Patricia Johnson
Actor · b. 1934 · London, England
Movies4
Movie7.3MusicLive from ROH 1985. Giordano's Andrea Chenier is one of the greatest of verismo operas, full of heart-stopping big tunes and powerful emotional situations. If it is not as well-known as it should be, it is because in summary it sounds a little too like Puccini's Tosca: there is a tussle between political opponents over a woman, an attempt to save a condemned man, a tenor aria about writing poetry on the eve of execution. The difference is that Gerard (Giorgio Zancanaro) is not a villain like Scarpia, he is an idealist whom the French Revolution has betrayed as much as it has his rival the poet Chenier (Placido Domingo). His temptation to abuse his power to seduce the virtuous Maddalena (Anna Tomowa-Sintow) is a momentary one, though its consequences are terrible. There is a streak of post-Wagnerian decadence in much of this--Maddalena is at least as much in love with death as she is with Chenier, and the final love duet has a deeply sinister aspect. -- From Amazon.co.uk
Andrea Chénier
1985 · 3 votes
- Movie9.0MusicRomance
A televised production of The Merry Widow featuring behind the scenes content.
New York City Opera: The Merry Widow
1996 · 1 votes
MovieMusicStaged by Sellner, conducted by Maazel with costumes by Sanjust and performed by the six soloists with consummate vocal elegance, Cimarosa's "Secret Marriage" offers unadulterated pleasure and triggers a kind of ecstasy with its combination of delicacy and opulence as well as its sophisticated humor. It brings Cimarosa's musical mastery to the fore - but also the visual impact of the opera. The stage is no longer a place of intellectual barrenness, but once again a playground, a sparkling showcase of wit and intellect.
Movie7.0MusicComedyAccompanied by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, composer Benjamin Britten's satirical look at life in an English market town delivers plenty of laughs. When Lady Billows (Patricia Johnson) realizes no girls in town are worthy of the May Queen title, she crowns virtuous Albert Herring (John Graham-Hall), the greengrocer's son, as the village's May King. The comic opera features a strong ensemble cast including Alan Opie and Felicity Palmer.
Albert Herring
1985 · 5 votes