The Kennedy Center Opera House has defied expectations, attracting a packed house to Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro" despite the venue being shrouded in controversy. The tumultuous changes at the John F. Kennedy Center since Trump's inauguration have resulted in ticket sales and charitable contributions plummeting, while some performances have been canceled or postponed due to upcoming events.
WNO artistic director Francesca Zambello has stated that boycotting the venue would "kill art." However, her words ring hollow when confronted with a packed house eager for Mozart. The Kennedy Center's Opera House was filled with an enthusiastic crowd on the night of November 22, with nary an empty seat in sight.
The WNO production of "Le Nozze di Figaro" was led by WNO General Director Timothy O'Leary and featured Peter Kazaras's inventive direction. The cast, including Rosa Feola, Joélle Harvey, Will Liverman, Le Bu, Hakeem Henderson, Kevin Thompson, and Sir Willard White, delivered strong performances.
Rosa Feola's shimmering soprano was a standout in the Countess role, while Feola blended well with Harvey in their Letter Duet. Le Bu's big and bold bass-baritone as Figaro proved amusing, and John Holiday's portrayal of Cherubino was a smashing success.
The Washington Concert Opera's (WCO) recent performance of Gluck's "Iphigénie en Tauride" offered a more mixed experience. Mezzo soprano Kate Lindsey delivered a hauntingly lovely performance as Iphigénie, but her bland French in declamatory passages failed to register compellingly.
The WCO production featured a confusing mélange of approaches, with some performers singing from their scores and others acting out the drama. This approach may have sought to emphasize "Iphigénie"'s isolation but instead threw the audience out of the drama.
Antony Walker's conducting lacked the propulsive spark needed to enliven Gluck's most inward opera, while the orchestra sounded thin at times. The amplification of the fortepiano was wildly excessive and disrupted the balance of the performance.
WNO artistic director Francesca Zambello has stated that boycotting the venue would "kill art." However, her words ring hollow when confronted with a packed house eager for Mozart. The Kennedy Center's Opera House was filled with an enthusiastic crowd on the night of November 22, with nary an empty seat in sight.
The WNO production of "Le Nozze di Figaro" was led by WNO General Director Timothy O'Leary and featured Peter Kazaras's inventive direction. The cast, including Rosa Feola, Joélle Harvey, Will Liverman, Le Bu, Hakeem Henderson, Kevin Thompson, and Sir Willard White, delivered strong performances.
Rosa Feola's shimmering soprano was a standout in the Countess role, while Feola blended well with Harvey in their Letter Duet. Le Bu's big and bold bass-baritone as Figaro proved amusing, and John Holiday's portrayal of Cherubino was a smashing success.
The Washington Concert Opera's (WCO) recent performance of Gluck's "Iphigénie en Tauride" offered a more mixed experience. Mezzo soprano Kate Lindsey delivered a hauntingly lovely performance as Iphigénie, but her bland French in declamatory passages failed to register compellingly.
The WCO production featured a confusing mélange of approaches, with some performers singing from their scores and others acting out the drama. This approach may have sought to emphasize "Iphigénie"'s isolation but instead threw the audience out of the drama.
Antony Walker's conducting lacked the propulsive spark needed to enliven Gluck's most inward opera, while the orchestra sounded thin at times. The amplification of the fortepiano was wildly excessive and disrupted the balance of the performance.
. I mean, sure, it's Mozart, one of the greatest composers ever, but the whole thing around here is just so... shady 
. They've been trying to fill seats despite all these changes and controversy, and people are eating it up like candy 
. And what really gets me is when people say boycotting would "kill art" - isn't that just a cop-out? Art shouldn't be about being popular or making money, you know? It should be about expressing something real and true 
.
. Like, seriously, who thought it was a good idea to amplify a fortepiano that loud? 
It's like they were trying to drown out the rest of the orchestra instead of enhancing it. And the WCO's "Iphigénie" production was just all over the place - I mean, I get what they were going for with the "isolation" thing, but it just didn't land 
.
.
you know how some events are just super polarizing, but still manage to bring everyone together in a shared experience? that's what happened here 
i mean, I'm not saying boycotting the venue is the answer or anything (although Francesca Zambello did say that lol), but maybe we should try to find common ground and appreciate the artistry on display, even if it's at a place that's been causing controversy lately 
. The fact remains, the Kennedy Center has been in a bit of a mess since Trump took office and ticket sales tanked 
. And let's be real, if you really care about art, you wouldn't be there for the drama and publicity stunt that is "Le Nozze di Figaro" 
That just smacks of elitism to me. And don't even get me started on the WCO's messiest production of "Iphigénie en Tauride" 
. The mixing and matching of approaches just didn't work, in my opinion. Give me a good ol' fashioned performance with some decent sound quality, and I'm happy 
.
. u would think dey'd at least give a heads up on wht's goin down @ th kennedy center 
. kate lindsey's vocals r always on point but dey need 2 work on dat french 
! thin orchestra & waaaay too much fortepiano amplification? not cool 
.
! I mean, I know there's been some drama going on at the Kennedy Center lately 
and Le Bu's Figaro was so much fun 
, let's keep supporting our artists and the magic of music 
.
I mean, even with all the controversy going on there, people still wanna see some top-notch opera performances! 
It's not about boycotting or protesting, it's about appreciating great art and good entertainment. I'm glad to hear that Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro" was a hit despite everything 
I mean, it's awesome that people are still passionate about Mozart and willing to come out and support a great production. And the WNO really brought their A-game with "Le Nozze di Figaro" - the cast was amazing! Rosa Feola as the Countess was stunning, and Le Bu's Figaro was so much fun to watch. Can't wait to see what other performances they have lined up! 
I'm not buying it. What about all those events being canceled or postponed? It's too convenient. The whole thing reeks of a cover-up... 
. It's almost like people just wanted to prove a point or something 
.
. But I'm still not convinced that boycotting isn't an option... it's all about sending a message, right? 
. but hey, art is always gonna be there, no matter what 
. and to WNO artistic director Francesca Zambello's point, boycotting the venue might not kill art, but it could definitely hurt the community that needs it most 
.
. Francesca Zambello needs to chill, boycotting the venue would indeed kill art...or in this case, the entire opera scene 
. And btw, Peter Kazaras's direction was pure magic 
, Rosa Feola's soprano was insane 
We went up to the mountains and had a blast hiking and taking in the breathtaking views 
I mean, have you ever hiked to a lake at sunset? It's literally like nature's own art show 
The colors of the sky, the reflections on the water... it gives me all the feels 
. Rosa Feola's soprano was truly standout, and Le Bu's Figaro was hilarious 
. But what's really cool is that people are willing to look beyond the venue's issues and just enjoy some great opera