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Elizabeth Llewellyn (Bess) and Kevin Short (Porgy). Philip Newton photo c/o Seattle Opera
Porgy and Bess, the first opera in Seattle Opera’s new season, is either loved as a pillar of the opera canon or reviled as a racist tool of oppression. Earlier this week I talked about the reasons for the differing opinions. Today I want to talk about the one thing everyone can agree on – the quality of Seattle Opera’s production of the divisive Porgy and Bess.
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Elizabeth Llewellyn (Bess) and Kevin Short (Porgy). Philip Newton photo c/o Seattle Opera
Porgy and Bess is the first opera in Seattle Opera’s 2018-2019 season, and probably the one I was most curious about. Like Madame Butterfly, Porgy and Bess is either loved as a pillar of the opera canon or reviled as a racist tool of oppression, depending on who you’re talking to. I couldn’t wait to find out which side of the fence I’d be on. As with most things, the answer is buried in nuance somewhere between the opposing views. In the end, I didn’t love Porgy and Bess, but not for the reasons you’d expect.
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Philip Newton photo c/o Seattle Opera
Some people listen to opera for that one perfect high C, but my ear is not refined enough to detect the subtler wonders of the art form. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m drawn to opera for the spectacle. Seattle Opera’s newest chamber opera, O+E, was the opposite of their over-the-top main stage productions, and as a result, I liked it even better. Even without a single baritone.
Opera: come for the pageantry, stay for the beauty.
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Women dominated my music last week, but the sounds were all over the place. The music swung between the cheeky and sublime. But whether I was listening to Sofi Tukker, Thunderpussy, Arvo Pärt or Christoph Gluck, it was all good music. Read More
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Alexandra LoBianco (Aida) and David Pomeroy (Radamès). Jacob Lucas photo c/o Seattle Opera
Even if you’re not into opera, you’ve heard of Aida. It’s one of the iconic operas like Carmen and Madame Butterfly. I am into opera, and I love Verdi, but the current production at Seattle Opera was my first experience of Aida.