New Era Brings Buzz (and Big Budgets) to the MET (Title)
“…Finally, there was the company’s premiere production of <a href=»http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/g/philip_glass/index.html?inline=nyt-per»>Philip Glass</a>’s landmark 1980 work, “Satyagraha.” For me, even during the prime creative period that fostered this work, Mr. Glass too often shifted into a default mode of ritualistic repetitions. Still, with Phelim McDermott’s totemic production, the sensitive conducting of Dante Anzolini, an admirable cast and the Met’s stalwart chorus, the opera emerged as a humane, often profound exploration of Gandhi’s courageous and savvy politics of nonviolence. The tenor Richard Croft brought aching poignancy to the role of Gandhi. And in the final performance, the tenor Alan Oke, in his Met debut, was a comparably moving and distinguished Gandhi.
Bringing this timely work to New York audiences was a smart move on Mr. Gelb’s part. Now it’s on to next season, full of his big, and expensive, plans.”
New York Times, Anthony Tommasini, May 21, 2008