A double bill of rarely performed one-act operas— Tchaikovsky’s romantic fairy tale Iolanta and Bartók’s harrowing Bluebeard’s Castle — will be the featured presentation of the CCP Met Opera in HD on February 9 at Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5.
Tchaikovsky’s lyrical fairy tale Iolanta is about the psychological awakening of a blind princess, while Bartók’s harrowing Bluebeard’s Castle is about the newlywed Judith who must open seven locked doors to discover the full depths of her husband’s dark secrets.
Anna Netrebko stars as the title character in Iolanta, with Piotr Beczala and Aleksei Markov as Vaudémont and Robert, two rivals for her love. Nadja Michael sings the central role of Judith in Bluebeard’s Castle, with Mikhail Petrenko as her mysterious and menacing new husband.
Valery Gergiev conducted the double bill, which was a co-production with Teatr Wielki-Polish National Opera. Both operas are directed by Mariusz Trelinski, who was inspired by classic noir films of the 1940s.
Of the production, the New York Times said: “Tchaikovsky’s music for Iolantais wistful, tremulous and full of yearning, qualities Ms. Netrebko communicates through her bittersweet singing. Yet flashes of vocal intensity, a Netrebko hallmark, come through when Iolanta tells of her increasing confusion. Ms. Michael brings a strong, bright voice and visceral intensity to Judith. There were overwhelming passages in Mr. Gergiev’s account of this astonishing Bartok score, with its Expressionist angst and Debussy-like lushness. He brought out rustic, folkloric elements in the music that seemed fresh.”
The CCP’s Met Opera in HD series features screenings of the latest operatic productions of the Metropolitan Opera in New York through High-Definition digital technology.
Other productions scheduled for screening at Greenbelt 3 cinemas for 2016 are: Carmen (Georges Bizet) on March 8; The Merry Widow (Franz Lehár) on April 12; and Macbeth (Giuseppe Verdi) on May 10.
For more information, call Greenbelt 3 cinemas Customer Service Hotline at (+632) 757-7883 or CCP Sales and Promotions at (+632) 832-3706; e-mail ccpsalesandpromo@gmail.com; or visit www.culturalcenter.gov.ph.
