Above: Dmitry Belosselskiy as Silva in ERNANI; photo by Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera
Wednesday April 8th, 2015 - Most of the things I like about ERNANI are in the first act: the tenor's aria and cabaletta are always fine to hear; "Ernani involami" and "Infelice" are certainly among Verdi's best showpieces for their respective voice types; and the Elvira/Carlo duet is to my mind under-rated in the rankings of the composer's soprano-baritone duos, though it eventually turns into a fun, jog-along trio. Beyond that, much of the opera is formulaic and rum-ti-tum, despite such great moments as "O sommo Carlo" and the opera's final trio. It takes a first-rate cast to 'sell' a performance of ERNANI, and to date I have not experienced a performance in-house to rival my first: Arroyo, Bergonzi, Milnes, and Ruggero Raimondi, with Levine on the podium.
This evening's Met performance had some pleasing aspects, but not enough to induce me to endure two Gelb-intermissions. Paul Nadler set the opera on its way with an excellent prelude, and his pacing in general was swift and sure. The singers were allowed plenty of leeway - high notes were held at will - and overall the first act had a nice Verdian sway to it.
Dmitry Belosselskiy's Silva was vocally impressive; though not Italianate in feeling, the basso's sound is amply powerful and even from top to bottom. His "Infelice" was proudly voiced, the cabaletta which follows was sung with authority. The audience seemed to seize on the fact that this was the most exciting singing of the evening.
Debuting tenor Luc Robert sounded to me like one of the better vocal finds for The Met in recent years. His voice is clear and his delivery passionate yet musical; a touch of huskiness here and there was not a detriment to enjoying his vocalism, and he had the power to pierce thru the ensembles at will. His voice 'spoke' well in the large space, and he had a good top-C to end the Act I trio.
Angela Meade seemed to be pushing for a full dramatic-soprano sound; she was really leaning heavily on the chest notes (Elvira goes pretty low at times). Some of the top notes had a glaring vibrancy and there were some squally moments. Her sustained trill on "Un eden..." was not very attractive and, after sustaining a sweet, soft high-C she seemed to gloss over some of the notes in the written cadenza of "Ernani involami". Only one verse of the ensuing cabaletta was given, and her climactic B-flat was long but rather brassy. Countering this were some very nice piano moments in the upper reaches of the music. I honestly don't know what to think of her singing: it's maddeningly uneven. Catching a glimpse of her during the bows, she seems to have gained weight.
I last heard Placido Domingo in the House two years ago when he sang what I thought was a wonderful performance of Germont père. Tonight, time seemed to have caught up with him. Allowing for the fact that he had cancelled the prior performance of ERNANI, reportedly due to illness, he tonight displayed a widening beat in sustained notes and a general decline in vocal security. That he has the style down pat is clearly evident, but the instrument now simply can't carry out what he clearly wants to do. After so many years of enjoying his work, and after sticking with him thru the vocal crisis of the late 1960s, I felt this would be the last time I'd attend one of his performances. Of course it is possible that he went on to fare better in the later acts, but I didn't stick around to find out.
The house seemed fuller than at most performances this season: perhaps the Domingo name is still a draw. But response to the great arias - Belosselskiy's "Infelice" aside - was rather muted. I should note the fine work of Mary Ann McCormick, Paul Corona, and Issachah Savage in the small roles of Giovanna, Jago, and Don Riccardo respectively.
Metropolitan Opera House
April 8, 2015
ERNANI
Giuseppe Verdi
Ernani..................Luc Robert [Debut]
Elvira..................Angela Meade
Don Carlo...............Plácido Domingo
Don Ruy Gomez de Silva..Dmitry Belosselskiy
Giovanna................Mary Ann McCormick
Don Riccardo............Issachah Savage
Jago....................Paul Corona
Conductor...............Paul Nadler