Orfeo ed Euridice

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/9/07 at 3:41pm

Seeing it tonight--anyone else?

Mark Morris directing, Isaac Mizrahi costumes.

David Daniels, Maija Kovalevska and Heidi Grant Murphy singing.

James Levine back conducting.

[AC126748]

Posted: 5/9/07 at 5:37pm

Great singing by the cast (especially Kovalevska, whose voice is as big as Levine's fro), but I kinda hated the production. It's really static and doesn't quite know what it wants to be about. Not a total disaster like the new production of Die Agyptische Helena earlier this season, but still pretty misguided.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 5/9/07 at 8:05pm

I know one other person who will be there tonight...

I can't wait to hear your review!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/9/07 at 11:02pm

Brilliant production! Thrilling, actually. Of COURSE it's static--it's a stand-and-pose Gluck opera. I never "got" David Daniels before, but his singing was gorgeous--and Maija Kovalevska is now on my list of Favorite New Divas.

And Heidi Grant Murphy as Ellen DeGeneres...GENIUS!!!

[AC126748]

Posted: 5/9/07 at 11:30pm

I personally don't find Gluck's operas--this one especially--static at all. I just felt that Morris didn't know what to do with the music. I agree with you about Heidi Grant Murphy, though; her comic timing is impeccable.

Kovalevska is singing Liu in Turandot a few seasons from now. THAT'S something to be excited for.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 9:41am

It was pretty hot, considering he sings like a girl.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 9:46am

Playbill.com's photo essay
Photo Journal: Mark Morris's Staging of Orfeo ed Euridice at the Met

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 11:11am

I thought the production was STUNNING.

And am sorry I missed an opportunity to give PJ a hug!

Love wears a pink t-shirt.

It was packed to the rafters (where I was, in the Family Circle standing room aisle), and deservedly so. This was the first time I've heard Maestro Levine conduct, and can see why he's heralded as one of the greatest conductors we currently have.

As for the production, static certainly isn't the term I'd use. Not with the wonderful choreography (particularly the Elysian Fields and Act III).

Daniels as Orfeo-as-Johnny Cash was sublime. And his rendition of 'Che faro senza' was spine tingling (though my favorite recording of that is Juan Diego Florez's).

My only quibble was not 'getting' all of the hand movements done by the chorus (as a rippling tide from bottom to the top tier) during Act II. That was slightly distracting.

But bravi to all in the production.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 11:15am

I once sat across from Mark Morris on the subway and he was reading "120 Days of Sodom." His eyes were wide and he kept putting his hand up to his mouth. I kept thinking, "I wish they'd invent a digital camera so I could make a record of this perfect moment." (It was a number of years ago.)

[AC126748]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 1:22pm

No one could doubt the sincerity of Mark Morris' admiration for the late mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, who was to have collaborated with him on the Metropolitan Opera's new staging of Gluck's "Orfeo ed Euridice." However, the opening night performance of this production (May 2) did not convince me that the choreographer can channel this sincerity into meaningful stage direction.

-James Jorden (of parterre.com) in the latest Gay City News.

Thank God someone wasn't just wowed by the aesthetics of the production and actually judged the piece.
http://gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18327465&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=592781&rfi=6