Zeffir-ific

Tosca, New York Metropolitan Opera

Another (twenty-year old) Zeffirelli/Puccini production at the Met. Apparently, the cognescenti scoff at the luxurious productions -- but at these prices, the more the merrier.  If you're going to see classic Italian opera, why not stuff the stage with spectacle?

As if the melodrama of Tosca needed any more tweaking, the scheduled soprano has been indisposed, so Jan. and early Feb. performances starred Maria Guleghina. Before this, I wouldn't have known her from Adam; suffice to say that she brought down the house. Her money-aria, Vissi d'arte went off wonderously.

In fact, everyone was in fine voice. Franco Farina, who we have seen in Boheme earlier in the season, nailed a variety of walk-off high notes. And Sam Ramey -- a frequent Scarpia -- had a grand time exulting in his character's villainy.

One final thought, if you're seeing a Zeffirelli production, take advantage of the half-hour intermissions, grab a sandwich and beer at the house bar; apparently those massive sets take a lot of time to unscrew and move back-and-forth.

Also, the Monday night series which I purchased this year is almost always sold out. But there's usually lots of vacant seats for the last act...this Monday night, especially with the long intermission, the last act didn't go up until 10:30 pm and over a hundred or so seats in the orchestra section were available.

Sadly, those people missed the exquisite finales from Franco and Guleghina.