Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Tonight: Il Trittico at the Met!

Oh! I'm seeing Il Trittico tonight! Thanks to Sally's propensity for standing on that rush line at the Met, I'll be in high cotton in an orchestra seat.

It's three one act operas by Puccini: Il Tabarro; Suor Angelica (Sally has dared me not to cry in this one. We'll see about that.) ; and, Gianni Schicchi (yo, Patricia Racette is going to sing O Mio Bambino Caro!). The cast is a DREAM. Plus the best bonus is that my favorite neighbor (and kitty sitter!) is in the children's choir and I'll get to listen for her sweet voice during the Suor Angelica.

Soprano Patricia Racette is singing the lead in all three acts. She told matt Dobkin of Playbill Arts: "The whole reason I got into opera was because of Suor Angelica. My sophomore year of college I was listening to Renata Scotto’s recording, and I completely got it. It was the big “Aha!” moment for me, when I first really appreciated how powerful opera can be. I’d joke about it—every time I’d meet an opera director or administrator, I’d somehow manage to work the “I’m dying to do all three heroines in Trittico” subject into the conversation!"

Cast
Conductor: Stefano Ranzani
Giorgetta: Patricia Racette
Luigi: Aleksandrs Antonenko
Michele: Željko Lucic
Frugola: Stephanie Blythe
Suor Angelica: Patricia Racette
Sister Genovieffa: Heidi Grant Murphy
La Principessa: Stephanie Blythe
Lauretta: Patricia Racette
Rinuccio: Saimir Pirgu
Gianni Schicchi: Alessandro Corbelli
Zita: Stephanie Blythe

The Production Team
Production: Jack O'Brien (multiple Tony Award winner!)
Set Designer: Douglas W. Schmidt
Costume Designer: Jess Goldstein
Lighting Designers: Jules Fisher, Peggy Eisenhauer

5 comments:

Tyler Barton said...

SarahB,

I am indeed excited for the prospects of your evening. Patricia Racette has done an admirable portrayal of these three heroines before, and Aleksandrs Antonenko was excellent as the Prince in Rusalka last season.

Have you heard Renee Fleming's rendition of O mio babbino caro? When I first relished it, I could not get past that first track on her self-titled disc. Amazon reviewers criticize her reading of the aria since she allegedly sings the notes longer than other sopranos do, but I think it is the perfect recording of it from my limited experience with it, and it is my opinion that she sings it better than Anna Netrebko does on her Sempre Libera album.

Finally, is there an age limit on those who may procure rush tickets to Met performances, which is to ask must one show a student ID to procure them?
-Tyler.

Sarah B. Roberts said...

Hi Tyler, I have to laugh when you asked if I had heard La Diva Fleming singing O Mio Babbino....uh yeah, at least a few times live and of course, on By Request which is the first album of hers I purchased.

The exciting thing about Racette is taht she's the whole package - a consumate singing actress who can sing like it's nobody's business plus she'll act it like nobody else.

I admit that I'm not really a fan of Anna's so I haven't heard her rendition. She's fine to hear live sometimes but I don't need her recordings.

Rush is for anybody - no age limit. Mon-Thurs, there are 150 orchestra seats available for $20. There are an additioanl 50 seats for seniors who call on the phone. If you're willing to wait on the line for 6 hours, more or less, the tickets are yours. Each person can buy two tickets.

chelsea said...

Did you cry?

Sarah B. Roberts said...

Chelsea - Not a single tear! Sally cried enough for me. But it is sad.

chelsea said...

Oh Sally!