Yesterday was (what I call) Black Sunday.
The long waited for Sunday when Met tickets go on sale and over the hills and far away opera lovers, quite a crazy crowd on their own in the best of times, go completely insane at their computers and phones, trying to get the best available seats at the most reasonable prices.
It was quite a battle if you ask me. I hate to complain, because I love the Met, but all the stories that you keep hearing about not getting through, losing selected tickets, servers not working, etc. are true.
Lucky are the members – they don’t have that adventure to experience!
Several months ago a fellow blogger, who also happens to hold a membership at the Met, offered to get tickets for me at a member’s (slightly lower) price which was very sweet. However, at that point I had no extra money to spare and no idea what I would be doing in the coming season.
So, regretfully I did not use that offer and decided to see how my plans would shape up.
A couple of months ago, I came into possession of a small fortune (does that sound like Jane Austen to you?). A certain company offered me a contract for a small translation, having priced my work at $50.00 per page. Yep, that’s how expensive translation is these days.
Anyway, only a couple of hours of intense work dropped a check for $350.00 into the pocket of yours truly, thus making the season planning easier and so much more pleasant.
Meanwhile, my plans shaped up quite all right.
My very dear friend and a regular reader of this blog, Tatiana, is coming to visit me from Russia in 2 months!!! Our friendship dates back to the 90-s, when we went to school together in Moscow. How exciting is it for me to see her again and show her how I got settled in this country and let her meet my family and them – meet her.
So, of course we are going to New York and by all means, we are going to the Met!
Tatiana is not as big of an opera fan as I am, even though she is of this blog, but I think she will fall head over heels with opera, once she goes to the Met. Now, my dear friends and opera lovers, what do you all think of my choice of the opera to take her to?
Carmen with Elina Garanca in the title role and Nicole Cabell as Micaela?! I think I made a good choice. We have Balcony Row A seats (no heads in front of us!!!! Yay!)
My other Met trip (yes, there will be two of them this season) is coming up in April 2011. You guessed it right – Rossini. Le Comte Ory, an all-star production, directed by Bartlett Sher, conducted by Maurizio Benini, starring Juan Diego, Joyce and Diana Damrau!!!
All sharing one stage! A real opera miracle!
Plus, I am going to see it on the big HD Broadcast day. But even that is not all yet. Guess, who I am seeing it with? My mom!!!
How did I get so lucky, that for the first time in two years my mom wants to go to the opera with me? And to the Met too! Oh, I am not sure, how much of my joy is coming through my writing, but I am super-excited about this!
So, my friends, these are the 2 biggies of the season, and of course, I’ll update you on other local opera outings, as I decide to attend.
I would be happy to read about your plans for the upcoming season in the comment section. What operas are you planning to see? Met visits?
Cheers!
5 comments:
Good choices, Raisa.
Elina Garanca will make your friend fall in love with opera. Wasn't she voted the best Carmen in the Met's history?
I am seeing Rossini's Armida with Renee Fleming on Feb.18th in the Met.
Haven't decided what to see in the WNO yet. Have you?
Jack
You are taking your friend to the Met - wow! Is she excited? I think you made an excellent choice. I would also pick Carmen or La Boheme. These two gems can't leave anyone indifferent.
I am thinking of seeing Un Ballo in Maschera in the WNO in September. No Met plans, unfortunately.
Ellen B.
Raisa,
I fell in love with your post. We have had MET subscriptions for a number of years now, but did not want to see many of 2010-1011 reprise performances. We just bought tickets for Le Comte Ory. The cast is phenomenal. We saw Garanca in Carmen this year and loved her. We had previously seen her in La Cenerentola and in concert in Dubai.
As for Florez, he is supreme and we have seen him many times; L'elisir D'more, La Cenerentola, La Fille du Regiment and others. That will be a spactacle. We also bought tickets for Netrebko in Don Pasquale (which we saw her earlier performance at MET). We will also see in recital next Feb in Vale.
As for Armida, it was total bust! Fleming was terrrible with no charisma, no voice and overly dramatic with poor diction. The MET hyped this to all extent, but most all the critics were lukewarm or worse. Joyce DiDonato who has recorded arias from this would have been much better. She is truly an understated superstar. Fleming's new crossover CD "Dark Hope" of Indie songs is shameful and lame.
Warm regards,
Howard
Raisa, I'm so glad you got tickets!!
I actually do have an extra pair of Le Comte Ory (and I'll even spell it right this time...) tix for April 2 for sale. What day are you going?
You are going to love Carmen!! I saw it in January - Elina G is amazing.
The other opera I'm going to see this year is Cosi Fan Tutti. You know it'll be an adventure, as it always is for me when certain singers perform!
Jack - I saw the final dress rehearsal of Armida this past April. The men were all great. Renee didn't really sing out until the final act. She seemed too old for the role, or something. Too famous maybe, if that makes sense. Keep an eye out for my friend John Osborn - he's the general. He will blow you away, as will the other 5 tenors.
Hello everyone! Happy Friday and as always, thanks so much for your comments and your support.
Susan, I am actually going to the HD Broadcast matinee - April 9th! When are you going to Le Comte Ory?
Howard, when are you and Paula going to Le Comte Ory?
Howard and Susan, I am not that surprised to hear less than excited reports from you both about Renee's Armida. Even though she is a wonderful singer, I was very disappointed at her December Baltimore recital. She sounded pretty plain and was a bit too wordy in the stories that she offered between the arias. I attributed that to her still being upset with Baltimore for ruining her previous recital with an alarm going off. Remember the story?
Anyway, Armida might not just be her cup of tea.
However, Jack, don't be upset before you see it all with your own eyes.Everything that was said here might still be kind of subjective.
Jack and Ellen, I am almost sure I will go to Iphigenie en Tauride in May, because of my eternal and unconditional love for Gluck. I might also do something about Un Ballo, but not really sure what exactly. Thinking about taking Troy to the Outfield for a free broadcast, but really not sure.
And of course, October 22nd is the big day - NEA Opera Honors. Absolutely FREE, remember? Hope to see you both there!
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