parterre box

84 comments

• Thackeray Gnomey says:

  Once she was a shlepper (or at least a Lucia), now she’s Miss Mazeppa …

  on February 6, 2009 at 5:13 PM
• Thackeray Gnomey says:

  A propos of nothing in particular, take a listen to cadenza just after the 5.00 mark here:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bR-s4qdBpU
  It would be nice if one could make out a word she said elsewhere.

  on February 6, 2009 at 5:38 PM
• Jay says:

  @56, Klingsor2000, I was tempted to say there wouldn’t be bigos Kielbasa at the Met tomorrow. But that would suppositional.

  on February 6, 2009 at 6:22 PM
• CelticGoddess says:

  It can only be McVicar: http://www.positivenation.co.uk/issue90/regulars/artspage/arts_special.htm

  on February 6, 2009 at 7:48 PM
• CelticGoddess says:

  I just want to know – which night was he there???

  on February 6, 2009 at 7:49 PM
• Hans Lick says:

  Gaertner made his Met debut subbing for Kwiecien in Act III of Lucia; he is quite handsome. The incest idea has never struck me as at all reasonable in Lucia; Enrico loves no one but himself. The way Kwiecien sings Act I makes me physically ill because I know what he CAN do with that voice when he’s rational. (In Mozart, i.e.)

  Netrebko should be singing Tsar’s Bride, War & Peace, Betrothal in a Monsatery and Ruslan v Ludmila. Perhaps Snegouroutchka and Life for the Tsar. In a few years, maybe Manon Lescaut, Liu, Leonora and Desdemona.

  on February 6, 2009 at 8:39 PM
• graustark says:

  Isn’t it starting to get a little bit late in the game for all this wishful thinking about Trebs? She is who she is. I’ve seen her five times over the years. It’s always the same deal. She’s superficial.

  on February 6, 2009 at 8:49 PM
• Ronizetti says:

  I might be one of those confused with rooting for Damaru, but truth be told I only mentioned her as she was singing the production previously – simply in deference to someone with coloratura facility at hand ( ie. anyone else but Netbrenko ) Nope, wasn’t there in October for Damaru but you can bet your bippy I WAS there last year for Massis’s LUCIA – as even one of her less ardent fans moaned here, “OK, she’s perfect” * brilliant remark by the way, thank you! She is VERY proficient in Belcanto and in my opinion one of the finest singers of Donizetti since Sills … The question of ‘volume’ of her voice may be discussed ( I did hear her at the Met but agree a smaller house may be more ideal ), but it’s neither a thin or colorless voice, it’s often rather husky – but ALWAYS used appropriately and musically and those notes are SPOT on and can be held for an eternity! She’s powerful, elegant, but most importantly she sing intelligently … WELL TRAINED. ( a charming lady to boot ) I would love to hear her tomorrow, if only! I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings~!

  on February 6, 2009 at 9:00 PM
• armerjacquino says:

  Regina- I think it was Troyanos, not Bumbry, in that Met Don Carlo, no?

  I saw Ricciarelli as Elisabetta at CG in the late 80s and she was unforgettable in Act 5, and unmemorable in the rest of the part. Although that night was all about Baltsa, who was thrilling.

  I don’t see Netrebko as Elisabetta, really. As la Cieca pointed out elsewhere, it’s not that long ago that she was a Susanna and a Zerlina. ‘Non pianger’ would be lovely but I think ‘Tu che le vanita’ and the duet would be a real push.

  I’m surprised that nobody has mentioned Mattila in all this Elisabetta/Elisabeth talk. She’s magnificent in the Paris production on DVD.

  on February 7, 2009 at 8:40 AM
• J. G. Pastorkyna says:

  On February 6, 2009 at 12:32 pm, All-Knowing Seashell whispered: Under Magda Lazslo’s (sp?) direction, the Met’s wig department was an international joke.

  It wasn’t Magda Laszlo (the first Cressida) who was the wigmaster, it was Helen Lawson. I mean Nina Lawson.

  on February 7, 2009 at 8:53 AM