Met live streaming September 1-7
The Met is now theme-ing its live-streaming weeks. This one is "20th Century and Beyond"
And here's Tom The Techie at the New York Met. This week is overwhelming. My pick is Elektra, Lulu and Tempest - three deservedly famous productions of three extremely different (and distinctively C20) operas.
Here's the week from Tuesday Sept 1st (Melbourne time - stream available day and evening)
Tuesday, September 1 Strauss’s Elektra (repeat) Starring the amazing dramatic soprano Nina Stemme as Elektra, Adrianne Pieczonka, Waltraud Meier, Burkhard Ulrich, and Eric Owens as Orest, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. From April 30, 2016.
The one-act opera tells Sophocles' tragedy via Elektra's obsession with the murder of her father, and Stemme does obsession brilliantly. Back in 2017, our opera course took a term on operas from Greek drama, and this opera was a highlight with Eva Johansson as Elektra.
"Stemme is brilliant in the role" NY Times review here.
Wednesday, September 2
Britten’s Peter Grimes Starring Patricia Racette, Anthony Dean Griffey, and Anthony Michaels-Moore, conducted by Donald Runnicles. From March 15, 2008.
" ...libretto based on part of an early 19th-century collection of sociologically-inclined poems by George Crabbe....The cinematographic qualities of Britten’s music are brought out with great skill by the orchestra under veteran Scottish conductor Ronald Runnicles." (Bachtrack review of this video)
Thursday, September 3 John Adams’s Nixon in China Starring Kathleen Kim, Janis Kelly, Robert Brubaker, Russell Braun, James Maddalena, and Richard Paul Fink, conducted by John Adams. From February 12, 2011.
Friday, September 4 Berg’s Lulu Starring Marlis Petersen, Susan Graham, Daniel Brenna, Paul Groves, Johan Reuter, and Franz Grundheber, conducted by Lothar Koenigs. From November 21, 2015.
Four hours long!
The opera (and "landmark production") you've got to say you've seen! An extraordinarily imaginative production from artist William Kentridge (who also did The Nose for the Met). Fascinating detailed Guardian Review with trailer and interview with Kentridge.
Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6 (two nights, so relax!) The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess Starring Angel Blue and Eric Owens, check out the NYTimes review and the video it includes. Conducted by David Robertson. From February 1, 2020.
Haven't seen it but the reviews are outstanding. I'll have to watch it - oh what a week!
Monday, September 7
Thomas Adès’s The Tempest Starring Audrey Luna as an incredible Ariel, Isabel Leonard as Miranda, Iestyn Davies, Alek Shrader, Alan Oke, William Burden, Toby Spence, and Simon Keenlyside as Prospero; conducted by Thomas Adès, designed and directed by Robert LePage. From November 10, 2012.
We looked at this clever, strange and beautiful opera in our Shakespeare term in 2018. Read our page here, linked to libretto, synopsis and many reviews and interviews. Now's your chance to watch it through.