A review of Thais at the Met Opera

I ramble on about the great performance of Thais that I saw recently.... it was late so its not the best.

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[lady00010]

Renee Fleming is such a great artist, but somewhere along the way, this production has got trapped in terrible decor and excess glamour. Christian Lacroix almost seems not to have read the libretto to have created such an inappropriate gown at the end. Thais is supposed to have been divested of all earthly possessions, and here she is in a frilly extravagant creation. Glamour can become a trap sometimes to be avoided when incarnating spirituality.

[harbchem]

great points I didnt even really think of it like that. Since i wasnt familiar with the Opera, i was mainly listening to the music more.

[jason9xy]

Hi harbche, thanks for the review. Can you tell me exactly how to find the live broadcast on iTunes? I looked for stations and the New York Times channel but I couldn't find the Met's live broadcast, thanks.

[harbchem]

well I havent listened to it on there before, I am assuming they do it because that is the station that carries it. the station is WQXR-FM. You can also go to their website for more info and playlists

[spsp2sp3sp3dsp3d2]

Hey, thank you for the review. Lucky you! I'm on the west coast so I won't be in NYC, but this Saturday (12/20/08) I'm going to a local theater to see an HD broadcast of the live matinee performance. Unfortunately, it will be at 9AM, but I am very excited.

[harbchem]

How was it???

[OyJoey]

I totally agree! It should have been something really simple and angelical. Or in a nun's habit would have been appropriate.

[gopika108]

Thanks for doing a review on me! (just kidding, my name is Thais..) I love this opera, not just because of name, but the music is so sensual and dramatic. Good review ;)

[Lohengrin]

As Lucino Visconti had said to Maria Callas back in 1955 at the Sonnambula in La Scala, when Callas was complaining that a village girl like Amina could be dressed as a Princess like Visconti had dressed Maria: Maria, you are NOT a village girl, you are Callas ;)

Same here, this is not a "whore trying to repent her sins" anymore... this La Renee Fleming ! and you only dress Renee Fleming with extra glam :) Im afraid it is you against Lucino Visconti dear lady :)))))

[operas6]

I bet you never had to come out of the closet to your mother. You are mispronouncing Athanael.

[jerome648]

I thought your review was excellent. I saw it last Saturday and loved the singing and the music. The staging was something else again! The yellow plaster of Paris sand (with dimples in it) was something else again. But the hoot of the evening was having Thais sit on a chair which was on her deathbed!! Over the top, to say the least.