Jun 9, 2007

2008 alla Scala

The new season, beginning December 7, 2007, is online, with an introduction here. It seems every opera in Europe is routing for Wagner (Tristan und Isolde in December), Donizetti's Maria Stuarda (January 2008, also in Lyon and Brussels, but in Milan, it will be sung by Anna Catarina Antonacci & Mariella Devia, what a great cast) and Alban Berg's Wozzeck (February, also in Paris next season). So, what's left? Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro (October 2008)? Not for me. Franz Lehar's Die lustige Witwe (November 2008)? Not for me either. Giordano's Andrea Chénier (June 2008)? Talk about an opera rarely played elsewhere! No, seriously. What's exciting?
Except for Puccini's Il Trittico (March 2008) & La Bohème (July 2008) I really find nothing else. But Puccini is a must-be next year (150th anniversary of his birth). Leo Nucci as Gianni Schicchi & Nino Machaidze as Lauretta ; Barbara Frittoli as Suor Angelica are attractive. The cast on Il Tabarro, not so much. This Trittico will be conducted by Riccardo Chailly, in a new production by Luca Ronconi (unless they come back to some other 1950 Zeffirelli production like they did this year with Donizetti's La fille du régiment).
The big problem with La Bohème is Zeffirelli... Back at the helm, again, with yet another out-of-date production...

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