Good Lord! Two Philip Glass operas in one week! I offer this mild oath in tribute to the monotheistic pharaoh at the center of Glass’ “Akhnaten.”
Even if you think Minimalism drives you up a wall, try to catch the Metropolitan Opera production, which features an uncanny performance by Princeton University alumnus Anthony Roth Costanzo in the title role, impressive sets, evocative costumes, and plenty of jugglers (!).
The Met will also offer two – count ‘em – two Rossini operas, “Armida” and “Semiramide.” The Met’s Rossini has been among the more gratifying revelations for me since the COVID-era streaming began. It sounds a little silly to state the obvious, but he’s a very theatrical composer!
Oh yeah, and there will be two by Verdi, as well, including “La Forza” with Leontyne Price.
The Met continues to make good on its pledge to stream free opera for the duration of the house’s shutdown. Each opera is accessible for approximately 23 hours, starting every day around 7 p.m. EDT. Handel’s “Rodelinda” streams through 6 p.m. today, at metopera.org.
Here’s a complete schedule of this week’s offerings. You’ll find teasers and bonus materials when following the link:
https://www.metopera.org/user-information/nightly-met-opera-streams/week-14/
Monday, June 15
Rossini’s Armida
Starring Renée Fleming, Lawrence Brownlee, John Osborn, Barry Banks, and Kobie van Rensburg, conducted by Riccardo Frizza. From May 1, 2010.
Tuesday, June 16
Rossini’s Semiramide
Starring Angela Meade, Elizabeth DeShong, Javier Camarena, Ildar Abdrazakov, and Ryan Speedo Green, conducted by Maurizio Benini. From March 10, 2018.
Wednesday, June 17
Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride
Starring Susan Graham, Plácido Domingo, and Paul Groves, conducted by Patrick Summers. From February 26, 2011.
Thursday, June 18, and Friday, June 19
Verdi’s La Forza del Destino
Starring Leontyne Price, Giuseppe Giacomini, Leo Nucci, and Bonaldo Giaiotti, conducted by James Levine. From March 24, 1984.
Saturday, June 20
Philip Glass’s Akhnaten
Starring Dísella Lárusdóttir, J’Nai Bridges, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Aaron Blake, Will Liverman, Richard Bernstein, and Zachary James, conducted by Karen Kamensek. From November 23, 2019.
Sunday, June 21
Philip Glass’s Satyagraha
Starring Rachelle Durkin, Richard Croft, Kim Josephson, and Alfred Walker, conducted by Dante Anzolini. From November 19, 2011.
