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I Puritanicomposed by Vincenzo Bellinilibretto by Carlo Pepoli conducted by Patrick Summers starring Anna Netrebko (Elizabeth Futral on February 15), Eric Cutler/Gregory Kunde, John Relyea The Metropolitan Opera West 62nd and 65th Streets and Columbus and Amsterdam Aves. (212) 362-6000 Performances from December 27, 2006-February 15, 2007 www.metopera.org    The Met's production of Bellini's "I Puritani" has returned as a showcase for the immensely gifted Russian soprano Anna Netrebko, who's about as big a star as you can find these days in the opera world. And with good reason: Netrebko is one of the very few telegenic opera stars, with a winning stage presence and a voice equally at home in Mozart's 18th century as it is in Prokofiev's 20th century. In "I Puritani," Netrebko doesn't disappoint. As Bellini's heroine, Elvira, Netrebko does her considerable best to make this cliched love story work: in 17th century Puritan England (hence the title), Elvira is in love with Arturo, who loves her, but it takes her uncle Giorgio to persuade her father to let them marry. After various machinations too risible to describe at length (although it must be mentioned that she goes mad in the second act after she believes Arturo has betrayed her), the lovers are reunited for a happy wedding. Even Riccardo, the man whom Elvira forsook for Arturo, joins in the general merriment. Conductor Patrick Summers and the Met Orchestra combine for a glistening account of Bellini's melodically rich score; Franco Vassallo (Riccardo) and John Reylea (Uncle Giorgio) are the best of a good supporting cast. But it's Netrebko's show all the way, and she makes the most of it, doing dramatic wonders with the Act II mad scene, which could easily degenerate into an occasion for mere showing off; instead, she makes Elvira's descent into madness believably touching. And since she's such a charismatic, charming onstage presence by simply walking out onstage, "I Puritani" is worth attending as long as Anna Netrebko is the star. [FYI: For the last Met performance February 15, the equally enticing American soprano Elizabeth Futral sings the role of Elvira, a rare instance of a replacement singer who's on the same rarefied level.] |
