Comments on: 2010, New York Met, Hamlet

By: Sue

Sue — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 17:29:07 +0000

Petra,
Many thanks for your help and for all the work you do for SKinfo.
Kind regards
Sue

By: Sue

Sue — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:49:17 +0000

Hamlet – the Met broadcast of the whole opera is on YouTube here:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFwuKqBFp8g
Catch it before it disappears!

By: Terence Dawson

Terence Dawson — Thu, 06 May 2010 09:42:51 +0000

I have the Liceu DVD also but from John’s description would love to see the Met broadcast.
It was in this production in 2003 that I first was blown away by SK and as I have said else where on this site, hate the production but it would be fascinating to see how SK’s interpretation has developed.
Are there any plans to release a DVD?

By: Ann Lander

Ann Lander — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:17:28 +0000

I have the Liceu DVD and want one of the Met production just to enjoy a slightly different edition.
I recorded it from BBC R3 but would still love to see it as well.

By: John Palik

John Palik — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 01:53:17 +0000

I have the Barcelona DVD, and there are still many reasons I would like to have a DVD from the Met production, the rarely performed “corrected” ending being only one. There are many subtle changes in the production and in SK’s portrayal of Hamlet. The camera work is superior at the Met, with more close shots. The subtitles are a better translation. Laertes is superior. Gertrude and Claudius are about equal (both plus and minus). The frenzied scene after the play-within-a-play is punched up, and I swear I saw SK do a standing leap from the floor up onto the table (will have to check that when I see the encore broadcast in a couple weeks). Petersen’s Ophelie is different from Dessay’s, but not necessarily inferior. And the ending used by the Met gives Hamlet more gravitas and dramatic impact at the final curtain – Ophelie is anyway always trying to hijack the opera when Hamlet’s back is turned, and this redresses that imbalance to some extent. Barcelona is very interesting, it is true, once you have heard SK describe how he was run over by a bus 2 hours before that performance, and you can appreciate his chuckling to himself while singing “etre ou ne pas etre.” I do not know if the Met DVDs of their simulcasts include the interviews, but I would love to have a record of SK, dripping with blood-red stage wine from head to toe, enticing a horrified Renee Fleming “I love you, Renee – come give me a big kiss!”

By: Philip

Philip — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:28:01 +0000

c’est bien d’entendre Simon mais c’est encore mieux de le voir ; il est totalement habité par le rôle.
performance éblouissante !

By: Lucy Turner

Lucy Turner — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 11:39:05 +0000

In reply to Ann Lander, the Met don’t need to produce a DVD! There already is a DVD of this production, made at Barcelona in 2003 with Natalie Dessay as Ophelie (and the alternate ending). Look for details in the “Recordings” section of this website.

By: Ann Lander

Ann Lander — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 20:43:15 +0000

I’ve just been listening to the Met broadcast. What a treat & lovely to hear Simon interviewed in the interval. He wasn’t given much time to catch his breath but his comments were fascinating. I should imaging it’s difficult to come out of character immediately but he’s so professional. Hope he managed to get showered & changed OK!

Margaret Juntwait has said “The entire audience are on their feet” I wish I’d been there & hope the Met produce a DVD.