Janice Baird as Isolde debuts tonight!

There has not been a performance of this Metropolitan Opera run of Tristan und Isolde that has played with a complete scheduled cast. Tonight is no exception. Tonight we have another debut. This time Deborah Voigt is out and taking her place is American soprano Janice Baird.

Ms. Baird comes with great credentials from Europe, where she sang a stunning Isolde in Rome as well as an unforgettable Salome in Paris. She is also scheduled to sing the role of Brünnhilde in the new Ring scheduled to open in Seattle, a role that she has sung extensively in Seville's Teatro de la Maestranza, La Fenice, Venice and the Deutsche Oper, Berlin She is a former mezzo, and most reviewers make a point of mentioning that, since it is a distinctive trademark of her dark voice. However, her high notes are supposed to be right on the money, so we will see.

Ben Heppner (remember him?) is due to appear tonight. Again, let us see what kind of shape he is in. I am sure that Gary Lehman will be in the wings, in costume, just in case.

I think that it is going to be an interesting evening. If anything, an Isolde debut is always exciting. I will report about how the evening went soon.