Stella for star
Just a few quick words about the magnificent soprano Antonietta Stella, the “tie-breaker” in our recent quiz. She is perhaps not quite so familiar to some of La Cieca’s readers as the more celebrated divas also heard on the track such as Tebaldi and Price. La Cieca will quote her dear colleague Enzo Bordello, who wrote eloquently about this singer in 1998:
“. . . her 1957 broadcast performance [of Tosca] with Tucker and Warren is sensational. The voice is confidently produced, with plenty of healthy, glowing tone. She tosses off the role’s many high B’s and C’s like they were child’s play….
“The long and the short of the matter is that I simply adore Antonietta Stella. What did she do well, you ask? Well, I would reframe the question this way: what did she NOT do well? Although I never saw Stella in the theater, I can honestly say that few singers have thrilled me as much as she on records and video. At its best, the voice represents the highest standard of Italian lirico-spinto singing. There is a morbidezza in the sound that is ravishing. In addition to producing focused high notes, Stella sang with unforced resonance in the lower register. The legato is melting and her pianiszimo singing ranks with the best of anyone.”
Mrs. John Claggart:
Are you Albert Innaurato, if you do not mind my asking?
The sole reason I ask is because your voice and writing is identical to Albert Innaurato’s remarks on Opera List.
You do not need to answer if you do not want to, and I ask out of respect and admiration.
All the best to you, and in no way do I intend to offer offense.
How could I take offense — however I think Mrs. John Claggart is so much nicer a name, don’t you? Easier to pronounce too! But thanks for sounding friendly? On opera-L I am such a enema to people!!!
Anyway I want to clarify that I meant Scotto’s FIRST Boheme and Traviata not the remakes (though I alone of all humans am very fond of the later Traviata with Muti, Kraus and Bruson. However, even so I wouldn’t say she sounds ‘sweet’ on it!!!!).
Mrs. John Claggart:
Thank you.
Yes, some of those persons over at the Opera List are incredibly nasty.
Sometimes, I think that a few of the posters need to be horse-whipped.
Mr. Douglas (“dramma per musica”) and Mr. Camner (every performance he has ever attended, and every performer he has ever heard, were the best ever) are unbelievable.
I am glad that you take them on.
Thank you again.
Anrew
I’ve always felt Stella would have been a huge star today, but was something of an also-ran in her day. This recording prooves me wrong.
I am loving this repartee, and thank you Mrs. John Claggart, for the recommendation of the “Fanciulla” from Tokyo–I’m weeping! I am not that familiar with Ms. Stella’s work, but I will now seek out more examples of it–Thank you, La Cieca, for highlighting this fine artist! (BTW, Is Ms. Stella still with us? Teaching somewhere, or…?)
Cieca Dahling,
I love the thread on La Stella. I’ve been a life long opera fan but did not discover her until now, thanks to Charles Handelthang’s Podcasts. She had a beautiful voice and I love her, but I realize why she was eclipsed in her day. She is not the Artist that Tebaldi or Price or Callas was: She thrills never-the-less. I initially guessed her as the final Diva in your very clever Vissi d’arte clip, but stumbled badly on the first Diva, how I could have mistaken La Muzio, whom I ADORE, for Ponselle escapes me!
Keep up the Great Work. I love it all!
Earnest