Today The Metropolitan Opera in New York made an Attempt, a valiant Attempt to present Don Carlo(s) by Giuseppe Verdi. Broadcast worldwide it was under the Baton of Lorin Maazel; as capable a Conductor as one could ask for such a monumental Work.
The Performance which runs close to Six Hours (including Intermissions) in the Italian Version (it runs just as long in the French Version) was spellbinding; breathtaking not only because the Performers threw in everything they could and then some but, equally, or, perhaps, mainly, because Don Carlo(s), an Opera which is performed frequently enough but not all that frequently also represents everything Verdi was able to think of and throw at his Audience. Although Verdi composed Don Carlo(s) for Money; lots of Money still, when he wrote the Opera, he was at the Peak of his Fame and Creativity.
Premièred in Paris in 1867, Don Carlo(s) was following spectacular Successes by Verdi: Rigoletto, La Traviata and Aïda. Even though there was no Shortage of great Composers at the Time; Jacques Offenbach in Paris and Johann Strauß in Vienna who composed ,,The Blue Danube Waltz'' in the same Year; to name just two Examples, still, Don Carlo(s) comes through as what can only be described as a dramatic Presentation of unparalleled Proportions.
The Music, the Story (adapted after Friedrich Schiller, Tragödie von Don Karlos) the entire Scope of the Work is so grand, as to make a ,,perfect'' or ,,near perfect'' Performance only a Dream, a Goal to be aspired for by any Great Opera Company. It is a difficult and, expensive, Work to stage and perform. Expensive, even by Opera Standards.
On this Special Day, 9 March 2013, which has Signficance for its own for Reasons, we wish to express Gratitude to The Metropolitan Opera Company of New York, for making, once again, this Effort.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHhoFYneJOM
It would also be appropriate to pay supreme Homage to Verdi, a Great among Greats the Likes of which may never be seen again, for bequeathing to us what can only be aptly described, we believe, as an Orgasm of Musical Excellence.
Thank you, Joe! Grazie Infinite!!!
(The Link above is a powerful Rendition of the Baritone/Tenor Duett, swearing Allegiance to Death - Giacomo Aragall and Renato Bruson in a Live Performance, at La Scala, Milan)
Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901)
Premièred in Paris in 1867, Don Carlo(s) was following spectacular Successes by Verdi: Rigoletto, La Traviata and Aïda. Even though there was no Shortage of great Composers at the Time; Jacques Offenbach in Paris and Johann Strauß in Vienna who composed ,,The Blue Danube Waltz'' in the same Year; to name just two Examples, still, Don Carlo(s) comes through as what can only be described as a dramatic Presentation of unparalleled Proportions.
The Music, the Story (adapted after Friedrich Schiller, Tragödie von Don Karlos) the entire Scope of the Work is so grand, as to make a ,,perfect'' or ,,near perfect'' Performance only a Dream, a Goal to be aspired for by any Great Opera Company. It is a difficult and, expensive, Work to stage and perform. Expensive, even by Opera Standards.
Scene from Don Carlos by Giuseppe Verdi, The Metropolitan Opera, New York, on Tour in Japan
On this Special Day, 9 March 2013, which has Signficance for its own for Reasons, we wish to express Gratitude to The Metropolitan Opera Company of New York, for making, once again, this Effort.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHhoFYneJOM
It would also be appropriate to pay supreme Homage to Verdi, a Great among Greats the Likes of which may never be seen again, for bequeathing to us what can only be aptly described, we believe, as an Orgasm of Musical Excellence.
Thank you, Joe! Grazie Infinite!!!
(The Link above is a powerful Rendition of the Baritone/Tenor Duett, swearing Allegiance to Death - Giacomo Aragall and Renato Bruson in a Live Performance, at La Scala, Milan)
