I've been a bit slow blogging this, but to be honest, there have been few meaningful reports coming out of Milano. And, as far as I can find, no photos.
Update: Thanks to White Rabbit for the photo links in the comments, which prompted me to seek photos in the most obvious place - the La Scala website:
But the reports that exist are worth the wait:
Domingo de Bergerac at La Scala
Cyrano: applausi per Domingo (illustrated, somewhat bizarrely, with a picture from Luisa Fernanda)
An interview: Domingo: "Il mio Cyrano? Per le opere ho buon naso" Lultimo tenorissimo riesuma alla Scala un Alfano dimenticato
And from Ed's Opera Group, posted by Ed, but (obviously...) on behalf of AN Other (registration required
Did I forget anything? Oh yes some more details There was also a male singer, he sang Cyrano. Judging from his vocal shape, his condition, his look and his movements on stage he must be one of the young, upcoming tenors of the next generation. Certainly a talent! I am sure we will hear more of him during the next couple of decades.
His name is Domingo. Plácido Domingo. And he has the license to bewitch old and young, male and female, crazy and crazier people. The more I hear of him the more I get the impression, those are right who allege that he has lied about his age. Its impossible that this man I saw on stage is 67. He cant be older than 45, maybe 50! Ok, maybe he was short of breath for one single, very short moment But is there any of us youngsters (Come on, ladies and gentlemen, my bank account number is 21.01.1941. You can send your donations right now ) could sing that demanding work, act and swordfight like that and be it only for ten minutes???
He was really convincing! Although I could hardly see a third of the stage from my seat (and therefore missed the balcony scene and wide parts of the moving final scene to count just the most important parts ) I was moved to
tears several times just by hearing the expressions in his (and her!) voice! Hmmmmmm which leads me to another conclusion maybe he is really older than we all think and Alfano had HIM, HIM and nobody else than HIM in his mind, when he wrote that opera? Yes! Must be! It is tailor-made for him! Like so many other works And to prove that I am objectively reviewing the Scala audience, which is dreaded for being very severe, sometimes even cruel towards singers or works they do not like (especially sung by Non-Italians), ALSO liked the
performance.Plácido got standing ovations, several curtain calls and loud Bravo-yells. Also some (familiar to all who were in Madrid) Plácido, te quieremo - screamers could be heard. All the singers and the conductor (did a good job!) got much applause. Most of all Plácido and Sondra Radvanovsky. Of course, he was moved and happy.
He held a signing hour later. He was relaxed and happy, but visibly tired when he came out (no wonder!!!!!!! It is really a very demanding role, even for a teenager of 45, maybe 50), but he stayed as charming and friendly as
always, when he saw the huge crowd of waiting crazies from so many different countries.
And finally, it seems, the real Cyrano de Bergerac (not actually of Bergerac) was gay: Nosing out the real-life Cyrano - CYRANO: The Life And Legend Of Cyrano De Bergerac by Ishbel Addyman. Strange, cos when we saw the opera, the only gay subtext was the bloke who had an unrequited crush on CdeB.
