Sunday Brunch – Le Nozze di Figaro: Sull' Aria



Hillevi Martinpelto



Alison Hagley



This musically stylish Le Nozze di Figaro is led by John Eliot Gardiner. I personally find the two-dimensional sets and overdone makeup annoying and a little disturbing. Perhaps in 1993 the production folks didn't think about things like camera close-ups.  And Hillevi Martinpelto (Countess) should sue the wig maker! 

Mathias Vidal Sings Rameau: L'Impatience

Mathias Vidal is a tenor to keep an eye (and an ear) on!  He appeared in L'Incoronazione di Poppea with Philippe Jaroussky. (Remember their marvelous duet?) 

Interestingly, he made this Rameau recording in the U.S., but beyond performances in Dallas and Houston in conjunction with the recording, he seems to have stayed east of the Atlantic. According to his website he has been performing regularly in Europe.

Gratuitous Friday – Jonas Kaufmann is Don José

Jonas Kaufmann is heartbreaking in this beautiful rendition of the flower song. 

La fleur que tu m'avais jetée

Carmen, La Scala, 2009

An Otterphile Bonus – The Eyes Have It

I made this clip for my review of Capriccio, (yes, that review really is coming up – next week, in fact!) but I just couldn’t wait to share it. This is the scene in which the actress Clarion (Anne-Sofie von Otter) is “auditioning” the Count (Dietrich Henschel), an amateur thespian. Watch as ASvO channels Norma Desmond via Carol Burnett. 

La Traviata, Salzburg 2005: I Have a Theory, and it's Mine

Probably no one needs to say anything more about the Willy Decker production of La Traviata. But I never let that stop me before, and with a blog called “Regie, or Not Regie?” I feel obligated to address it. In this post, I will present several theories, answer a few questions, and make a suggestion.