Met's 2009-2010 Subscription Highlights and Lowlights

Dear Metropolitan Opera,

I would like to first introduce some proposed improvements to your recent presentation of subscriptions...Lowlights!

• Will someone PLEASE make sure that Rolando Villazon gets his life in order before we all get our hopes up about Contes d'Hoffmann????? From recent reports via Parterre and Opera Chic should we get the hint that maybe Rolando isn't going to be appearing at the Met if not after an extended absence, then ever? This whole situation makes me rather depressed.
• Someone just remind me why we are replacing the Zefferelli Tosca? No, no I shouldn't think like this. I'll be open minded: Will someone reassure me that the new production will be fantastic??
• Why, for goodness sake, can't the Met fit in a Der Rosenkavalier into any of the Saturday Evening subscriptions? That is one of the few operas that I am absolutely dying to go see and I can't squeeze it in to any of my subscription choices! I will have to buy tickets separately, but can't the Met replace anything with Rosenkavalier?
• Another little detail they forgot about in the Saturday subscriptions: The Nose. This is another opera I want to see so badly (just for Paulo Szot, but shhhh don't tell anyone!) and it's nowhere to be found on Saturday Evening!
• I just have this to say about Renee's new production of Armida: Can we trust Mary Zimmerman with another bel canto opera?

Alright, that's all the complaints I have. On a lighter note, here are some events I'm looking forward to this season...Highlights!!!

• I'm very curious about From the House of the Dead. I have a very funny feeling about it, but a good funny feeling. Something is going to make this opera interesting. I'm intrigued!
• The new Carmen! I'm usually very conservative when it comes to new productions, especially when they're for such staples as Carmen, but this is another case where I have a good feeling about it. I'm hoping that even if the production turns out eurotrashy or just flat out obnoxious (ie. the recent Sonnambula) the stellar cast will keep it afloat.
• As I said in the Lowlights, I'm looking forward to the Der Rosenkavalier and The Nose, but for very different reasons. The primary reason in The Nose is, of course, Paulo Szot, but I'm trying to branch out into more contemporary opera to see if I like it. Trying to stay hip and "with it." =) Der Rosenkavalier, on the other hand is a shameless guilty pleasure. Not only does it star my dear Renee Fleming, but oh look! there's Susan Graham and Thomas Allen! Did I mention that this is one of my favorite operas of all time?
• Maybe this season I'll finally get to see Damnation de Faust or Il Trittico. I wanted to see Damnation this year, but never got around to it. It looked like a strange production!!!! Il Trittico is in support of my darling Patricia Racette. She's got the triple bill going and I wouldn't miss it for the world!!!!!

This is sure to be a season of opportunity. There are so many new operas and genres to try, new productions to explore, and new singers to fall head-over-heels for (namely Paulo Szot). Even if we hate (or love to hate?) every single new production, or if we bash every singer in a revival, we KNOW that this season will NOT be boring. The blogosphere and Angela Gheorghiu will make sure that we will always have something to talk about during the 2009-2010 season!!!

Happy Listening!!! =)

PS. *sighhhhh* I missed posting! =)

Met Futures

One of my favorite blogs, Sieglinde's Diaries, is back in business and I have some very exciting news! =)
The Met Futures Page has been around for about 8 years and it is so much fun to have. You can see when new productions are coming, who is singing what and when! It has been very helpful to me in the past. So Sieglinde has been asked to join Bradley Wilbur in maintaining the Met Futures Page.
There are so many amazing things in store for the Met. As unpredictable as the Gelb Era is, I hope that these productions stay mostly as they are. Hopefully there won't be any drastic changes to these exciting seasons.

There are a few things that alarmed me slightly. One major new production is the new Luc Bondy Tosca that will premiere opening night of the 2009-2010 season. I've only seen that Zefferelli Tosca once and I'm not sure I want to give it up yet.
In the 2010-2011 season there will be a new La Traviata for the Met. It's the Salzburg production, directed by Willy Decker. Having never seen the Zefferelli and having seen clips of the Salzburg production, I'm hesitant about this new production.
Those are the only changes that really caught my not-so-positive attention. The rest of the lists look fantastic and it makes me long for the future seasons to come!
However, let's hope the 2008-2009 season doesn't go by too fast. We don't want to breeze through this incredible new season!!!!

Happy Listening!!! =)

The Seige of Corinth And Franco Zefferelli (unrelated topics!)

Today, approximately thirty-three years ago, the great Beverly Sills made her debut in Rossini's L'Assedio di Corinto after the retirement of Rudolf Bing, who had let us say a thing for American singers. . I just wanted to put that out there and mark the date for everyone. You can tell how much I love Beverly Sills. =)


In Other News:
Franco Zefferelli and his followers (aren't we all?) are creating quite a stir in the offices of the Metropolitan Opera. Mr. Zefferelli (who, as we all know, is an operatic genius) is insisting that Mr. Peter Gelb (a genius in a different way) not "mothball" his classic productions such as Tosca and La Boheme. Such mothballing will lead to a protest in Lincoln Center Plaza. Bring your picket signs! Bring everyone you know! We want these Zefferelli's to stay!
Forget the Salzburg Traviata!
Forget all those terrible modernized productions that make no sense!
Keep the gorgeous and opulent productions that define the greatness of these beautiful operas!
Zefferelli forever!!!!!!


Happy Listening!!! =)