Hello, Mister Wilson!
The most startling news from tomorrow’s press conference at the Met (as released early to the New York Times) — in 2011, a new production of Bellini’s Norma, starring Renee Fleming and directed by Robert Wilson. The casting of Cecilia Bartoli as Adaligisa is La Cieca’s own whimsy, but, hey, stranger things have happened. (For example, a Wilson/Fleming Norma…)
UPDATE: The role of Adalgisa in the Fleming/Wilson Norma scheduled for 2011 will not, as La Cieca puckishly suggested, be sung by Cecilia Bartoli. In fact she has just been informed by one of her most impeccable sources that the part will go to El?na Garan?a.
And in other exclusive Decca recording artist/avant-garde legend related news, the Schwartz gallery at the Met is awaiting installation of a Robert Wilson “video portrait” of La Fleming. La Cieca will inform you when the Wilson film makes it on to YouTube.
I don’t really hate the woman at all, but am I the only one that thinks the velvet is fast coming off the voice? The penultimate high b on Saturday sounded like a scream to these ears and the voice just sounds harder and more and more under pitch of late. She is getting older, it happens to us all..but if the voice ages at the rate I perceive, then I cannot imagine a Norma by that date, leaving aside whether it is the right rep for her or not.
“am I the only one that thinks the velvet is fast coming off the voice? “
Yes, you are.
Oh delicious. I hope she will interpolate the high D’s a la Callas. Maybe that would be a voice killer?
If only…
i mean….maybe by 2011 the voice will have hardened enough and grown large enough to do a passable norma….perhaps her high notes will remain intact also, as they have so far. And who knows maybe she will learn how to sing in true italiante bel canto style by 2011? I guess i’m just giving her the benefit of the doubt. Though Robert Wilson…not a chance his production will be anything less than norma making her entrance on a tank ala scotto in germany or some other eurotrash bs.
Actually, I think a Wilson production for La Fleming is a very good idea. I am sorry to say to her fans out there, but the woman can’t act to save her life. A static production a la Lohengrin is just what she needs. That we can all just focus on the “beautiful” voice.
It harkens back to Mr. Miller’s frustration with her theatrical abilities during the Figaros – “I see resting against walls” “I see the Countess reclining…motionless during the Porgi Amor”
Wilson: “I see you as a druid edifice…motionless as if Norma were a Cybele like statue issuing forth incantations and curses” “In your catatonic state the druids will hoist you upon the pyre”
She certainly couldn’t be worse than Eaglen…but then again…
“”am I the only one that thinks the velvet is fast coming off the voice? “
Yes, you are.”
No, he isn’t. And it’s not only velvet that is leavinge Ms. Fleming’s voice: legato has abandoned her for quite a while by now and good taste, that simple “it” so needed to master belcanto repertoire, never inhabit that body!
I defy anyone who has seen Onegin to tell me that Fleming can’t act. It was a gorgeous performance. And I’m far from the only one who thinks so.
Maybe a bit of the velvet is coming off Fleming’s voice. She’s entering her late-40s now so it’s not that surprising. I actually think that her voice sounds less “phlegmy” than before which is a good thing my book. Her final high note was not covered but it wasn’t a scream either. In the clip they showed from the rehearsal, her high note was velevety, except that it was flat. During the performance, the note was not flat but also not covered. So what?
Anyway, the thought of a Bob Wilson is just too much. I love La Cieca’s comment about stranger things having happened. LOL.
The last time I heard Renee sound really great was in 2000 in Rosenkavalier. It was beautiful, luscious, GORGEOUS, musical, and all things good and great.
Fast forward to Rusalka in 2004, and everything since, and I just can’t see HOW ON EARTH she could DREAM of doing Norma. I really hope I’m wrong, because it is so sad to see her singing so badly with OBVIOUSLY no one to tell her how to fix it. The tragedy of life on the road. (note* I actually accidentally just wrote ‘life on the toad’. It makes me laugh to picture Renee Fleming being addicted to licking hallucinogenic frogs.)
As much as Renee apparently loves the Italian rep, she needs to know that she’s not very good in it. She should stick to things she does well, like her Tatiana. I’m certainly not looking forward to her Norma.