The Met: Live in HD brings ‘Rigoletto’ to theaters
Above: Quinn Kelsey and Rosa Feola star in The Met: Live in HD production of Verdi's "Rigoletto." (Photo/Fathom Events)
Some of the most familiar music written for opera comes from Giuseppe Verdi’s 1851 work “Rigoletto.”
I’m referring especially to “La donna é mobile,” translated usually as “woman is fickle,” which has been sung by many of the world’s great tenors, from Enrico Caruso to Luciano Pavarotti.
In the The Met: Live in HD production of “Rigoletto,” the Polish-born tenor Piotr Beczala joins the greats of the past. Beczala’s work, along with that of soprano Rosa Feola and baritone Quinn Kelsey, will be featured in the production’s upcoming theatrical screenings at two area Regal Cinemas locations: Northtown Mall and Coeur d’Alene’s Riverstone Stadium.
Saturday’s screening will be held at 9:55 a.m. at both theaters, while two Wednesday screenings, at 1 and 6:30 p.m., will be held at Northtown only.
“Rigoletto” is Verdi’s study of lust, deception and ultimate tragedy, and the work has endured both critical barbs and applause over the centuries. The Met’s production was overseen by Bartlett Sher, who shifted the scene from Renaissance Italy to 1920s Berlin. Michael Yeargan designed the sets, and Catherine Zuber the costumes.
In his review of The Met’s stage production, New York Times critic Anthony Tommasini fell on the side of applause.
“During the enthusiastic ovation after Friday’s performance, golden glitter rained down from the Met’s ceiling,” he wrote. “The cast and creative team onstage directed their applause to the audience – a fitting tribute to the opera lovers who put their worries about the virus aside in order to be there for this memorable evening.”
Nothing at all fickle about that opinion.