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Beatrice and Benedict (photo by Felix Sanchez)
This week, Saturday at the Opera presents the Houston Grand Opera's performance of Hector Berlioz’s two-act opera, Beatrice and Benedict, a rarely-performed love story adapted from Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.
Beatrice and Benedict is something of a dark horse in the opera world, perhaps because the composer is better known for his orchestral works than his operas. Yet many opera fans believe it deserves more attention. Starring in this Houston Grand Opera production is the mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, who plays the spirited Beatrice, and Norman Reinhardt as the devil-may-care Benedict.
Berlioz wrote his own libretto based on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. In doing so, he excised the complicated subplots, including villain Don John's scheme to break up the wedding of young lovers Claudio and Hero. Instead, the opera focuses exclusively on the stinging banter between the reluctant lovers, Beatrice and Benedict.
Among the musical highlights is "Serene and Peaceful Night," a gentle duet for Hero and Ursula (sopranos Ailish Tynan and Leann Sandel-Pantaleo). While strolling in the moonlight, they reflect on the delights nighttime brings to the souls of lovers. Also of note is the bouyant and colorful overture, which has become a popular concert piece.
Cast and Credits:
Houston Grand Opera Chorus and Orchestra
Michael Hofstetter: Conductor
Elijah Moshinsky: Original Production
Robin Tebbutt: Director
Joyce DiDonato: Beatrice
Norman Reinhardt: Benedict
Ailish Tynan: Hero
Leann Sandel-Pantaleo: Ursule
Ryan McKinny: Don Pedro
Liam Bonner: Claudio
Donald Maxwell: Somarone
Charles Krohn: Leonato
Comments [4]
Well, here it is Thursday night and I still don't know what plans to make for Saturday. Or for the next hour, for that matter. I find it inconceivable that what was a fairly simple matter only a month ago is impossible today. I will certainly NOT pledge any money to the new station until such a basic matter is settled. I've been betrayed by WNYC before and don't intend to be burned twice!
Next week's opera may be a deep, dark secret, but go here:
http://www.wfmt.com/main.taf?p=1,1,41,45
to find the schedule for the Houston Grand Opera broadcasts, which WQXR appears to be airing.....
The Midsummer Nights Dream shows on WFMT's schedule shows the Midsummer Night's Dream as airing on a Monday, but that's because WFMT is having their pledge week this week. You can be pretty certain it will air on Saturday elsewhere, including here on WQXR.
Happy listening.
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I'm so frustrated! How can I get the daily and weekly programs as we were able to do it before; i.e., 8:03Am-8:35 Beethoven:Piano Concerto #4 in G, op.58, Backhaus, C.Krauss cond. (One could even order the CD or DVD--if an opera.) I want to know how to arange my daily schedule of know what opera is coming up the following week. HELP, PLEASE!!!
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