parterre box

104 comments

• FRANCES ALDA IN THE BEYOND says:

  Obviously Mme. Claggart was stiffed with a check by Miss Resnik at Bifi Scala between his morning of gallery-going with Thielemann’s then-boyfriend and his afternoon listening to unreleased Maria Carbone records at Muti’s villa.

  Never one to reach for a scalpel when a bazooka (given by Mascagni himself to his great-uncle who had slept with Giulia Tess ) will do…

  on April 5, 2008 at 2:26 PM
• harry says:

  Evenhanded, is it me or you, that is mad, when you stated ………” where RR belongs (even though I would prefer to hear Della Jones in the part).”

  Jeepers you could drive a truck through Della Jones’ wobble,and have plenty of room to spare!. How many promising recordings has that woman wrecked?

  on April 5, 2008 at 4:05 PM
• harry says:

  It do not matter whether some star was considered ‘bigger or smaller’ in Ruropania or Tim- Buc-Too; that says nothing nor does it make a voice.

  on April 5, 2008 at 4:11 PM
• mrsjohnclaggart says:

  Why Frances Alda, I’m hurt and paralyzed as I always am when an idiot (either anonymous or like Daniel Tritter) makes a moronic attack on me. Yes, I have lived all these years and not learned how many stupid fools there are in the world. Indeed, I have also learned that some of them jealous. And it’s odd that these people who attack contribute NOTHING to this site or any like it. I’m sure some of my posting annoys bright people, but they contribute their impressions of a given topic. Poor dear, that is as beyond you as good Italian, interpretive insight and the inability to resist a hard dick was beyond your namesake.

  on April 5, 2008 at 6:35 PM
• mrsjohnclaggart says:

  Be greeted O Bill. I didn’t see your comments, I’ll look for them — we were really going down memory lane! I hadn’t thought of Nadine Connor in YEARS!!!!!!

  on April 5, 2008 at 7:47 PM
• Famous Quickly says:

  “Tutti gabatti!”

  on April 5, 2008 at 11:10 PM
• Evenhanded says:

  Well.

  Harry – crazy? Well, not most of the time, no.

  My comment about Della Jones was sarcastic, though I do admire her singing very much. I have heard a range of criticisms of her singing over the years, but having a wobble? That’s a new one. Unless she developed one late in life, I’ve never heard it, and I have probably most of her recordings. She is a fine artist, with a voice and style that may not be to all tastes. But, she does not wobble. Perhaps you’re thinking of Gwyneth-the-great?

  on April 6, 2008 at 12:05 PM
• Sanford says:

  MrsJC, You’re a hoot! But I’m not sure what my comments are worth considering how stupid and boring they are. You know, that reminds me of the time I walked out on Grace singing Ernani. Have I ever told that story?

  on April 6, 2008 at 12:32 PM
• Baryton francais says:

  ROFL Sanford…

  on April 6, 2008 at 12:36 PM
• J. G. Pastorkyna says:

  Della Jones never had a wobble. She had disjointed registers and a hoarse top, but the pulp of the voice was always firm.

  She also had a fun temperament. The first time I heard her I thought she would be as exciting as a second Baltsa (and I’m not saying this entirely sarcastically). But she was more like a second Monica Sinclair.

  These voices that stretch the rubber band (Baltsa, Della, Huguette, Elena…) tend to lose their middle. The careers go straight from “promising” to “veteran for whom we must be indulgent,” or worse. It’s frustrating – for me – when a singer has no real “prime” to her career.

  on April 6, 2008 at 1:35 PM