Princess Fire and Music
“Not since Delia Rigal,” comments one of La Cieca’s regular correspondents, referring to the ongoing (not to mention inscrutable) publicity juggernaut for soprano Erika SunnegÃ¥rdh. Now she’s headlining a revised concert program for the Met Orchestra at Carnegie Hall on May 14. According to an “URGENT” press release sent out yesterday, La SunnegÃ¥rdh will be heard in three operatic excerpts by Puccini, Mozart and Wagner. Her assisting artists on the program, Ben Heppner and Rene Pape, each will sing two arias. Changes to the original roster for this concert include James Conlon substituting for James Levine, Giacomo Puccini for Johannes Brahms, and Piotr Illitch Tchaikowsky for Charles Wuorinen. That’s at a $155 top, by the way. See you there?
I think that there’s something else at work here with Ms. Sunnegardh’s extraordinary press coverage. The press cover things that will draw readers. It’s that simple. Ms. Sunnegardh’s story is a great human interest story that has broad appeal.
It’s easy to forget that most of America don’t care about the Met, opera, classical music, or who should be getting press coverage because of their artistry. This, to them, is a story of someone working hard, holding a vision, believing in themselves, and getting that rare break. The Met stands for something, even for someone who’s idea of singing is Faith Hill. It’s as simple as that. I doubt that even “The Machine” can really generate publicity like this without that factor.
Many singers in the past have benefited from press like this. The press wasn’t interested in Callas because of her singing (at least not in the US). They were interested because she was the fancy trophy of the richest man in the world, she lost him to a president’s widow, she had a famous temper, and most importantly, she was constantly rejecting them (reporters). Nothing interests the press like trying to shut it out.
Just a thought…
Now if she can just hook up with Renaaay’s PR team, she’ll be everywhere in 12 months. Interesting about her being so poor and all that. She actually lives (and has lived) in Riverdale for about two years now, I heard. Toscanini lived there and Roberta Peters lives there still. Not a cheap place at all. How did she afford it on a waitress’ pay?