Two major debuts tomorrow at the Met
OperaNathalie Stutzmann, music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will conduct for the first time at the Metropolitan Opera, leading a new production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni.
She will conduct again in a fortnight with The Magic Flute.
Making his US debut with Don Giovanni is the Belgian director Ivo van Hove, who says: ‘in the first seven minutes of the opera you have a rape attempt and a murder happening. When a woman screams for her life and tries to escape, there’s no fun, no joy about it.’
Hove, 64, has left his arrival rather late, but he’s already booked next season for Jake Heggie’s “Dead Man Walking.”.
More here.
Don Giovanni, Drama giocoso
Does anyone care about the composers intent.
But are they painting their nails?
I wouldn’t be holding my breath. While it has an excellent cast, I hear the production is another puzzling, amorphous bunch of concrete structures resembling the Berlin Wall (or East Berlin’s ‘khrushchovkas’), while Ms Stutzmann, good musician and all, has won no friends with her somewhat superficial preparation, constant shushing (and sometimes berating) of the orchestra and being unable to step in and direct the ship in the spots when she is needed most.
Who cares opera is dead.
Is that why 50+ new operas are premiered each year?
So why are you posting on here?
The MET has always pulled together great casts for Don Giovanni. However, having seen this production, you might wish to close your eyes during the entire production. Forgetful scenery and yet another Gelb production flop. Retire the man already. He does not add any value to the company.