Catching up with "Hansel"

Just listened to the Met's broadcast of their new Hansel. I wonder if the children in the audience realized just how well sung this performance was. Alan Held (best Wozzeck I ever heard) was luxury casting as the father, and it was nice to hear the veteran Rosalind Plowright as the mother. Christine Schafer's and Alice Coote's voices blended ravishingly for their prayer. Lisette Oropesa, her sweet voice soaring, nearly stole the show as the Dew Fairy. And while I'm still not convinced that a tenor should sing the Witch, Philip Langridge did not camp it up; he sounded, as he should, ferocious and scary.

Vladimir Jurowski certainly showed why there's so much excitement swirling around him right now. The orchestra sounded lush, and their playing was excellent. Not everyone likes transparency in this kind of music, but I thought the clarity Jurowski brought to the score kept it from getting too schmaltzy--nonetheless, his reading was appropriately mellow and well proportioned. He found nice details in the score, accompanied his singers well, and gave the climactic moments the exact right touch. Most important of all, I had goose bumps continually throughout the afternoon.

Jurowski will lead the Russian National Orchestra in music of Shubert and Brahms at Avery Fisher Hall in February ... I am sure I will try to find a ticket.