gelb gives up “ghosts”
Official word from the Met concerning rumored cutbacks in next season is that Ghosts of Versailles is to be replaced with a revival of Traviata, rolling over Angela Gheorghiu and Thomas Hampson. No word on what happens to Kristen Chenoweth, but Peter Gelb promises that the new productions are going ahead as scheduled. [via NYT]
Too bad, I was looking forward to seeing it live. Can’t remember, did Gheorghiu ever end up doing this Traviata at the Met? Wasn’t this the production she & Roberto backed out of?
Bummer, indeed.
dcrazmo, where have you been?
Yes, Madame DID sing Violetta at the Met. Yes, in the Zef production, but without Alagna. She did it in 2006 and then for one night the following year.
dont worry about Kristin Chenowith… shes “Pop-u-u-lar” and will be okay…
Maybe Chenoweth can sing Flora…transposed UP into her squeaky soprano…with a mic.
I say where there’s smoke there’s fire. I don’t believe that in the present economic atmosphere, they are going to do all those new productions unless they can rent some of them and make the bottom line more interesting to the Board.
chanteuse: Had a momentary lapse. But, you know, Angie doesn’t keep track of my schedule, don’t know why I should be expected to keep track of hers!
I wonder how far Corigliano was with his rewrite of the roles for Chen. and Hamp. I for one am pleased with the change, for one reason only: TRAVIATA is a very great work. I haven’t heard Angela do Violetta
[accidentally sent]
yet, but the energy between her and Hampson in act 2 should be interesting, I’d think.
Opening night this season reminded me what a great act that is. Hearing it isolated from the first and third was a revelation.
No doubt the second act is the best part of Traviata. The Violetta/Germont scene is one of Verdi’s finest.
Maybe they can get Chenowith to hide behind the furniture in Act I and pop out at the end of “Sempre libera” to provide the E-flat that Gherghiou doesn’t have.
Chenoweth no longer has a reliable Eb either…so it would be a chancy move. She would look like one of the “muppets”.