Nicolas Courjal (Palémon), Gerald Finley (Athanaël), Renée Fleming (Thaïs), Christoph Eschenbach (conductor), and Philippe Aïche (violin solo) during curtain calls following the first of three performances at the Châtelet in Paris this week. I took this photo. Please credit me and link to this post if you use it anywhere.
Fleming was a scorching hot Thaïs in a sparkling green mermaid gown by Dior. More to come after I attend the remaining two performances this week.
I have to say, though, that I was sorry to learn that Barry Banks, originally scheduled to sing Nicias, was replaced.
I'll also say that Fleming and Finley were in fantastic form. (Yeah, alliteration, how about that?) Fleming elicited the first applause (lasting a really, really long time--she nodded to Eschenbach three times before he himself stopped applauding and raised the baton to resume the opera) of the evening with a luscious "Dis-moi que je suis belle." The desperation was palpable, and her voice was simply dripping with eroticism. Overall, there was so much to savor: rich and velvety yet bright, ringing tone; outstanding French; pianissimi galore; high notes that made me jump out of my seat. And that crescendo on her last note ("Je vois Dieu!"), well that was . . . heavenly. The standing ovation that greeted her first curtain call, well, that about summed it up.
Close-up of Renée Fleming (Thaïs), taken on Monday, April 16, 2007, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Please credit me and link to this post if you use this photo anywhere.
France Musique will broadcast the opera on June 9th at 7:30pm Paris time. This will be streamed on the web.
7 comments:
Khaleem: Thais is my favorite Renee Fleming role. I first fell in love with her voice after listening to her 2000 recording of this exquisite Massenet masterpiece. I was head over heels in love, right then and there. Assuming you're familiar with the Decca recording with Thomas Hampson, tell me, does her introductory aria sound as luscious and creamy as the CD? In the "Mirror Aria", how orgasmic is the high G at the end? How exquisite is her pronounciation of "éternellement".
Thanks so much for your comment! I bought the recording when it was released, but I haven't listened to much of it (just the final scene, really)--I'm really crazy about live performances, and I don't like to listen to recordings because I'm afraid of the recording becoming the music for me. Once I know a piece rather well, I can then listen to lots of recordings and it's interesting to make comparisons. After the three performances of the opera this week, I'm eager to hear the Decca CD...
I can tell you that she sang magnificently this week. She's still very much in her prime. I really thought her Tatianas were out of this world, but she even surpassed those with these ineffably beautiful performances. She made Thais's transformation so real. I'll write more in a post later today, or perhaps tomorrow.
Hm, it's a high D at the end of the Mirror Aria, and each of the three nights, it was perfectly placed, and the audience went absolutely crazy.
There's something about Manon that leaves me a little cold. I can't cry for Manon, but Thais brings me to tears...
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