Seasonal Saturdays - The Met Opera

So actually I managed to see my first ever broadcast from the Met only this month. Disgraceful, I know, but I'm more than making up for it, since I'll actually get through at least three before the end of this quarter. (Or at least before the end of Spring Break.)

And what a three to get through - Peter Sellars' NIXON IN CHINA, Gluck's IPHIGENIE EN TAURIDE (with lighting by our dear UCLA professor and resident genius, Neil Jampolis) and then Mary Zimmerman's LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, with everyone's famous pint-size French megastar, Natalie Dessay.

Funniest part of the Iphigenie broadcast - the moment when, just as the maestro was getting into position, the live feed from Dessay - as MC - was not switched off, and people all across the world, happily congregated to hear and see Gluck's incredibly beautiful opera, heard the soprano mutter "I fucked that up!". She really didn't. For someone whose English is apparently not great, she did a terrific job.

The opera itself is such a beautiful piece - quite, quite devastating. And Stephen Wadsworth's production has some really splendid moments. You'll be wanting this when it comes out on DVD...!