THE METROPOLITAN OPERA

Mr. Kaufmann and Ms. Westbroek seemed to feed off each other during the crucial scene in Act II when Johnson arrives at Minnie’s cabin for a humble meal. Tension stirs below the surface of the music as a blizzard builds outside and a posse of miners led by Jack Rance, the town sheriff (the husky-voiced baritone Zeljko Lucic), closes in. But the real tension came from the hints of attraction and emotional need that Mr. Kaufmann and Ms. Westbroek conveyed, even while exchanging seemingly innocent phrases.

—The New York Times

Brilliant Direction. And that’s the key to this production and its brilliance. It’s undeniably opulent in its scope, but unlike something like the new “Samson et Dalila,” which tries to hide its lack of ideas behind glitz and glam, this one finds new and relevant meaning in older ideas.

By setting it in the world that Puccini and Belasco originally intended, revival director Gregory Keller (Giancarlo del Monaco was the original visionary behind the production) and his team can find new details that will allow themes to breathe and come to life. It’s a reminder that these works endure on their own for a reason. This ending is but one example, but the entire production is rife with directorial brilliance.

Even if we don’t analyze every element of the production, we feel and understand the meaning almost instantly, whether consciously or subconsciously. This is great directing. And it’s why “La Fanciulla del West” is the work to see at the Met right now.

There’s literally drama in every image, detail, musical phrase, and yes, breath.

--Opera Wire

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Conductor: Marco Armiliato

Production: Giancarlo Del Monaco

Designer: Michael Scott

Lighting designer: Gil Wechsler
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Minnie: Eva-Maria Westbroek

Dick Johnson: Yusif Eyvazov/Jonas Kaufmann

Jack Rance: Zeljko Lucic

Joe: Scott Scully

Bello: Richard Bernstein

Harry: Alok Kumar

Happy: Joseph Barron

Sid: Jeongcheol Cha

Sonora: Michael Todd Simpson

Trin: Eduardo Valdes

Jim Larkens: Adrian Timpau*

Nick: Carlo Bosi

Jake Wallace: Oren Gradus

Ashby: Matthew Rose

Post Rider: .Ian Koziara

Castro: Kidon Choi

Billy Jackrabbit: Philip Cokorinos

Wowkle: MaryAnn McCormick

* = debut
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October 4, 8, 12, 17, 20, 23, 27, 2018