@StuartLou I listened to the Kirsten and Merrell recording. Did not think it close to this. They are great, The way Renee sings this itis as if it was written for her.
Many productions in the Met seem like coming from the XIX century... always stuck to the libretti till the last detail. A little bit of imagination would be warmly welcome. Hampson and Fleming are an absolute reference here, both are magnificient. It seems López-Cobos is the conductor. Massenet had an apparently unlimited talent for irresistible melodies, this opera is a marvel, unknown for many. And I find the plot is quite interesting, with a monk losing his faith while a libertine woman finds it for surrender. It happens in the last two thousand years…
SolomonPlunket ... Honestly I don't like her so much ..but as a German I must admit that she was the only singer who sang the unpopular Richard Strauß not to bad in the last year ...what is hardly manageable for a not german singer.. also here ... as whole production ... very seldom ... and I live in Europe...
This is the most amazing scene in all opera and music in every way. I fell in love with a violin performance of this meditaion in grade 9, 48 years ago. This was the very piece that took me out of rock and roll. I'm ecstatic to have found this opera scene.
Best rendition of this aria EVER... the endless high D are perfects and sound that the aria is perfectly and mastery done... I hate this aria with high D done with pitted note... just perfect here
This has to be one of the definitive performances of this opera. Renee Fleming was exceptional. Is anyone aware if there is a sound recording of Leontyne Price doing this role?
Like a few others, I had discovered this opera through my violin repertoire. I had, for the longest time, been oblivious to the fact that I was playing a piece with such longing and passion and pain and peace. The opera is tragic yet breathtaking, and I am so glad to have found this masterpiece!
INCREDIBLE!!! All I knew of this opera was the 'meditation' until I saw it on Sky Arts from the Met-blown away!!! Renee gorgeous with a capital G and Thomas-long hair....stubble....anguished,,,,,,,,bring it on!!! Fabulous. have it on DVD and love it despite its sadness.
I saw this Met production, wonderful performances. I always found the staging of this final scene odd - that Thais, though dying, was sitting up. It may have been done at Fleming's request, but having her on her death bed woulda made more sense given the narrative even it that's a more difficult position to sing from. This opera has such an interesting framework - Thais, the sinner, meets Athenial, the holy man only briefly, yet it is a meeting that sets her on a road to repentance and heaven and him on the road to renouncing his beliefs and, we can assume, condemnation. They come back together only briefly as she is dying. He professes his love, but she is already actively dying and doesn't hear him, but sees the afterlife opening up to her and describes that magnificent scene, ignoring him.
Played the violin solo for so long not knowing it was just accompaniment to this out of this world duet. It looks almost dangerous to sing that kind of libretto and just sink into the role of a dying character.
Each time I watch Thais I love it more and more. Only The Met could do this opera and the staging is so wonderful. I think Massenet's music in this is the best he ever composed and Renee Fleming's voice and costumes.....just divine, like liquid gold. I love Thomas Hampson too and the way their roles are reversed in the finale. She turns religious and he realises he loves her and is willing to renounce God and Heaven. Then that wonderful Meditation violinist.......just epic
I'm wondering if the Mother Superior is being subng by MEZZO MARIA ZIFCHAK (sp) at the time so important to the MET as a staple MEZZO, able to sing most genres.
This is the most perfect performance of Thais from start to finish - and this Finish , C’est Toi Mon Pere, is powerful, beyond any other performance I know of!
Brilliant! I like that they put sub titles in English. I love opera and knowing the story adds to my enjoyment and increases my emotional involvement in the piece which inevitably leads to tears.
Unfortunately there are some translation mistakes. Like at the beginning it says "I only remember your kindness" but in French he says "I only remember your mortal/physical beauty"
This is so beautiful that every time I listen to it tears roll down my eyes. How kind the 'gods' were to Renee Fleming, to be blessed with so much beauty, in body as well in voice. What music is more beautiful than Meditation? It is indeed marvelous singing on the part of Fleming and Hampson!!!
Marvelous singing.And that melody,which I believe is called 'Meditation', is one of the most beautiful pieces ever written,in my opinion. Che bellissima musica! Bravo Massenet !
Voici des gens qui peuvent chanter n'importe quoi, car ils ne comprennent pas ce qu'ils disent et nous non plus. Ils chantent de manière"impressionniste" dans une langue qui leur est totalement inconnue ! Malheureusement c'est souvent cela l'Opéra dit classique! Heureusement il y a la musique ! Mais la musique ne fait pas tout!quel gâchis :on a de très belles voix,une musique magnifique et pourtant, c'est raté ! Dommage !
