This is just a VERY FEW of the people who came
to Prospect Park tonight to have a picnic, drink
some wine, and be entertained by the NY
Philharmonic, The Metropolitan Opera Chorus,
and Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna
(who sang a random selection of just the really
good arias). The middle of the park is a very
long meadow, and they set up a big stage at
one end, but placed speakers and big screens
along almost the whole length of the meadow.
This was the most elaborate of all the free summer
concerts the Philharmonic is doing this year,
and of course they did it in Brooklyn.
Sometimes I really love this city.
Did they seem relaxed?
ReplyDeleteActually, tg, they are the consummate "performers" -- he was perfectly charming, as was she (and cute, too). They held hands and kissed after pretty much each aria they did together. She has an even bigger "rep" than he has, but at least 80 or 90 percent of their audience tonight was totally unaware of it (sauf moi, of course).
ReplyDeletebtw, they were married at the Met, after they appeared in a performance of La Boheme, by then-mayor --and HUGE opera fan (possibly the only thing I liked about him) Rudy Giuliani. Kinda romantic, you must admit.
I know nothing of opera but was surprised when I saw that they were married. It's great that they can perform together mixing the "personal" with the "professional". One also thinks of the success of Lunt and Fontaine. It is possible to make a go of that mixture.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, and Lucy and Desi -- and the Captain and Tenille! ;~}
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge fan of opera (like Giuliani), but I know a little, and this was way cool, and FREE.
Alexa, as a music student at the university I had the pleasure of attending many operas (required of us and I must say as a jazzer it took a while for them to grow on me). Now, I find I'm drawn to them like Gilbert was to Sullivan, especially when FREE is mentioned. What a unique story. Great post. You know anything with music grabs my interest.
ReplyDeleteOur free summer TGIF Jazz in the Park series started last night. The park setting is so relaxing.
ReplyDeleteinteresting:)
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