Sediziosa voce poco fa
La Cieca was just recalling that soon after she arrived in New York back in 19-mumble-mumble, she screwed up her courage to audition for that most august of impresarios, Ira Siff of La Gran Scena Opera. Back in those days your doyenne thought she had what it took to be a great prima donna (including the avoirdupois, actually) and so, as they say, sing it she did. Dear Ira showed patience bordering on the masochistic as La Cieca screamed her way through her warhorse arias: “Suicidio”, “Pace, pace mio dio”, “Dich teure Halle,” “Una voce poco fa” and (yes!) “Casta diva.” And would you believe that after this half-hour of torment, the dear man asked quietly, “So do you have anything else prepared?”
Well, looking back on it now (as well as she can remember) La Cieca realizes that in fact, she didn’t have anything prepared, particularly the “Casta diva,” and so ended your doyenne’s lyric career. (The rest of the story you know: as a frustrated performer, she naturally became a critic.)
Now, where was I going with this? Oh, yes. The lovely and talented Beau (you know him from the comments) has prepared for you, cher public, an audio quiz on a Norma theme. Here are 11 singers performing “Casta diva.” If you can identify them, send your answer to lacieca@parterre.com; the first correct entry wins the traditional amazon.com gift certificate. If none of you get all 11 correct (as if!) La Cieca will choose a winner from the entries with the most correct. The contest will end on Friday, February 8 at midnight.
GENCER? Really? wow, that surprised me.
The one that has me completely stumped is no. 4. I know the thrust on that voice but I can not place it!
Eva Marton for number 4…did she ever sing Norma though?
I would like to submit these names for the Casta Contest. I may be coming from far out in left field buts let’s see: 1 Gina Cigna; 2 Miss Verrett; 3. Dame Joan; 4 Rosa Ponselle; 5. Zinka Milanov; 6.
Scotto; 7. Gruberova; 8. Bartoli; 9. Sills; 10. Fleming; 11. the divine Caballe. Thanks, Domino
Lucky Pierre, you can. Can I help?
no way, that’s not ponselle for number four
Saving the best for last… Caballe.
Please don’t post complete lists here, it was supposed to be a quiz.
Now, my right eye is looking at Jonas Kaufmann’s picture to the left, and my left eye at the discussion of Sutherland’s vowel (not vowels!) to the right, so may I digress a bit please. When questioned about that unique, flannel-gray vowel of hers, Dame Joan would summon Dickie, and Dickie would say, oh, but haven’t you read Garcia? Poor Dickie never got it that the whole trick is about singing one vowel and letting the audience hear seven.
Now where does Mr Kaufmann come in. Listening to his Romantic Arias, I could not help noticing what beautiful e and E and o and O he produces when singing in his native tongue, and how he resorts to generic vowels when singing Italian. I wish someone could tell him, because he would be capable of singing a more beautiful Italian than many Italian tenors if he only cared.
My list:
1.Leyla Gencer
2.Shirley Verrett
3.Joan Sutherland
4.Grace Bumbry
5.Zinka Milanov
6.Renata Scotto
7.Montserrat Caballé
8.Cecilia Bartoli
9.Beverly Sills
10.Renee Fleming
11.Dimitra Theodossiou
this is another great one La Cieca;
Got Gencer-Verrett-Sutherland…#4 ? and 5 is Milanov. #6 sounds like Lucia Aliberti? and of course Bartoli #8 who has no business singing this!