parterre box

88 comments

• orlando furioso says:

  Oh jesus fucking christ! What does it take to please you pissy queens? Yes, if he made some statement about how he can finally afford that 75 foot yacht he’s been eying, then by all means, hate away. If he gives the money away to deserving singers and institutions, will that make you happy? I much prefer a wait and see attitude before I get my panties in a bunch. Perhaps, just perhaps, Placido and our beloved Birgit discussed this prize before she died and what he would/could/should do with the money. He doesn’t need the dosh so it would be terrific if he, as someone before me said “pay it forward”

  on February 21, 2009 at 8:53 AM
• Regina delle fate says:

  Ooops – sorry, La Cieca, I missed your answer to armerjaquino re Nilsson & Silja. I bet they hated each other: Birgit probably wanted Anja’s body and Anja might have coveted Birgit’s voice.

  on February 21, 2009 at 11:19 AM
• Inquest O'Reggia says:

  Talking of Domingo, has anyone seen that weird photo of him on the cover of Opera News. Presumably he (or Marta) had approval.

  on February 21, 2009 at 11:40 AM
• Will says:

  One thing that photo tells me is that Domingo’s not “getting work done” or having injections, but that he’s perfectly comfortable to be the age he is, particularly as he remains a vital force in his chosen art. I think it’s a rather coureageous choice of image and, yes, I am very sure he had right of refusal on what was used.

  on February 21, 2009 at 12:12 PM
• iltenoredigrazia says:

  Tiger, many Nobel Prize winners are not wealthy by a long mile. Scientific researchers typically don’t make that much money unless they’ve come up with some patents that lead to major commercial ventures. For many, the money that comes with the Nobel Prize is a fortune. Don’t shortchange many scientific researchers; often they are very dedicated investigators and professors, as well as graduate students, working very hard just for the beauty of it all.

  on February 21, 2009 at 12:26 PM
• doug says:

  someone we could all agree on? mattila!!! she is from the same part of the world, her rep is getting closer and closer to birgit’s, and she is ALWAYS thrilling. plus, she’s got a similar hard-working, no-nonsense attitude.

  i do agree that levine is a likely person … birgit ADORED him.

  on February 21, 2009 at 1:19 PM
• yappy says:

  #67 – armerjacquino, it wasn’t destroyed at all. Thanks for the laugh! I think it’s great to let a well-done comment end on this sophisticated Pratchettesque note.

  And Mr. Domingo will surely find a good cause to donate the money to all by himself.

  on February 21, 2009 at 1:37 PM
• Christian Ocier says:

  Doug, we should also remember that Birgit started some of the Wagnerian roles earlier than Mattila did in her career. As of now, Mattila has only sung Elsa and Eva. Nilsson sang her first big Wagnerian roles in her mid-30s, whereas Mattila has sung only the blonde roles, and she’s already inching very close to 50. I wonder if vocal and performance culture has somehow changed the way singers produce sounds from their throat, and if so, Mattila could perhaps dish out a few good Elisabeths and Sentas in the next couple of years. If she were ambitious, I’d even go out to say that Isolde and Brunnhilde are possibilities, but we have to remember that as a soprano, she may have ten good years from now until then to sing these roles. At least she, unlike Voigt, did not have any drastic operations done to her body as to completely change her vocal apparatus, and unlike Voigt, her repertory is far more versatile. That she can sing Mozart well is an added plus to her skill set that will do her good in the future if she’s looking to target any of these roles.

  on February 21, 2009 at 1:44 PM
• TinaTattletaler says:

  RE: Domingo cover on Opera Snooze

  Tenore finally discovers the joys of the very first successful,
  complete and pain-free constipation medication.

  on February 21, 2009 at 2:54 PM
• cantantelirico says:

  I think he should use the money to clone himself. Then he can sing,conduct and run all the opera companies for all eternity.

  on February 21, 2009 at 3:17 PM