You've got to love the legendary Placido Domingo in this performance that marks the 40th anniversary of his debut with the Met. A story of deceit and tragedy, a performance within a performance, this unfamiliar program Adriana Lecouvreur is what it's all about.What makes it stands out from the other operas is the fact that the story is not so convoluted, the music elegant and the solos, some evolving as duets, are just grand. The ballet sequences choreographed by the Russian Sergei Gritsai who had worked for the Bolshoi Ballet, took dance to new heights.
With minimal video projections, this production maintained the old-fashioned sets loved by the traditional opera buffs. It would not have a made a difference otherwise, since the the voice of Placido Domingo dominated the performance, not to mention the melodramatic and passionate performance of the soprano Maria Guleghina. She must have been thrilled to play the role opposite the iconic Domingo. Her monologue in Act III deserved all the acclamation not only because it was a dramatic recitation phrased in an elegant language, but it also aimed directly at the princess (played by Olga Borodina) and thus her powerful revenge. That was a statement!
New to me but not to the Met repertoire, I could add this to the list of my favorite Metropolitan Opera masterpieces.
Below is an artwork in the making we encountered at Columbus Circle prior to the performance. I never found out what the story was, but it looked like spray painting, similar to the mural graffiti works by the subway artists. The welcome poster read: "We can paint the world yes!".
