organizations such as the New York City Opera, American Ballet Theater, Carnegie Hall, and the Public Theater, much to the surprise of her friends and the recipients. Her frugal habits and dedication to the arts have left a lasting impact on the cultural community.
The Metropolitan Opera's production of "The Magic Flute - Holiday Presentation," directed by Julie Taymor, lacks some luster in its recent run. While the staging, featuring diaphanous puppets and translucent set pieces, brings a weightlessness to Mozart's opera, the cast's broad performance for the young audience and the thin, tinny sound of the orchestra detract from the overall experience.
Climate protesters from Extinction Rebellion NYC interrupted the opening night performance of Richard Wagner's "Tannhäuser" at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. They unfurled banners reading "No Opera On A Dead Planet," leading Met officials to bring down the curtain halfway through the second act. The performance resumed after the protesters were removed, but further interruptions occurred. The show was delayed by 22 minutes, and the production ended closer to midnight. This incident follows a trend of climate activists disrupting cultural events to draw attention to the climate crisis.
The Metropolitan Opera premiered Daniel Catán's "Florencia en el Amazonas," making it the company's first work by a Latin American composer and the first Spanish-language opera in nearly a century. The opera, set in the Amazon rainforest, pays tribute to opera itself with lush, tonal music reminiscent of earlier eras. While lacking in vivid characterization and compelling drama, the production features a strong performance by soprano Ailyn Pérez in the title role. The opera's brevity and polished score, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, are notable, but the overall experience feels encased in nostalgia and lacks the galvanic musical developments of the past century.
"X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X," an opera by Anthony Davis, receives its company premiere at the Metropolitan Opera. The production, directed by Robert O'Hara, presents a grand and abstract portrayal of Malcolm X's life, featuring a towering Afrofuturist spaceship and projections of names of Black victims of violence. The opera, which combines classical and modern styles, has been revived after decades of neglect and is set to be performed on opera stages across the country. However, the performance at the Met is criticized for a lack of dramatic presence in the lead role of Malcolm X.
WCPE, a nonprofit classical radio station in North Carolina, has reversed its decision to ban the broadcast of contemporary operas performed by the Metropolitan Opera this season. The station had initially cited "adult themes and harsh language" as reasons for the ban, but faced widespread criticism. The Met has been staging more contemporary works to attract new audiences, and the station's general manager had expressed concerns about the suitability of these works for broadcast. However, after receiving feedback and holding internal discussions, the station decided to air the Met's newer offerings, emphasizing their core value of being a refuge from the political and troubles of the world.