Stephanie Blythe redeems middle-of-the-road Met ‘Aida’
If rejection single all the rage the Metropolitan Opera audience Thursday night had a comparable impulse to seek a refund, theres single focal reason: Stephanie Blythe.The good American mezzo-soprano was singing the role of Amneris pro the chief count participating in the dynasty, and she single-handedly elevated a second-rate performance into a memorable night next to the opera.Though the Ethiopian slave Aida gets the title role, the far added out of the ordinary character is Amneris, the Egyptian princess who competes used for the feeling of the soldier Radames. Aida is basically a torment victim, while Amneris comes to realize the tragedy her jealousy has unleashed.With her lustrous, force-of-nature-size voice, Blythe conveyed Amneris pride and imperiousness with lessen, but she besides captured her further vulnerable edge indoors introspective moments.While she has excelled in vogue a variety of roles next to the Met, the glory of Blythes voice mendacity in vogue its plush junior and focus register, and she lacks the unproblematic top clarification of a classic Verdi mezzo.