Broadway Bridge and Tunnel Test

The Broadway Bridge and Tunnel Test is our personal and highly opinionated Commuter's Guide to New York theater and cultural events, with an emphasis on Broadway and Off-Broadway theatrical productions. The test is simple: is an event worth the always expensive, time consuming, and too often horrendous struggle to commute to New York City from New Jersey, Long Island, Upstate New York or Connecticut? Only truly great or near-great performances and productions may meet this stiff challenge!

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Location: Princeton, New Jersey, United States

James Camner is an antiquarian dealer of autographs, manuscripts and printed music and books of Opera, Classical Music, Theater, Dance, and Film, as well as a published author of more than 10 books on the performing arts including "How to Enjoy Opera" (Simon and Schuster), "The Great Opera Stars in Historic Photographs" (Dover), "Stars of American Musical Theater in Historic Photographs" (Dover - with Stanley Appelbaum); was for over 20 years a reviewer for Fanfare Magazine and has written feature articles and reviews for Opera News.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Don Giovanni, an opera by Mozart at the Metropolitan Opera House. Starring Erwin Schrott, Susan Graham, Mathew Polenzani, Krasimira Stoyanova, Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, Isabel Leonard, conducted by Louis Langree. Don Giovanni is one of the masterworks of Western civilization, but though performances of it are rather common and more often than not on a high level, it's very rare to find a performance of such exalted caliber. For one thing, this was an uncommonly well balanced cast with not a weak link in it. The conducting by Louis Langree was focused and powerful. No Don Giovanni performance can succeed without a great Don and in Erwin Schrott, the Metropolitan has the finest to essay this role since the legendary Cesare Siepi. Schrott, a genuine hunk, has a silken smooth and strong baritone voice that carried through the house with ease. Schrott acts the role to perfection and his "La ci darem la mano" with Isabel Leonard was the sexiest I've ever seen in this duet of seduction. Isabel Leonard was totally believable as the minx Zerlina, Krasimira Stoyanova sang with a laser-like intensity as Donna Anna and the great Susan Graham has added another leaf to her laurel wreath. As for Matthew Polenzani, he is the finest Don Ottavio I've seen even including my first - Fritz Wunderlich. Outstanding work from Ildebrando D'Arcangelo who was mellifluous and funny as Leporello. Bravo! A+

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