parterre box

151 comments

• Cassandra says:

  The apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree r140.

  I’m not going to say anything else about her.

  on January 29, 2009 at 11:47 AM
• balabanov11 says:

  while her father is a hateful, crazy, homophobic right-wing NUTJOB (and I’d argue against the arguement that he’s respected in congress – he’s known as a nutjob there as well), if Sarah is as homophobic as an above poster has claimed, well, to me that would be a great way to kill your opera career in the US. NOT that the US opera world is a hotbed of support for gay liberation – it’s not. But you are going to be working with a LOT of gay men in the opera world (I know, big news) – managers, publicists, music staff, admin. staff, dramatic staff, wardrobe, makeup, etc., and being known as a homophobe is not going to win you many fans backstage.

  on January 29, 2009 at 11:52 AM
• kashania says:

  I just listened to Sarah Coburn’s Lucie clips and really liked what I heard. There’s a shimmering quality to her tone that reminds me a bit of Sills. And she has the coloratura chops.

  on January 29, 2009 at 11:58 AM
• high c's pirate says:

  re posting no. 51: “Sills had the most vicious viper tongue in private about singers and thought no one, especially Joan, better than herself.”

  that may be. i didn’t know beverly sills. but here’s what she had to say to an interviewer in opera magazine (dec. 2006):

  “When asked about today’s singers, Sills speaks with enthusiasm of Renee Fleming and Natalie Dessay. ‘Nobody is making more beautiful sounds today than Fleming, nobody.’ Of Dessay’s Ophelie in Hamlet, she remarks, ‘she’s my kind of singer, a real singing actress — phenomenal.’ ”

  as for sills’ supposed special contempt for joan sutherland, in the same article sills is quoted as saying sutherland had “the voice of the century.”

  anyone looking for a “vicious viper tongue” about current singers — or safely dead ones — is in the right place here.

  on January 29, 2009 at 2:16 PM
• Sarah Coburn says:

  Hello all…Just curious who Cassandra is, since this person seems to know me so well. I usually avoid reading any kinds of posts like this, but my mother-in-law (of all people!) informed me of this thread, and I am not afraid to write my REAL name and defend myself. I do not mind criticism of my singing; that comes with the job. Personal slander is another story. Back up your malice with details, please.

  on April 1, 2009 at 9:49 PM
• plucky says:

  Sarah, I thoroughly commend your attempts to ascertain that particular poster’s identity, because he/she is one of the most mean-spirited, clearly embittered individuals to contribute to this blog. If in the time it takes me to write and post this, he/she reveals himself/herself, then my bad, but I think you will likely be waiting a long time. The bullies around here are absolute cowards when it comes down to it, I guess that’s self-evident. But, good for you for putting people like Cassandra on the spot! This site needs to start holding itself accountable for some of what goes on here. It’s not as if La Cieca is an anonymous entity. Far from it. I think some moderation may be in this blog’s future, though I won’t hold my breath waiting for that, either. I guess if the consequences become severe enough concessions will occur, however. Btw, why are people saying Beczala is going to step into the L’Elisir now? Massimo didn’t cut the mustard? This is what people meant by the pressure of those HD’s….the MET keeps floundering in the face of these casting predicaments. Just let Massimo do it.

  on April 1, 2009 at 10:36 PM
• plucky says:

  Hilarious, they seem to have fallen silent!!!!!!!!!!!!! What idiots. Nothing to say, ANY OF YOU? Well, Sarah, you have accomplished what no one has been able to do, ever! They must be hiding on another thread….

  on April 1, 2009 at 10:38 PM
• Gualtier Maldè says:

  First of all, let me say that I have only praise for Sarah Coburn’s singing and have had the pleasure of doing so in print.

  How many of us have relatives, close relatives whose attitudes or politics we don’t share or are actually actively embarassing to us? Especially older relatives. I mean I have had to endure silently my late father spouting the word faggot in my presence while I had to eat silently.

  How do we handle it? Am I enjoined to publicly denounce him and distance myself from my father? I had a relationship with him that had to be kept in a balance. Some people publicly oppose their parents, others feel that it is a private family matter and must be dealt with in that fashion.

  These attacks on the lovely and talented Sarah Coburn have a lot of insinuation but very little factual information to back them up. Even if Sarah doesn’t like homosexuals, blacks, liberals or communists if she manages to work with them in a respectful and civil professional manner, is she to be publicly crucified? Has she been slighting to her non-white, non-evangelican christian even god help us liberal colleagues?

  The fact that she doesn’t publicly denounce her father or his politics may come from her Southern background and her sense of discretion.

  But her relationship with her father is her private business and the only parties accountable are within her family. Everything else is nobody’s business. Just like what is between married people. no one outside should feel entitled to judge or criticize. It is between the two parties involved.

  on April 1, 2009 at 10:46 PM
• plucky says:

  Very classy response, Mr. Malde. You did your fellow bloggers proud on that one.

  on April 1, 2009 at 10:56 PM
• mj says:

  I have no idea who is singing the rest of the Elisirs but I think Giordano is scheduled to sing in Munich soon so he is probably not available for the whole run. I have a ticket for the 11th and the Met website is still listing Villazon for that date.

  on April 1, 2009 at 10:56 PM