Rossini: Le Comte Ory

"It was a conflation of two entirely different works. ... Yet Rossini worked a kind of miracle. When 'Le Comte Ory' had its premiere at the Paris Opera in 1828 ... it was rightly hailed as one of Rossini’s wittiest and most seamless and sophisticated works. ... It had never been presented at the Metropolitan Opera until Thursday night. ... The terrific cast was headed by the tenor Juan Diego Flórez as Ory, who spends much of the first act disguised as a hermit and much of the second impersonating a nun, all in an absurd attempt to ensnare a resistant young countess, Adèle. ... Mr. Flórez sang Ory to acclaim at the Rossini Festival in Pesaro in 2003, a performance recorded live on Deutsche Grammophon. On Thursday he sang with pliant phrasing, nimble runs and easy high C’s. ... He received an enormous ovation. We probably have him to thank for inspiring the Met to present 'Le Comte Ory'" (Anthony Tommasini, "A Lively, Stylish Met Debut for Rossini's Last Comic Opera," New York Times, 3/25/11).
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