Word: conductor
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...triumphant Dr. Miracle, who has just caused the poor Antonia to sing herself to death. In one of the chanciest bits of operatic stagecraft seen in New York in years, Dr. Miracle miraculously pops up on the outer rail of the orchestra pit, towers spectacularly over the conductor, and laughs his final laugh of evil victory...
...balance, too, the Choir excelled. Rather than a collection of sopranos with others, it was a true equality of vocal parts so necessary to Bach's complex polyphony. Richter generally chose legato articulation, but the choir handled the staccato Pleni sunt coeli passage with case. The attention paid their conductor is yet another point: Richter varied his tempi suddenly, but singers and orchestra followed right along...
Richter is not an exciting conductor to watch, but he does communicate his enthusiasm to players and audience. From the very start it was clear that he was not afraid to build long phrases. The last chorus, Dona nobis pacem, was begun slowly but picked up speed in a controlled manner leading to a majestic conclusion...
...attention paid to details might well be a lesson for American ensembles. As soon as Richter turned from the audience to the performers, the music began--no tuning was done with the conductor on stage. The chorus stood up and sat noiselessly with no bother about scores or seats. Small matters, no doubt, but these were further aspects of the group's proud professionalism...
...about the production. His widow Marit also contributed valuable detail (since Gentele had not wanted Jose or Carmen to be pitied, she suggested that Jose should not kneel or sob over Carmen's body). It then fell to Stage Director Bodo Igesz, recruited from the Met staff, and Conductor Leonard Bernstein to put the various pieces together...