Patricia Racette: Diva on Detour

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the live recording session for Patricia Racette's upcoming cabaret album.  

Patricia Racette is a world-renowned operatic soprano, known best for role as Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly.   I don't have supporting data, but I heard somewhere that she holds the record for singing Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly more than any living soprano.  I've been fortunate to see her Cio-Cio San a number of times at the Metropolitan Opera as well as Roberta Alden in An American Tragedy,  Elizabeth in Don Carlo, Alice Ford in Falstaff, Giorgietta in Il Tibarro, Angelica in Suor Angelica, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi,  and Ellen Orford in Peter Grimes (also at the WNO).   She's one of my favorite performers and I consider her one of the best stage actresses around, in any genre.   Her performances are complete, emotional experiences that draw you in to the heart of the character.

For her cabaret, Patricia returned to her roots and her love of jazz classics and the American songbook.  She cut her teeth on this repertoire as a teenager when she would attend jam sessions with a group of "retiree dudes."  

Her album, to be released by GPRrecords later this spring, will feature standards by Porter and Gershwin, some Piaf and even Sondheim, among others.    The live recording session was held at Sound Associates on 45th Street in Manhattan.  About 35 friends and loved ones joined Patricia and her accompanist Craig Terry in the studio.  It was intimate and felt a little like a cabaret club, without all of the trappings of a club, although we did sip prosecco.  

Patricia's non-operatic voice is warm and inviting, even surprisingly low.  It has a smooth sound without the heavy vibrato of an opera singer.  She also interprets lyrics beautifully.  Alhough she's happily married to fellow opera singer Beth Clayton, it was her medley of sad songs that had us all swooning.    And because we were encouraged to participate in this live session, we'll be on the album too with our genuinely appreciative applause and cheers.

The album, Patricia Racette: Diva on Detour, is available for pre-order at GPRrecords.com.  

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

Set the DiVaR for Patricia Racette as Madama Butterfly

Patricia Racette's broadcast of Madama Butterfly at the Met is on Thirteen WNET this Thursday June 24th at 9:00 pm. Additional airdates in New York are Saturday, June 27th at 2:30am on Thirteen, Sunday, June 28th at 12pm on Thirteen, and Sunday, June 28th at 3pm on WLIW21.

I have seen this production by the late Anthony Minghella a number time - in an open dress rehearsal, a plaza cast on opening night, twice again in the house and again last season.

Patricia has performed Butterfly all over the world since 1988, more than any contemporary soprano. Last year, before Patricia took on the role in this particular Met production, I had the opportunity to visit with her for a few minutes. I conveyed to her my excitement of seeing her in this production. At the time, she hoped that she would get the Live in HD broadcast, even though she was splitting the role with Cristina Gallardo-Domâs.

After Mr. Minghella passed away suddenly, the Met announced that it would be Gallardo-Domâs for the broadcast. Crushing news. While I thought Gallardo-Domâs acted the role fine, her voice had a shredded sound. Nobody sounded better to me than Patricia (I've seen two other sopranos as well), nor could anybody act the role better. When the broadcast date came near, however, Gallardo-Domâs unfortunately took ill and fortunately for Patricia was able to step in. Perhaps it was fate.

Even if you're not an opera fan, you shouldn't miss this PBS broadcast. It's breathtaking, and with Patricia as Butterfly, it's even more unforgettable.

Peter Grimes at the WNO last Saturday

I haven't had a chance to tell you about Peter Grimes at the Washington National Opera last Saturday! Sally and I traveled down via the reliable and oh so cheap MegaBus. We were hosted by the gracious and always energetic Wanda (Pimento cheese sandwiches! Maker's Mark!).

I loved Peter Grimes last year at the Met. I love the haunting music and story. It's very theatrical and would read well as a dramatic play. It's about a fisherman named Peter Grimes who is sort of an outcast. He's under suspicion regarding the death of his apprentice. When a second apprentice dies, the fishing village are quick to judge him, although whether or not he's guilty is ambiguous.

Patricia Racette also played the character Ellen Orford in the Met's production and the draw to see her again was great. Ellen is a widowed school teacher who attempts to help Peter and his second apprentice. Peter would like to marry her, but its unclear if she is attracted to him as the man or just wants to help him because she sees the need and is against the unjustified conclusions of the villagers. It's a tragic and dark story, full of emotion.

This production was set sometime early 20th century, about the time that Benjamin Britten wrote it. The set was interesting and moved to create a very tight space, evoking a feeling of narrow-mindedness of the village. The music is absolutely gorgeous, and at times made me feel like I was listening to the sea.

Christopher Ventris as Peter Grimes was stunning. He played Peter very angrily. His voice is very commanding. I never thought of him as a poor soul, but definitely as a bitter one. Patricia was wonderful, of course. I recently heard her described as the Cherry Jones or Meryl Streep of opera. That description is not far off the mark. Opera is big by nature, but Pat's acting makes it feel like an intimate experience.

The trip down was well worth it, plus we had the opportunity to hook up with other good friends and celebrate dear Cordellia's birthday. We were also there just on the cusp of the cherry blossoms.

Tonight: Peter Grimes at the Washington National Opera

Tonight: Britten's Peter Grimes at the Washington National Opera
Peter Grimes Christopher Ventris
Ellen Orford Patricia Racette
Captain Balstrode Alan Held
Auntie Ann McMahon Quintero
Swallow Daniel Okulitch
1st Niece Micaëla Oeste
2nd Niece Emily Albrink
Bob Boles David Cangelosi
Mrs. Sedley Myrna Paris
Rev. Horace Adams Robert Baker
Ned Keene Keith Phares
Conductor Ilan Volkov
Director Paul Curran

Racette is in!

Christina Gallardo-Domas is sick. That's a too bad because she'll miss the HD broadcast of the Met's gorgeous production of Madama Butterfly this Saturday. Lucky for us, Patricia Racette, the definitive Butterfly, is in. She will sing the two remaining performances which includes this Saturday's HD Broadcast and will ultimately get the DVD imortalizing her brilliant performance. Get well soon Christina, but brava Patricia!!

Peter Grimes: The smile on my face says it all!

Tonight: Peter Grimes at the Metropolitan Opera

Tonight: Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes

Cast
Conductor: Donald Runnicles
Ellen Orford: Patricia Racette
Peter Grimes: Anthony Dean Griffey
Balstrode: Anthony Michaels-Moore
Director: John Doyle

Sally, Kari and I are going tonight and I am really excited about this performance. It's my first Peter Grimes and I've been told that the music is extraordinarily gorgeous. It's my first time to see Anthony Dean Griffey perform live*. I've only seen him in the broadcasts of A Streetcar Named Desire and The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahogany, but I've met him. Sally and I also went to the Guild Talk for Peter Grimes. I'm also thrilled to see one of my favorite sopranos, Patricia Racette perform again. Mezzo-soprano Felicity Palmer and baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes round out the cast.

*Correction! Sally reminded me that we saw Tony Griffey perform with the NY Phil in
A Florentine Tragedy last October.