Hamlet met opera review6/13/2023 ![]() ![]() The only real disappointment for me was James Morris, there are times where he does seem rather wooden and his voice throaty and over-tensed. Now at the Metropolitan Opera, Dean and Jocelyn’s Hamlet is brooding, moving and riveting. Jennifer Larmore puts her rich, creamy voice to perfect use, and excels also meeting the dramatic elements of Gertrude. Simon Keenlyside is outstanding in the title role, and Marlis Peterson is a poignant Orphelie and holds her own in her big mad/death scene. The music is wonderful and performed and conducted with no qualms at all. Brett Dean’s interpretation of Shakespeare’s tragedy has its North American premiere at the Met. The costumes and sets are sumptuous yet also have atmosphere, complete with excellent picture and sound quality. An opera composer would need the epic gifts and epic gall of a Richard Wagner to consider an adaptation of Hamlet and think: Yup, I’ve got this. I do also prefer the production with Thomas Hampson and Natalie Dessay, however this is a very good Hamlet, with fine staging particularly the final scene and the mad scene and once again informative and beguiling hosting from Renee Fleming. From the outset, he captures the opera’s brooding nature and sense of foreboding. The opera by Thomas was a newfound discovery, and while it doesn't go into my immediate list of favourites it is a treasure.
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