parterre box

39 comments

• manou says:

  Note a propos rehearsals that Olivero says she debuted (age 65) in Tosca at the Met without any rehearsal whatsoever, not knowing the production, the tenor, the conductor or even the theatre. She then had a 40 minute ovation….

  on March 27, 2009 at 2:42 PM
• The Logical Tenor says:

  I am so glad to see this. I have always loved Magda and have nothing but the greatest respect for this great artist. To be so lucid at this age is marvelous, such wealth of knowledge and memories!

  on March 27, 2009 at 3:16 PM
• Amnerees says:

  Manou (#11)

  In Act II, it was obvious that Olivero had had no rehearsal. At one point, she disappeared behind a sofa, and she and the conductor couldn’t see one another. The “Vissi d’arte” was really touch-and-go. In Act III, however, she was sensational. Her high C (or is it a C-sharp?) in the “Trionfa” duet was brilliant, and the rest of the act continued as though she had directed the show.

  RE: the 40-minute ovation. The house was full of Olivero fans from Texas, wearing pastel-colored gabardine suits with bell-bottomed trousers. I was told they chartered jets to come to the performance. They certainly were noisy.

  on March 27, 2009 at 3:22 PM
• manou says:

  Amnerees (13)

  She did say that the ovation was not normal applause, but really a sign of affection, a way of saying “we had been waiting for you all this time”.

  on March 27, 2009 at 3:27 PM
• dyby says:

  Not many singers can say that a composer asked them to come out of retirement to sing a role he composed because he thought no one could do it better and wanted to hear her sing it one more time. Speaks volumes of this woman’s Adriana!
  Great artist. Happy Birthday.

  on March 27, 2009 at 3:33 PM
• manou says:

  dyby (15)

  Isn’t Dessay in constant communication with Bellini?

  on March 27, 2009 at 3:35 PM
• alexythymia says:

  Thank You so much for posting this. Olivero is the queen, and she’s gonna make 100.

  on March 27, 2009 at 3:42 PM
• Sanford says:

  Dessay can’t get the phone out of Treb’s hand. Trebs is talking to Donizetti.

  on March 27, 2009 at 3:53 PM
• CasualOpera Fan says:

  I am going to feel soooooo bad when this woman finally passes on!!!

  on March 27, 2009 at 4:18 PM
• Amnerees says:

  Manou,
  Correcion: Tosca’s high C comes earlier in Act III: “Io quella LA—ma gli planta,” not in the “Trionfa” duet. Ma scusi. I repeat: Olivero nailed it brilliantly. And her apostrophe to Scarpia in the final moments was amazing.

  on March 27, 2009 at 4:18 PM