Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in 1910. It is now back at the Met with several remaining performances on October 12, 17, 20, 23 and 27. The October 27 matinee performance will be transmitted live in HD in theaters around the world and will be seen in 73 countries.
Based on David Belasco’s play The Girl of the Golden West, the opera is set in the mountains of California during the Gold Rush. It is a romantic story about gun-slinging saloon owner Minnie who falls in love with the outlaw Ramerrez and risks it all to save him from vindictive sheriff Jack Rance and a mob of gold miners.
Soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek gives a powerful yet vulnerable appearance as Minnie, soaring in her love duets and at times subdued by her self image of insignificance. She also performed the role at La Scala and at the Vienna State Opera. At our performance, the role of Ramerrez/Dick Johnson was sung by the brilliant Yusif Eyvazov, whom we saw in a concert with his wife Anna Netrebko in a rare appearance this past spring at the Royal Albert Hall. He is a world-class tenor and his interpretation of Ramerrez is a testament to his talent. He will play the role on October 12 followed by tenor Jonas Kaufmann who will play Ramerrez in the remaining performances.
The main characters were supported by a wonderful cast including Željko Lučić, as the sheriff, Carlo Bosi as the bartender, and other soloists, along with the outstanding Met’s male chorus as gold miners.
The setting, designed by Michael Scott, brings to life the Wild West complete with a Saloon, a tiny cabin nestled in the mountains, and a wind-swept public square surrounded by battered buildings.
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