A neglected opera: ‘Benvenuto Cellini’

It is always thrilling to attend the premiere of a neglected work in a house like the Met. I should say that the Met is not the only important company to neglect this opera by Berlioz, in fact it has been neglected anywhere. I have to say this is somehow unfair. In my not always humble opinion, Berlioz created very fine music for this juvenile work, music that is partially known to any aficionado to music. When 'Teresa' and 'Cellini' sing their love duet of Act I, with asides by 'Fieramosca', they do it to a famous melody heard in the concert overture that the French composer made out of the main themes of the opera. I have to say that heard in the context of the opera, the melody is even more interesting and beautiful.A probable reason to neglect this opera is the very high degree of difficulty of its music. Berlioz employs every…