Monday, April 16, 2007

Renée Fleming and Gerald Finley in Thaïs at the Châtelet


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:

JRD said...

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".

of the kosmos said...

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...

Anonymous said...

Assistant coach Kenny Natt tookwow goldbuy wow goldwow levelingwow gold cheapwow goldbuy wow goldwow power levelingcheapest wow goldwow goldover the Kings at their wow soldiworld of warcraft goldbuy wow goldcheap wow goldwow goldwow oroworld of warcraft goldshootaround before Monday night's gamebuy wow goldwow gold hackwow goldworld of warcraft goldbuy wow goldcheap wow goldwow levelingagainst Minnesota, spokesman Troywow goldworld of warcraft goldbuy wow goldcheap wow goldwow power levelingwow powerlevelingHanson said. Natt isLord of the Rings Online GoldLOTRO GoldLOTR Goldfly for fun penyaflyff penyabuy flyff goldFinal Fantasy XI gil Sacramento's fourth coach in less thanbuy cheap ffxi gilffxi gilbuy Warhammer goldWarhammer goldEverQuest 2 goldeq2 platthree years.Assistantwow goldworld of warcraft goldbuy wow goldcheap wow goldwow power levelingwow powerlevelingLord of the Rings Online GoldLOTRO Goldcoach Chuck Person was firedLOTR Goldfly for fun penyaflyff penyabuy flyff goldFinal Fantasy XI gilffxi gilbuy Warhammer goldWarhammer goldalong with Theus, who went 44-62 inEverQuest 2 goldeq2 platdofus kamaskamas dofusrunescape moneyrunescape golddofus kamaskamas dofusRunescape MoneyRunescape golddofus kamaskamas dofusrunescape moneyrunescape golddofus kamaskamas dofusRunescape MoneyRunescape goldhis brief tenure with Sacramento.

Anonymous said...

rappelz rupees of Rappelz Online Game has more functions and this Rappelz Game is a very good free game. This rappelz gold of score could go down A LOT if they choose to mess up the classes even more. I would have rated it much cheap rappelz rupees better when it was epic3. If yes, then the first step to buy rupees when you play Rappelz is for you. Play rappelz and feel the power and might of rappelz money. See you in game!
rohan crone has many ways for us to use. When you start the Rohan Online game, your character will be level 1. I remembered that when I started playing this Rohan game with some little cheap rohan money. My friends all told me that the best way to spend rohan online gold is a good way. But I could not like spending my own rohan online crone. If you do not like upgrading level step by step, you can cost rohan gold to help your character to reach level high.

Anonymous said...

As a new player , you may need some game guides or information to enhance yourself.
knight gold is one of the hardest theme for every class at the beginning . You must have a good way to manage your knight noah.If yor are a lucky guy ,you can earn so many knight online gold by yourself . But if you are a not , I just find a nice way to get knight online noah. If you need , you can buy cheap knight gold at our website . Go to the related page and check the detailed information . Once you have any question , you can connect our customer service at any time .

Anonymous said...

I can get mabinogi gold cheaply,
Yesterday i bought mabinogi moneyfor my brother.
i hope him like it. i will give mabinogi online gold to him
as birthday present. i like the cheap mabinogi very much.
I usually buy mabinogi gold and keep it in my store.
I can getmaple mesoscheaply,
Yesterday i boughtmesos for my brother.
i hope him like it. i will give maplestory mesos to him
as birthday present. i like the cheap mesos very much.
I usually buymaple story mesos and keep it in my store.

www.tarragona-3d.com said...

There's no doubt, the guy is completely right.