Opera and Ballet

Chairman: David Bushnell
email: dbushn@swbell.net
838-3914

After taking April off, we return in May with two of the classics: Turandot, by, and Lucia di Lammermoor, by Gaetano Donizetti.

Turandot, an opera based on a Chinese fairy tale, was written by Giacomo Puccini and first performed in Milan in 1926.  It comes to our local Century theaters live on May 7 and recorded on May 11.  Everybody has an opinion of the story and the staging, but they all liked the stars.  Like it or not, it truly is a masterpiece of opulent stagecraft.  I love the opera.  Three reviews below:

New York Times Review: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/13/arts/music/met-opera-turandot-puccini.html

Opera Wire Review: https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-2021-22-review-turandot/

New York Classical Review: https://newyorkclassicalreview.com/2021/10/zeffirellis-spectacular-turandot-returns-to-the-met/

Lucia di Lammermoor, by Gaetano Donizetti, is almost a century older, first performed in Naples in 1835, is a classic bel canto opera with beautiful arias.  This opera comes to our local Century theaters live on May 21 and recorded on 25.  It is also one of my favorites. As of this writing it hasn’t opened in New York, but here is a review of a previous production:

“The Metropolitan Opera HD Live” Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor (TV Episode 2009) – IMDb

You will be able to find current reviews online after the opera’s premier performance on April 23.

posted 4/23/22 by DLS