| ADVERTISEMENT |
 |
|
|
|
|
Ban on Solos at Met Lifted
|
May 2, 2008 - After tenor Juan Diego Florez popped out his nine shining high C's at the Metropolitan Opera two weeks ago, the crowd rose and cheeree. Mr. Florez obliged with something not heard on the Met stage since 1994: a solo encore. He sang the aria "Ah! Mes Amis" again, nailing the difficult note nine times. It was one of those thrilling moments that opera impresarios live for.
And in this case, prepare for. The Met's general Manager, Peter Gelb, had asked Mr. Florez weeks ago whether he wuld be prepared to repeat the aria, if the audience demanded. Mr. Florez had already done so at other houses, including the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, where last year he became the first to violate an encore ban since 1933.
Mr. Florez agreed to Mr. Gelb's request, and the orchestra and chorus were warned. A system was put into place, and after the explosive reaction the stage manager was given the go-ahead.
Gelb says there will be no encore ban on his watch, to make opera "as entertaining and exciting for the audience as it can be".
--Betsy O'Connor, KDFC News |
|
|
|
|
|
| ADVERTISEMENT |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
