Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Tonight: Carmen at the Metropolitan Opera

Carmen is my first opera of 2010! It was supposed to be Angela Gheorghiu in the title role. But she dropped out for personal reasons (her soon to be ex is singing Don José). I say who cares anyway? We've got Elīna Garanča instead!

Conductor: Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Carmen: Elina Garanca

Micaela: Barbara Frittoli
Don José: Roberto Alagna
Escamillo: Mariusz Kwiecien


3 comments:

Tyler Barton said...

SarahB,

I am liking Frittoli and Alagna just as much as Garanca. If only Samuel Ramey were singing Escamillo, then we would have a nearly unparallelled cast. I own the EMI recording of this opera starring Victoria de los Angeles and Nicolai Gedda, and it is superb under the directon of Thomas Beecham. If you ever have the chance to hear it, do not hesitate to do so. I am glad to see from your posts that you had such an excellent holiday season!

-Tyler.

Sarah B. Roberts said...

Thanks Tyler but Samuel Ramey is awful - his warble is so wide you could drive an 18 wheeler through it. I always dread having to hear him sing at galas or the Met.

Tyler Barton said...

SarahB,

What I meant to say was Samuel Ramey in prime form, which was some time ago. I agree that he is not what he once was, and I direct your attention to an evidence of that fact, which is that he is not singing so much anymore.

-Tyler.