Review: Le Comte Ory Dress Rehearsal at Metropolitan Opera, 1/14/13

This past Monday, I was lucky enough to attend the final dress rehearsal for the upcoming revival of Le Comte Ory at the Metropolitan Opera. I would like to the Met Opera Student Program and the Ambassadors program, of which I am a member. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this production, Director Bartlett Sher took on this tale of a mischevious and horny young count who attempts to "conquer" a beautiful countess while her brother is away at the Crusades back in 2011. He set the production in an old French theater which is putting on Le Comte Ory, complete with a Prompter, curtains, a stage, flyers, and crew to light sets, move scenery, and even create a storm. The show begins even before the overture, as the prompter and crew prepare the stage. But the overture begins when the prompter bangs his staff. 

I saw most of this production on PBS Thirteen back in 2011, but it was nice to see it in person. Eventhough I knew most of the gags, it was incredibly entertaining.

Cast (In Order of Appearance):

Prompter (silent): Rob Besserer

Raimund: Nathan Gunn

Alice: Ashley Emerson

Ragonde: Susanne Resmark

Count Ory: Juan Diego Florez

The Tutor: Nicola Ulivieri (DEBUT)

Isolier: Karine Deshayes

Countess Adele: Pretty Yende (DEBUT)

Courtiers: Scott Scully, Tyler Simpson

The chorus, first off, was perfect as usual. For a Rossini opera, it was very chorus heavy at times, as compared to Il Barbiere di Siviglia, another production Mr. Sher has done for the Met. The orchestra, conducted by Maurizio Benini, also brilliant. I am a lover of the sets and costumes and usage of old theater technology and gimmicks to bring a true uniqueness to the show.

JDF, or Mr. Florez, was superb in his role of the count, just as he was back in 2011. Despite a few mishaps with his coat and wig, he never broke character even when these problems arose. Neither did Rob Besserer, who was a brilliant prompter, even though he is not the real deal. And applause goes to the rest of the cast. Especially Pretty and Karine, performing their respective roles for the first time at the Met. Ms. Yende has a great future ahead of her, she sang with great bel canto beauty. And Karine Deshayes was a fully energetic Isolier. Nicola Ulivieri, also making  debut at the house, sang his first act aria well.

Its hilarious, contains sexual escapades, and men dressed in nuns costumes getting drunk. Whats not to love? Go see it if you havent done so, or go see it again with these brilliant young singers.

The revival opens at the Metropolitan Opera this Friday the 18th. For tickets, visit metopera.org.