UPDATED! Start the coronation without me
La Cieca hears that Ruth Ann Swenson has withdrawn from her autumn performances of Agrippina at the New York City Opera.
This just in… “replacing” Swenson will be none other than the legendary Nelly Miricioiu! The Romanian diva assoluta is seen here in a 2003 performance of Anna Bolena.
Is it because…
a) she is going into rehab like Lindsey Lohan?
b) she got mad about something?
c) she got a better offer someplace else?
oh no!! I was so looking forward to that, especially after her cleopatra! ah!
I sincerely hope this doesn’t mean that her health is again threatened…LaCieca, do you know the reason?
Oh dear…she’s still on for Faust in two weeks here in Cincinnati. I do hope all is well.
jatm2063, I am more in line thinking with the others – I would be surprised if it was a better offer somewhere else – I seriously hope it is not a health issue. Our hearts are with you RAS!!
Wonderful! I may actually go hear it now.
Any word on who will replace her?
Has she ever sung the role before? If not, perhaps she didn’t have time to learn it because of her recent health problems
I’m posting here since there is just too much activity on the previous post.
This YouTube nonsense needs to STOP. Someone explain why when visiting the http://byonegin.wordpress.com, the site is called “The Gabba Opera (C) 2006-2007 ByOnegin S.L.” – something is very f-ed up here. We’ve got in the previous posting someone with the handle “Gabba02″ apparently ‘revealing’ all the dirt concerning ‘ByOnegin S.L.’ such as the aforementioned website which is in turn named after Gabba?? WTF???
So we have Gabba’s and Oneg(u)ins and Devia-fan’s all caught up into this stupid mix. I’m not accusing, but clearly those are the fundamental screennames involved it seems.
Seriously, the person or persons who are behind this scandal on YouTube are truly pathetic and childish. There is NO reason in the world to act according to this manner – because of opera on YouTube, opera was beginning to have a wider audience – because of these people who have completely sabotaged and ramshackled the system, you are only aiding in the destruction of the operatic art which is already far too widely misunderstood.
I (and I am sure many others here and outside of LaCieca’s kingdom, but those who frequent YouTube) are not interested if you are in Russia or Madrid or the US…just STOP with this nonsense. Share your videos and allow others to share theirs – you are selfish and inconsiderate and juvenile.
As for RAS, isn’t this supposed to be her NYCO debut?? What, is she the reverse career of Bubbles? Sing 20 years at the Met and then cross the plaza to NYCO??? I’m ‘fused. Of course we certainly hope that her cancellation is not due to illness.
Last thought – for all those of you who love Italian opera and have an interest that transcends just listening to and watching it – I HIGHLY recommend a new book that has been published titled “Divas and Scholars” by Philip Gossett.
I am currently reading the work and it is extremely enjoyable and informative! A GREAT resource for performers and afficionado’s alike. It is a wonderful discussion primarily of the performing and editing histories of the music of Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi – discussing how the operas were written, the copyright laws of yesteryear, the involvement of copyists and publishers and the processes that musicologist have had to forge in order to provide us performers and audiences with credible, usable editions of the great Italian repertoire. I’ve only finished the first section of the book and I’m eagerly anticipating the next.
The book reads like a novel – it is not so heavy that only another musicologist can appreciate it – Gossett’s style of writing is fresh and intelligent and inviting to readers of all walks of operatic love and life.
(I love how I just wrote my very first book critique – HAHAHA – but seriously, it’s a great book – READ IT!!!)
Um… What??? Is this another example of the fine singers that NYCO hires????? Am I alone here????