The beginning of Fall has different meanings for everyone. Some love the changing colors, the cooler temperatures, or as is the case with this writer, the exodus of summer tourism from New York City. All kidding aside, the beginning of the concert season for the country’s major orchestras and opera companies is always an interesting sight. Opening night reviews can truly make or break a career season. The introduction of Gustavo Dudamel with the Los Angeles Philharmonic was met with spectacular reviews, much as Alan Gilbert with the New York Philharmonic.

Unfortunately, not all welcomes are quite so warm… On Friday, Verdi’s Aida returned to the Metropolitan Opera under the baton of Daniele Gatti. Perhaps feeling empowered after recently destroying Luc Bondy’s self esteem, the audience greeted Gatti with a wave of boos following the performance, despite applauding energetically for the singers.

Whether or not the boos were deserved is personal opinion. The patrons of the Met opera are known for being outspoken to say the least. If the majority of the crowd was disappointed, then I say the boos were justified. Perhaps I have seen too many concerts where the ten loudest people in the audience swayed the entire opinion of the hall with their over-the-top dismissal and protest. Then again, I was not in the audience on Friday evening.

Is this a step in the right direction? Are the days of snoring and expected standing-ovations a thing of the past?
Original article on nytimes.com

Posted on October 5th, 2009 at 3:31 pm | Filed under General |