Thank you Mr. Eisenberg.

This was a better production than the Met's. The only opera we ever walked out from the Metropolitan Opera was the Bartlett Sherr's production of Barber of Seville and we won't see this production ever again. His set is barren and there's a walkway that surrounds the orchestra pit that muffled the sounds from the orchestra. Bartlett Sherr's is a Broadway director and not an opera director with a full orchestra. It was awful for us opera lovers. We've enjoyed it on the stage of NYC Opera when they were at the State Theatre as well as the Met several times before this production. Mr. Sherr's production is not the best. Peter Gelb who came from film production company allowed changes (destroyed the Zeffirelli sets) to happen to La Traviata, to Tosca, to Madama Butterfly, to Faust and others in order to facilitate the HD production. Sets and voices are no longer as important as the close up faces of beautiful singers on the HD screen. So sad. We are going as little as possible to the Met only to catch Turandot, La Boheme, and just a few others.

I was listening to the on-air broadcast in my car, during lunch break, and I kept hearing what sounded to be microphone noise, as if people were knocking into microphones. It was rather distracting. Anyone else notice?

It is too bad this is considered a "comic" opera. We forget how graceful the music is. Some years back, a benefit performance was given in Connecticut. The governor made an appearance during the mob scene and promptly got a pie in the face. I would love to have seen that.
Today's broadcast is coming at a good time while we are awaiting the arrival of the "frankenstorm" that the media is terrifying us with. Remembering years ago when Danny Kaye sang Figar's aria. What a hoot. Trying to find it on Youtube so that my sons can watch it.

For years I've adored Rossini
Whose talent was not teeny weeny,
And the voices today
Make the Barber soufflé,
On a par with the best of Bellini.

It's buffo at its very best,
Melodic and written with zest,
A balm to the ear,
A work to revere,
Bless Rossini for this bequest!