In a previous post in the Quests and Anticipations series, I gave my arguments for considering the Italian opera composers Rossini and Bellini together, and highlighted United States performances of their operas in various parts of the United States. See the highlighted operas for 2012, which included some exotic fare, and the subsequent performance reviews at In Quest of Rossini and Bellini – April to October 2012.
As one surveys the United States in 2013, there is adventurous fare in New York City, where the Met is presenting Rossini’s “Le Comte Ory” [with Nino Machaidze, Juan Diego Florez and Nathan Gunn, January 17, 21, 25, 29, February 2 and 5] and the New York City Opera is presenting Rossini’s “Moses in Egypt (Mose in Egitto)” [April 14(m), 16, 18 and 20].
But operas by both Rossini and Bellini are being produced elsewhere in the United States as well. Here are some of the performances that are scheduled in the eight months of January that I expect to attend and review:
La Cenerentola (Rossini) Seattle Opera, January 12, 13(m), 16, 19, 20(m), 23, 25 and 26, 2013.
La Cenerentola (Rossini) Los Angeles Opera, March 23, 28, 31 April 3, 7(m) and 13, 2103.
The Seattle and Los Angeles Operas share the same Spanish production, led by two Spanish men, Joan Font (direction) and Joan Guillen (sets and costumes), who are creative collaborators within Barcelona’s Els Comediants.
[Below: Cinderella goes to the ball; resized image, based on a Michael Cooper photograph for the Canadian Opera Company.]
The Seattle and L. A. mountings take place with different casts.
Seattle Opera double casts the opera, with the team of Daniella Pini (Angelina), Rene Barbera (Don Ramiro) and Patrick Carfizzi (Don Magnifico) alternating with the team of Tamara Mumford (Angelina), Edgardo Rocha (Don Ramiro) and Valerian Ruminski (Don Magnifico). All performances have Brett Polegato as Dandini, Arthur Woodley as Alidoro, and Ani Maldjian as Clorinda. Giacomo Sangripanti conducts the Seattle Opera orchestra.
Los Angeles Opera also employs double casts with the Angelinas of Kate Lindsey and Ketevan Kemoklidze. However, Rene Barbera sings all the Lindoros as does Vito Priante the Dandinis, Alessandro Corbelli the Don Magnificos and Nicola Ulivieri the Alidoros. James Conlon is the conductor.
For my performance review, see: Love All Around for Cinderella, Prince Charming in Joan Font’s Zany Staging of Rossini’s “Cenerentola” – Los Angeles Opera, March 23, 2013.
La Sonnambula (Bellini), Florida Grand Opera, February 9, 12, 15 and 17(m), 2013.
Renata Scotto, one of the greatest operatic sopranos of the latter half of the 20th century, returns to Florida Grand Opera to direct the revival of her production of Bellini’s “La Sonnambula”, last seen in Miami in 2007.
[Below: Amina (Rachele Gilmore, right) is to be wed to Elvino (Michele Angelini, left); edited image, based on a photograph for the Florida Grand Opera.]
In 2013, coloratura soprano Rachele Gilmore is Amina and tenor Michele Angelini is her lover Elvino. Ramon Tebar conducts.
[For my performance review, see: “Sonnambula” Reawakened: Rachele Gilmore’s, Michele Angelini’s Artistry, Vocal Fireworks Enliven Bellini’s Masterpiece – Florida Grand Opera, February 9, 2013.]
Norma (Bellini), Washington National Opera, March 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24(m), 2013.
Washington National Opera mounts a new production of “Norma” with Angela Meade as Norma, Dolora Zajick as Adalgisa, Rafael Davila as Pollione and Dmitry Beloselskiy as Oroveso.
[Below: Norma (Angela Meade) invokes her gods; edited image, based on a Scott Suchman photograph, courtesy of the Washington National Opera.]
Italian sensation Daniele Rustioni, who turns 30 in 2013, conducts. The new production will be conceived by Anne Bogart, whose most recent new operatic production was reviewed here at Costa-Jackson, Diegel, Matanovic and Simpson Excel in Glimmerglass Opera’s “Carmen” – August 13, 2011.
[For my performance review, see: Legend Making at the Kennedy Center: Angela Meade’s First Norma – Washington National Opera, March 9, 2013.]
La Donna del Lago (Rossini), Santa Fe Opera, July 13, 17, 26, August 1, 6 and 14, 2013.
Joyce di Donato brings her famous interpretation of Elena, the Lady of the Lake, to the Santa Fe Opera’s Summer 2013 Festival. She is joined by Rossini specialists Daniela Barcellona as Malcolm, Lawrence Brownlee as Uberto and Rene Barbera as Rodrigo. Wayne Tigges is Douglas D’Angus.
[Below: Mezzo-soprano Joyce di Donato as Elena, the Lady of the Lake; edited image of a Ken Howard photograph, courtesy of the Santa Fe Opera.]
The new production will be created by Paul Curran, with sets and costumes by Kevin Knight. Stephen Lord will conduct.
[For my performance, review, see: Rossini Royalty: DiDonato, Brownlee, Pizzolato and Barbera in Curran’s Staging of “Donna Del Lago” – Santa Fe Opera, July 26, 2013.]