rolando furioso?
La Cieca hears the distressing news from Paris that Rolando Villazon was advised by his current management to cancel his March appearances as Werther in order to “rest and refresh the voice,” but as of today is still planning to go on in the Massenet opera. Villazon’s appearances in Paris run through March 18, leaving a gap of less than two weeks between his final performance there and his first Nemorino here in New York.
UPDATE: Per the Opéra National de Paris website, VIllazon has canceled the first performance of the Werther revival but still plans to sing the remaining repetitions beginning March 3.Â
Perhaps even more disturbing is the report that Villazon has marked almost the entire rehearsal period, so nobody can really say at this point whether he can sing the Werther or not.
Apparently it has been made clear to the tenor that, after the recent rocky Lucia,  his entire future Met career stands or falls upon the Elisir revival beginning March 31. In the meantime, La Cieca hears, Villazon has been shopping around for new French representation that would handle exclusively concert and crossover work.
La Cieca certainly hopes that the rumors are wrong, and that Villazon will pull himself together both for Paris and New York, but, well, she’s not completely optimistic. In the meantime, La Cieca will be very interested to hear reports on tomorrow’s first night Tuesday’s performance of Werther.
@110 The arrogance and greed of that agency is legendary. Their understanding of voice is questionable. Sorry if you trust “the boys”, but many in this business do not. As for the rest of the management involved in his career, they aren’t blameless either.
Rolando, take care of yourself.
I don’t know if this has been noted above or not, but there is a recording of Werther with Villazon scheduled for June. Garanca is the Charlotte. If that goes ahead, it’ll speak volumes about whether he really is unequivocally screwed, vocally, or whether he is reacting badly to the pressure of live performance.
On a related note, who started that rumour that the Pappano Butterfly is the last ever studio opera set? If recording executives think another recording of Werther is called for at this point, things can’t be as bad as they seem.
Cocky Kurwenal , EMI set off the same ‘last studio complete opera recording’ rumor about the studio recording of Domingo’s Tristan with Pappano. Perhaps it is a marketing hype they use. How cares? We have enough vastly superior versions of these operas collected over the years to last our lifetimes. Unless I see something at red hot bargain bin prices, I might want to listen to, , new CDs stay on the shop shelves. The record companies lost interest in producing, I lost interest in buying. It is rather complimentary in some ways.
I think the broad consensus here : a division of those that do not want to speak ill if RV’s voice condition at any cost ‘because they think he is the best tenor since the invention of sliced bread…he sells lots of tickets…and therefore cannot do no wrong…and because other people are just jealous’
OR
.. those that recognize he is in trouble, and are genuinely concerned how he tends to push his voice at levels, he is incapable of sustaining for much longer.
We hear how thrilling he is. Hearing his technique, you scream “At what cost?”
I agree with the latter view. How many other singers have we made sad predictions about, and unfortunately seen them come true? Those singers setting themselves up for a ‘full on crisis collision’. RV is well and truly on that path. It must be frightening trying to deny to yourself,you are about to slip off the ‘high wire’ of fame with the spotlights shining up. Hope there is a safety net of comfort in place. No malice intended.
I’m tired of people saying we are jealous of RV. Who wants to be in his shoes?? Certainly not me or any singer!
We are defending Opera as an art form from products like him and Netrebko who do a disservice to it. The bar has been lowered in the Opera world and there is a lot of disrespect followed by standing ovations from ignorant audiences.
When I see RV cracking, wearing a baseball cup, singing with mr bean΄s teddy bear on stage and all of his clowning while singing Elixir of Love I can only think RIP Donizetti…
Apparently Villazon sang yesterday – according to a Villazonista “absolument superbe!!!” Was anyone present? And how did Susan Graham do?
http://rolandovillazon.blogspot.com/
Yeah, well, for the “Villazonistas” RV is and will always be “absolument superbe”… (yes, they all have severe hearing impairments).
I’d suggest you wait for oficial reviews from knowledgable critics.
Answer to puhleese:
Yes, a certain audience responds to RV. Certainly not the one with knowledge of the art of singing and respect for Opera.
Yes, he sells tickets. There is a lot of marketing behind him if you haven’t noticed. RV was becoming a brand.(Unfotunately now a synonym for craking and unhealthy vocal technique).
“His musicality and phrasing are second to none”???
OMG! You’ve gotta be kidding me!! Have you ever heard some singers by the names Gigli, Kraus, Pavarotti, Caruso, Schipa…? I think you need to educate yourself.
Again, the reasons behind RV’s success is all the marketing behind; He is a product (one with very limited talent).
Yes, he’s got something special. He is certainly energetic, temperamental, dramatic, etc. Unfortunately to be an Opera singer you need first and foremost the voice.
(Pavarotti wasn’t a great actor yet he is one of the best tenors of all times).