Satyagraha.

Bloggers will no doubt be posting their thoughts on the Metropolitan Opera's new production of Philip Glass's Satyagraha any minute now, and the official reviews will surely follow close behind -- there was a lot of press in the house tonight, including critics from Boston, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles.

In a new development for Time Out New York, I'll actually be filing a short formal review on Monday, which will go up on the magazine's website immediately and in the print edition a week later. I can't say that it's the first time TONY has run a review of a currently running opera, but it's the first time it's happened since I became the classical-music editor almost seven years ago. (Giving credit where credit is due, I should mention that Marc Geelhoed did this for the entirety of his tenure at Time Out Chicago -- in New York, it didn't seem to be of much interest to higher-ups until the new, improved website was launched, allowing for greater immediacy.)

Since there is a formal review on the way, I can't go into any detail here for the moment. But there's one thing I'm absolutely burning to say: This is, without question, the most achingly beautiful thing to hit the Met stage since Anthony Minghella's Madama Butterfly (with which it has this in common, of course). More than an effective production, it was an exalting experience. It also earned as huge an ovation as I've ever heard at the Met, with the biggest burst of approval saved for Glass himself.

I also learned something interesting about Los Angeles Times critic Mark Swed tonight: Not only has he now seen all three productions to date of Satyagraha, but he's surely among the very small number of people who have seen all of the Glass operas. Not such a surprise given who we're talking about, but impressive all the same. (Yes, I'm jealous.)

Finally, I take great personal pride in sharing with you a Satyagraha-related item: "A Peacemaker's Puppets," an audio feature conceived and delivered by the famous Dr. LP (a.k.a. my better half), which was broadcast on WNYC-FM Thursday afternoon. This smartly produced story provides some excellent insight into how the new production was imagined and executed. And I had absolutely nothing at all to do with it! Brava.

Comments

[Maury D'Annato]

The roar for Glass was thrilling, wasn't it? I don't think I've heard a bigger ovation, either. Here's hoping that enthusiasm carries over into ticket sales.

[Doug Gary]

Your enthusiasm radiates off the page, Steve, and I am grateful for it. Out here in the Bay Area, one can only hope that David Gockley will opt to present such important works/ productions... I fear that hope will not be enough. Can't wait for your TONY review.

[Bruce Hodges]

Although I'm not much of a Glass fan to date, I'm open to conversion, and your rapture does make me sit up and take notice. I'll be seeing the opera next week, and in the meantime will look forward to your more detailed comments.