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Opera

Revolutionary Fears: Anticipating Des Moines Metro Opera’s production of Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmelites.

08 Jul

Francis Poulenc

This season, the Des Moines Metro Opera presents Francis Poulenc’s opera “Dialogues des Carmelites”. Though the opera has been hailed as one of the few true operatic masterpieces of the 20th century, it is not staged as often as expected. The work has no memorable tunes, requires a large cast, and asks for a great deal of emotional commitment from its audience. In these hard financial times, it does not stick out as the most obvious choice for planning an operatic season. However, if the reviews of the first night performance are to be trusted, the company’s gamble appears to have been well worth it.

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Posted by on July 8, 2011 in Arts, Opera

 

Bellini’s Norma: The sacred role goes to Oklahoma

05 May

Vincenzo Bellini

Vincenzo Bellini’s Norma, the crown jewel of Bel Canto operas, premiered at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan on December 28, 1831 to an unenthusiastic reception. Following the path of other famous opening night fiascos (Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Sivilglia, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly and Verdi’s La Traviata come to mind,) the opera’s importance was recognized after its second performance, and the story of the Druid Priestess who falls in love with the enemy quickly established itself as part of the international repertoire. Last week, the opera premiered at Tulsa Opera for the first time in the company’s 63-year history, led by conductor Kostis Protopapas, with a cast headed by Brenda Harris as Norma. That the company has waited this long to premiere such an important work is indicative of the difficulty in conscientiously finding an appropriate exponent; one capable of bringing forth the classic qualities needed to make Norma an extraordinary musical event. Based on reviews following the opening night presentation on Saturday April 30th, it would seem that all was worth the wait.

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Posted by on May 5, 2011 in Arts, Opera

 

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