I began to understand the various plot twists and turns, however, by watching the 1978 La Scala production, starring Mirella Freni, Piero Cappuccilli, Nicolai Ghiaurov and Veriano Luchetti.
The complicated political rivalries, alliances, love stories and dysfunctional family feuds at the heart of this opera are probably apt metaphors for the turbulent history of
Genoa and other city-states and republics in 14th-century Italy. I need to listen with greater intention, however, to discover the magic in "Simon Boccanegra". The music simply didn't have the appeal for me of past operas and I asked myself why. Perhaps the themes, combined with the predominance of heavy male voices, made it feel heavy and oppressive. I did like that part of the overture, however, which brought seafaring and ocean waves to mind.
Anna Moffo, Kiri Te Kanawa and Leyla Gencer“ performed "Come in quest’ora bruna” brilliantly; however, I preferred Montserrat Caballé with Piero Cappuccilli above all. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BVZQtLelns). I also loved the sweetness and her effortless performance of "Orfanella il tetto umile" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7qh__MLuj4). This takes nothing away from my esteem for the great Mirella Freni. It simply confirms my "life is a Caballé" bias😍.
Escaping to the opera stage has been such a welcome respite this week. Thank you for all you do. "Tosca" at The Met in December? I'm thinking about that.
I am REALLY feeling this comment today! As you know well, studying opera every week often makes me feel like it is all love, deceit, politics, sexism, ummmm, the list goes on. And now this week with Monteverdi who believed, "music should make people cry not discuss" I feel like I have gone done a rabbit hole of despair!!! Next week I think we bring back the comedies to lighten the mood...although this week is truly beautiful to the ears and heart ❤️❤️❤️
And I LOVE the sound of Tosca at the Met!
Thank you again for bringing such thoughtfulness, nuance and honesty to these conversations.
Come back, come back! The🐇hole of despair is no place for a goddess! Having shed quite a few tears listening to earlier operas ("Thaïs", "La Bohème" and "Susannah"), I will brace myself for this composer who said "music should make people cry 😥not discuss." Thanks for the heads-up!🤗
With so many dramatic events occurring on the national and international stage this past week, it was hard to focus on Giuseppe Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra". Even reading the Met synopsis was challenging (https://www.metopera.org/user-information/synopses-archive/simon-boccanegra).
I began to understand the various plot twists and turns, however, by watching the 1978 La Scala production, starring Mirella Freni, Piero Cappuccilli, Nicolai Ghiaurov and Veriano Luchetti.
(Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgfA8rw4JUU)
(Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zctoMumwRrg&t=63s).
The complicated political rivalries, alliances, love stories and dysfunctional family feuds at the heart of this opera are probably apt metaphors for the turbulent history of
Genoa and other city-states and republics in 14th-century Italy. I need to listen with greater intention, however, to discover the magic in "Simon Boccanegra". The music simply didn't have the appeal for me of past operas and I asked myself why. Perhaps the themes, combined with the predominance of heavy male voices, made it feel heavy and oppressive. I did like that part of the overture, however, which brought seafaring and ocean waves to mind.
Anna Moffo, Kiri Te Kanawa and Leyla Gencer“ performed "Come in quest’ora bruna” brilliantly; however, I preferred Montserrat Caballé with Piero Cappuccilli above all. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BVZQtLelns). I also loved the sweetness and her effortless performance of "Orfanella il tetto umile" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7qh__MLuj4). This takes nothing away from my esteem for the great Mirella Freni. It simply confirms my "life is a Caballé" bias😍.
Escaping to the opera stage has been such a welcome respite this week. Thank you for all you do. "Tosca" at The Met in December? I'm thinking about that.
P.S. For the historic Simon Boccanegra, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simone_Boccanegra
I am REALLY feeling this comment today! As you know well, studying opera every week often makes me feel like it is all love, deceit, politics, sexism, ummmm, the list goes on. And now this week with Monteverdi who believed, "music should make people cry not discuss" I feel like I have gone done a rabbit hole of despair!!! Next week I think we bring back the comedies to lighten the mood...although this week is truly beautiful to the ears and heart ❤️❤️❤️
And I LOVE the sound of Tosca at the Met!
Thank you again for bringing such thoughtfulness, nuance and honesty to these conversations.
Come back, come back! The🐇hole of despair is no place for a goddess! Having shed quite a few tears listening to earlier operas ("Thaïs", "La Bohème" and "Susannah"), I will brace myself for this composer who said "music should make people cry 😥not discuss." Thanks for the heads-up!🤗
😂😂