I know, I know. More of Hoffmann's reminiscing.
I think I've written about this before, however, since it was a while back, I'll expand a little.
Mefistofele was, if I recall correctly, the 3rd opera I saw live. Back when the late, lamented New York City Opera (under Julius Rudel) toured to DC each spring, they brought Tito Capobianco's superb production with them to the Kennedy Center. I saw Samuel Ramey sing the role a couple of times fairly early in his career (this would have been mid-to-late 1970s). He was Awesome.
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This photo would have been the opening scene - a roiling ballet. The overture was something else. NYCO had horns placed in the top balcony playing counterpoint with the orchestra. The opera house would go totally dark, and the only thing that could be seen was a light on the tip of Maestro Rudel's baton.
Ramey apparently had just picked up the role after Norman Treigle's passing. Treigle was supposed to be the real king of the role. Also saw Beverly Sills, who was then NYCO's big star, sing Rosina in Barbiere, ca 1978 or so.
At the time, I was encouraged by one of the executives in the office where I was sort of a glorified go-fer after I first moved to DC and the Kennedy Center was at its peak with touring company options (the Bolshoi Opera had been to the KC the year before I moved here). Sid was really smart, funny and a total opera nut. He coached me on which operas to see - and focused on what was rare and unusual, rather than that which was accessible (e.g., I saw
Le Coq d'Or and not
La Traviata) - I couldn't afford much, so had to be selective and was still exploring. . He was a critical influence on my becoming an opera lover when I was in my 20s. As you can imagine, when touring season rolled around in the spring and I troop up to his office with the newspaper ad in hand, looking for his advice, he would drop what he was doing to chat. It was great fun. As I know now, he likely was shocked that a guy in his 20s would be interested in opera.
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