Wednesday December 5, 2007 - I took Wei to see the Met's new production of Gluck's IPHIGENIE EN TAURIDE. The dress rehearsal was sensational and I was hoping that this performance would be on the same exalted level. And it was. Ken Howard's photos from the Met Opera show Paul Groves, Placido Domingo and Susan Graham as the central characters: Pylades, Orestes & Iphigenie.
Susan Graham sang with great beauty of expression; she manages the high tessitura with success and her piano singing projects clearly into the big House. She looks superb in the severe black costume and gorgeous wig. Graham is fascinating to hear and to watch, and the director creates an especially memorable scene in "O malheureuse Iphigenie" where the priestess simply sits still and pours out her despair.
Paul Groves and Placido Domingo as Pylades and Orestes were very moving in their vocalism and impressive in their physical involvement in the production. Groves sang so eloquently of his love and his devotion to Orestes in the face of death. Domingo's wonderfully individual timbre resonates with all the guilt and anguish of a man who has killed his mother, and also with the tenderness of his feelings for his companion. Graham, Groves and Domingo make this old opera come poignantly to life. The house seemed spellbound.
William Shimell sang Thoas, the Scythian king who keeps the sacrifices going because the 'gods' tell him to. Shimell's voice is rough-and-ready, suitably enough. Michele Losier is striking in her intervention as the goddess Diana, descending from the flies in an impressive coup de theatre.
In supporting roles, three of the Met's finest up-and-coming artists made outstanding impressions: mezzo Sasha Cooke, baritone David Won and soprano Lisette Oropesa. In a world where young operatic voices sound increasingly generic, over-coached and lacking in that intangible spark of spirituality, it is a real pleasure to encounter these three singers in the same production where they not only sang with unfailing beauty and expressiveness, but looked terrific to boot.
In the pit, Louis Langree and his expert players created a beautiful musical base for all the voices. The set, costumes and lighting make this one of the most memorable productions I've ever seen. Wei loved the music and he loved Susan Graham; he's ready see the opera again.
More Ken Howard/Met Opera photos from the production: a sacrificial victim borne aloft (this happens in silence before the music begins); Paul Groves, David Won & Placido Domingo; Iphigenie (Graham) finds she cannot kill Orestes (Domingo); Orestes is consoled by the goddess Diana (Domingo & Michele Losier).
Philip,I finally saw this production last night and really loved it. You know I'm not that discerning when it comes to the technical level of the singing but I know what I like and everyone sounded great. I loved the music, the story and the staging - pretty much everything -and I found the opera very moving.
Posted by: nysusan | December 15, 2007 at 10:44 AM
Susan, I am so glad you enjoyed it - it really is a masterpiece and such a beautiful production. I've recently heard that the Met plans to bring it back in two years.
Posted by: Philip | December 15, 2007 at 07:09 PM