La Fanciulla del West

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La Fanciulla del West
Topic Started: Sep 4 2017, 03:04 AM (136 Views)
Trotsky	Sep 4 2017, 03:04 AM Post #1
Big City Boy Posts: 38,319 Group: Member Member #79 Joined: September 8, 2005	Coming Wednesday night at New York City Opera: Quote: Considered by Puccini himself to be among his finest works, the brilliant orchestration and lyricism of La Fanciulla del West animate the passion and adventure of the California Gold Rush. The opera had its world premiere at the Metropolitan Opera in 1910 and has long been a favorite of New York audiences. City Opera's new production of Puccini's La Fanciulla del West will be directed by Ivan Stefanutti and conducted by James Meena. The production is an international collaboration between the Teatro di Giglio in Lucca, Italy, the Teatro Lirico in Cagliari, Sardinia, and Opera Carolina. I love Puccini but have never seen a "La Fanciulla"(commonly "the Girl of the Golden West.") and am looking forward to it. Leads are Kevin Short and Kristin Sampson. Don't know them. It is good to have City Opera back at Lincoln Center. Edited by Trotsky, Sep 4 2017, 03:08 AM.



Alli	Sep 4 2017, 09:20 AM Post #2
Mistress, House of Cats Posts: 4,732 Group: Member Member #711 Joined: March 30, 2010	I love La Fanciula del West the music the lyrics My favourite version is with Placido Domingo & Sheril Milnes Though I do like the version with Jonas Kaufman who plays Dick Johnson (aka Ramierez) I still prefer the first one.. You will thoroughly enjoy it I can't think of one Puccini Opera that I don't like.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1OPTE8Njcs&t=98s Edited by Alli, Sep 4 2017, 09:37 AM.



Trotsky	Sep 5 2017, 02:40 AM Post #3
Big City Boy Posts: 38,319 Group: Member Member #79 Joined: September 8, 2005	Quote: Kevin Short and Kristin Sampson Have you heard of either of the leads, alli? <I'm with you on Puccini, one season I saw 3 productions of Turandot, one with Birgit Nilsson, one with Correlli, like 1975, probably my favorite Italian opera.> I have seen many Toscas, once with Pavarotti, probably best with Caballe. Puccini and Wagner were the kings of opera IMHO After Fanciulla, I think only La rondine will be left to see. For Fun Posted Image Edited by Trotsky, Sep 5 2017, 02:49 AM.



Alli	Sep 5 2017, 07:49 AM Post #4
Mistress, House of Cats Posts: 4,732 Group: Member Member #711 Joined: March 30, 2010	I have often wondered why La Rhondine was the least popular of all of Puccini's Operas. You rarely see it on the listings yet the music is stunning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiUoWCnGZTU IMO Dame Kiri te Kanawa has the perfect Puccini voice.. Perfect pitch. I have seen Montserrat Caballe sing "Chi il bel sogno di Doretta" from La Rondine yet as much as I love her voice she doesn't suit the character. As a side note I believe we have seen the end of Dmitri Hvorostovsky operatic career come to a sad conclusion He has cancelled all up coming performances in including Un Ballo in Maschera though he may have 1 concert later this year in Russia.



Trotsky	Sep 5 2017, 08:58 AM Post #5
Big City Boy Posts: 38,319 Group: Member Member #79 Joined: September 8, 2005	Caballe in Tosca: She jumped off the paparapet and the audience GASPED obviopusly expecting a huge CRASH. (A friend cruelly always referred to her as Monsterfat Caballe.) One of my sadnesses is that I never heard Callas in person. Sad about Hvorostavski but not unexpected. Edited by Trotsky, Sep 5 2017, 09:05 AM.



Trotsky	Sep 8 2017, 01:45 AM Post #6
Big City Boy Posts: 38,319 Group: Member Member #79 Joined: September 8, 2005	La Fanciulla was too hokey for me, felt like an episode of GUNSMOKE, a show I hated with a passion, like all Westerns. (All they did was substitute Miss Minnie for Miss Kitty.) Seats were TERRIBLE, partial view, upper balcony side-arms almost atop the stage with theater lights blocking the view. The leads were pretty good but Act One had too much silly recitative and almost no arias. The concept of a busty female bar owner in the California Gold Rush, amid 100 lusty men, never having been kissed was farcical. We left, with some misgivings, after Act One. Had there been a few lovely arias instead of silly blather we would have hung on. I'll rent the CD from the library and we'll start with Act 2. Trip home was a mess with a cancelled train and a wait in the rain for a FREEZING cold bus. I was very happy to get home, strip off my damp clothes and settle into my recliner. Edited by Trotsky, Sep 8 2017, 01:49 AM.



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