Jeanette & Lisette

My high-school sweetheart Jeanette called me this afternoon from the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. She said she had awakened in the night and started reading my blog and realized that New York City Ballet was about to open in the Capital. Heading for the box office, she asked for a recommendation and I said March 2 matinee. If I can't be at Janie Taylor's SERENADE at least I'll know someone who is. Jeanette called back minutes later to say she had her ticket. And she promised to let me know how it goes. (Jeanette has just sent me a couple photos of the Kennedy Center's posters for the New York City Ballet's visit.)

Further down South, Lisette Oropesa is in New Orleans preparing to sing Gilda in RIGOLETTO. I miss Lisette terribly - Gotham is so dreary without her - so I consoled myself by listening to the vocal selections on her website; she has added the HAMLET Mad Scene to the choices. Her New Orleans performance dates are March 14 & 16, and her colleagues are Mark Rucker in the title role and Bruce Sledge as the Duke. Lisette then rushes back to NYC for her recitals, the first of which is at the Goethe Institute on April 9 with Vlad Iftinca, the extraordinary pianist. Lisette will spend the summer in Salzburg working with Barbara Bonney and Michael Schade in the Young Singers Program before returning to the Met for performances of Woglinde and the Forest Bird in the RING Cycle and as Lisette in the new production of LA RONDINE. 

Comments

[Ashley McKean]

Oberon, we have not met or chatted before, but I am a former dancer (now lawyer) and an avid follower of the NYC Ballet, albeit from afar, as I live in Washington, DC. I so much enjoy your insightful reviews, which give me glimpses of these performances without being there. I totally agree with you with respect to the March 2nd matinee here in DC--I have tickets and cannot wait! Kaitlyn Gilliland's Dark Angel promises to be a highlight. Thanks for all of your wonderful postings about this great company!

[philip]

Hi Ashley, it's great to hear from another NYCB fan! If you have a chance, come back here and leave a comment about the performance on March 2. It really looks like a wonderful afternoon!

[DustPuppyOI]

Hi Philip,

Washington Post has a review up: http://tinyurl.com/2rjsj8

[philip]

Thanks, DustPuppy! Nice photo of Darci with her darker hair.

[Annette]

Hi Oberon,
I'm one of Lisette's Louisiana friends and a big fan of hers. I was thrilled, and very fortunate, to be in NYC when she won the Met auditions in 2005 and when she made her debut at the Met in Marriage of Figaro back in October. On January 24th she had a triumphant return to Baton Rouge where she presented a spectacular recital that thrilled the hometown crowd of more than 500 people. The program included selections by Mozart, Schubert, Bellini, Debussy, and de Falla and her performance was dazzling. As an encore she sang an aria that her mother sang to her when Lisette was a small child - the name of it is "De Espana vengo" from IL NINO JUDIO by Pablo Luna. That's the same aria she sang to win the zarzuela prize at Placido Domingo's Operalia competition in Paris last summer. After hearing her sing the aria, it's no wonder she won 1st prize in the zarzuela category! I enjoy reading about her on your blog. She's a wonderful singer and a fantastic person. I'm very proud to know her and her charming husband, Eric.

[philip]

Hi Annette, thanks for the comment and especially for the details of Lisette's recital in Baton Rouge. I hope you are able to get to New Orleans for her RIGOLETTO performances next week!

I'm hoping Lisette will include her two prize-winning zarzuela arias ('De Espana vengo' and 'Bendita cruz') in her upcoming recitals in New York City.

Lisette has won a big following here in NYC and I feel privileged to be in her fan club. Eric is a great guy and I think they are both looking forward to their summer in Salzburg.

Actually, I'm meeting Lisette this afternoon!