Off-the-mark Iolanta, but a terrifying Bluebeard at the Met

By Robert Levine, 29 January 2019

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“creepy strings and woodwinds prominent, every dissonance underlined”

Reviewed at Lincoln Center: Metropolitan Opera House, New York City on 28 January 2019

Tchaikovsky, Iolanta

Bartók, Duke Bluebeard's Castle

Metropolitan Opera

Henrik Nánási, Conductor

Mariusz Treliński, Director

Boris Kudlička, Set Designer

Marek Adamski, Costume Designer

Sonya Yoncheva, Iolanta

Matthew Polenzani, Vaudémont

Alexey Markov, Robert

Elchin Azizov, Ibn-Hakia

Vitalij Kowaljow, King René

Angela Denoke, Judith

Gerald Finley, Bluebeard

Tomasz Wygoda, Choreography

The Metropolitan Opera Chorus

The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

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****1

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*****

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***11

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*****

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*****

Porgy and Bess returns stronger than ever at the Met

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*****

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Robert Levine

Robert T. Levine is a New York born-and-bred music writer with a particular interest in music for the voice. His work has appeared in many periodicals and newspapers. He is the author of many books, including The Story of the Orchestra, four volumes in the Black Dog & Leventhal Opera Library, and, most recently, Maria Callas: A Musical Biography.