Along with us, Los Angeles Times music critic, Mark Swed, finds promising Peter Gelb's announced plans for a "new era" Met:
Many of Gelb's ideas are long overdue. His plans to bring in directors with theater and film experience can't hurt. But only at the Met would choosing a production of "Madame Butterfly" by the film director Anthony Minghella to open next season seem a bold move.
[...]
On the other hand, inviting Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman to make a new production of Rossini's magical "Armida," with Renée Fleming in the title role, is inspired, as is teaming Esa-Pekka Salonen with the veteran French director Patrice Chereau for Janácek's "House of the Dead," even if Chereau was a more important force in opera 30 years ago. A "Carmen" co-directed by Matthew Bourne and Richard Eyre (responsible for the hit "Mary Poppins" in London) is good show business, especially since it is scheduled to feature Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna.
RTWT here.
It's The Music, Stupid!
Peggy
