the end
La Cieca really, really doesn’t like to say this, but the truth seems to be staring us in the face, so here goes. We have seen the last of Rolando Villazón at the Met. Even though he’s announced as having canceled only the first two performances of Elisir, it’s pretty clear that he’s just not able or willing (or both?) to get his voice and confidence into solid enough shape to appear in New York.
Nemorino is (as tenor roles go) not a particularly difficult sing, and it’s a role that’s always been central to his repertoire. But now it appears Villazón can’t sing even Nemorino up to Met standards, which means he basically can’t sing anything.
As a friend of La Cieca said on the phone a few minutes ago, “It never happens to the ones you want it to happen to,” and, sadly, that’s the case here.
if you sing for years the wrong parts(carlos, jose etc) and you sing the way he did, then you could hear it for some years that there will be problems and now listen to the new händel cd you will understand what it is going on.
Thank you, La Cieca, for setting the tone for the discussion of this probable, and very sad, outcome to Villazon’s career.
I cherish the many times I saw him, including in recital in Orange County.
Truly, I am devastated.
definitely agreed that there are problems, but what do you hear going on in the handel cd? the voice doesn’t sound in that bad shape to me on it, though he seems to avoid anything high-lying.
when was that recorded? Maybe that is the rep he should be singing and not Don Carlos.
Very, very sad. I hope he finds a way to pull things back together in a year or two.
Don’t fret -there is always Beczala
the only good tenor around and what’s more an artist .
This is sad indeed. I think that he is still young enought to retool his voice and bring it back to health. I hope to see his return one day.
Kashinia, along the line of your posting, I feel it is never too late to work on one’s voice — Ramey still studies with his life-long teacher. BUT, “attitude is all,” and everything I’ve heard about Sr. Villazon suggests he has a severe problem with accepting criticism, correction, ideas and discipline in the vocal sudio. And I also know teachers and others in the profession who say the same about Filionotti — so who is in trouble among tenors? You got it!!!
Villazon is a tenorino, a tiny little man, half-crazy and interesting, but should sing in houses no larger than 1200-seats, and should not sing dramatic repertory, but he does not accept the truth – so much for him. Yes, it IS sad. Next?
Something tells me the WNYC News Room reads Parterre…they just had a news item about Brewer and Villazon.
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