[Met Performance] CID:247420

Metropolitan Opera Premiere, New Production

Esclarmonde
Metropolitan Opera House, Fri, November 19, 1976

Debut : Clifford Grant, Lotfi Mansouri




Esclarmonde (1)
Jules Massenet | Alfred Blau/Louis Ferdinand de Gramont
Esclarmonde
Joan Sutherland

Roland
Giacomo Aragall

Parséïs
Huguette Tourangeau

Emperor Phorcas
Clifford Grant [Debut]

Cléomer
John Macurdy

Bishop of Blois
Louis Quilico

Énéas
John Carpenter

Saracen Envoy
Nico Castel

Byzantine Herald
Paul Franke


Conductor
Richard Bonynge


Director
Lotfi Mansouri [Debut]

Designer
Beni Montresor

Choreographer
Norbert Vesak





Esclarmonde received ten performances this season.
This production was borrowed from the San Francisco Opera.

Review 1:

Review of Thor Eckert Jr. in the 12/13/1976 Christian Science Monitor:

The Metropolitan Opera's first two new productions of the season ["Esclarmonde" and "Lohengrin"] are musical and dramatic triumphs.

The little-known Massenet extravaganza "Esclarmonde" is a stunning vehicle for Joan Sutherland...The American love affair with French opera has been limited to "Manon," "Faust," "Romeo et Juliette," and a paltry handful of others. "Esclarmonde" is vintage French grand opera, written for Sibyl Sanderson of the three-octave range. Miss Sutherland and her husband, conductor Richard Bonynge, have revived it - the Met uses the production first seen in San Francisco. Designer Beni Montresor has put all the scenes on scrim drops that, when properly lit, become a castle, a room, a verdant glade, etc. When back-lit they "disappear," are raised and replaced. Montresor's pastel fantasy world sets exactly the right visual tone for the Massenet score.

Is this music from the muse that nurtured "Manon?" Can all that exotic, neo-Straussian richness be from the man most people tend to dismiss after "Manon?" One does not emerge from "Esclarmonde" humming a tune, nor do any principals have a major, show-stopping aria, but the sense of unity, of opera as a totality - not to mention a melodic-atmospheric scene painting of surprising vividness - must make us reconsider the composer.

Mr. Bonynge conducts one of the greatest performances of his career. The orchestra pit is several feet higher than usual - and the orchestra sounds gorgeous for it. Bonynge melds, and blends the sounds perfectly. He has a magnificent cast to help him out.

Miss Sutherland is ravishing vocally. The lowest tones create some problems, the very top lacks ease, but the upper-middle voice is so haunting, so resonant and communicative - there is no sound like it today. "Esclarmonde" is another triumph for her.

Giacomo Aragall is handsome, virile, and the voice - when it does not cloud over - rings brightly and appealingly. Huguette Tourangeau impressed anew in her small role; Louis Quilico's baritone sounded tired and insecure; newcomer Clifford Grant possesses a rich, resonant bass - a striking addition to the roster. John Carpenter, new to the Met this season, has a promising tenor and when he ceases to be so self-conscious, he will fit in on stage.

Debuting director Lotfi Manousri knows just the style that makes this sort of evening click, and he gives it the plus-perfect treatment - stunning posing, groupings, majestic motions, always the right movement at the right time.



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