Bringing Manon to the Movies
Posted by Philipp Brieler on 2/16/2008The Met’s fourth live HD transmission of the season hit screens in movie theaters around the world today, with Karita Mattila and Marcello Giordani starring in Puccini’s youthful hit Manon Lescaut, conducted by Music Director James Levine. Renée Fleming hosted the transmission and took the audience backstage during intermissions for live interviews with Giordani, Levine, and Mattila. The Finnish soprano surprised everyone—including camera crews and stagehands—by giving an encore performance of the splits she does on stage at the end of the dancing lesson in the second act. Also on hand for an interview with Fleming was Technical Director Joe Clark, who explained what was going on behind the curtain during the scene change between Acts II and III. Here are some backstage photos.
Coming right off the stage, Karita Mattila was interviewed by Renée Fleming…
…and performed a split!
In the actual performance, this is part of her dancing lesson scene in Act II.
James Levine talked about the challenges of conducting Puccini’s score…
…while Technical Director Joe Clark explained the logistics of a scene change.
On the set for the third act, tenor Marcello Giordani (who performed with Fleming in Massenet’s Manon several seasons ago) chatted with her about the character of des Grieux in the operas of Puccini and Massenet.
Photos: Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera
Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera (performance shot)
February 16th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
We saw “Manon Lescaut” today and throughly enjoyed the music and the costumes. Both Ms.Mattila and Mr. Giordani have beautiful and strong voices. I feel sure that they appeared to fit the roles from the distance of the audience. That being said, they did not come off so well in the very closeup shots of the HD broadcast.
The Met can’t use a Hollywood format and not have singer-actors who can convincingly appear to be the character. It was a real stretch to imagine these two as being college age and innocent. The camera needs to either stay futher away, or use a lens that gives the image a softer touch. All in all, it was still an enjoyable production.
February 17th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Enjoyed the HD performance yesterday in movie theater in downtown San Franciso. Almost-full house of very appreciative opera lovers.
My only quibble is that cameras should NOT spend so much time focused closely on MOUTHS and faces of singers ! The entire magnificent production is given too little exposure. I would prefer a view of the stage that more closely resembles what one would see from the best seats in the house–with occasional appropriate close ups at critical moments. Enjoy very much behind-the-curtain features– Renee Fleming is a national treasure.