Alex Ross on the Met

This essay by Alex Ross is quite interesting. I haven't seen everything, of course, but his take sounds pretty good.

I am beginning to regret the Met's choices for the HD broadcasts. I would love to be seeing Lulu and The Nose instead of the very mediocre Simon Boccanegra.

I liked Elina Garanča's Carmen, including her singing. Maybe Alex hasn't seen as many bad Carmens as I have. Perhaps he needs the wooden groanings of Vesselina Kasarova to put it all in perspective for him.

Only Anna Netrebko saved Tales of Hoffmann for me. Oh. And the added solos for Kate Lindsay's Nicklausse. Is it really Peter Gelb's fault that the whole thing was intended for Rolando Villazon?

I agree with the overall assessment. Judged strictly on the simulcasts, this has been a less than stunning season.