| Chuck Stevens 2006-06-05, 6:55 pm |
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"Michael Mattias" <michael.mattias@gte.net> wrote in message
news:ZwYgg.111221$dW3.29008@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...
> The Florentine's Aida was magnificent. Angela Brown in the title role was
> "OK" , but both Jessie Raven as Princess Amneris and Renzo Zulian as
> Radames
> were simply outstanding.
....
> I've been a season ticket holder since 1999, and this was by far the
> grandest production. The cast, orchestra and production people got (or
> rather, earned) an ovation just for Act II. I'd go again in a New York
> minute.
>
> And Guiseppe Verdi (to whom I often refer using his Americanized name
> "Joey
> Green")? My my favorite Opera composer bar none. (I really like all the
> 'chorus' parts where there are many many voices singing).
If you like operatic-polychoral effects with a *very* Italian flavor, and
you ever get the chance, check out the Prologue to the Opera "Mefistofele"
by Arrigo Boito. Boito was Verdi's librettist for Poncielli's "La Gioconda"
and Verdi's "Falstaff" and "Otello". The Opera itself is occasionally
done, but by the time you're done with the prologue, I think you've heard
all the good stuff. One reviewer commented "Arrigo Boito's 'Mefistofele' is
one of the better bad operas ... ", and I have to admit there are
compositional details that are just way too precious. The Prologue's a
real kick.
-Chuck Stevens
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