parterre box

69 comments

• aristotle incarnate says:

  If anyone is interested, I’ve uploaded Calleja’s “una furtiva lagrima” to zshare, from my recording of tonight’s performance. Here’s the link.

  http://www.zshare.net/audio/5905376412c8a844/

  Enjoy!!

  on April 23, 2009 at 12:45 AM
• aristotle incarnate says:

  btw, it’s like monkey see monkey do with the Met audience. One idiot comes in before the aria is done and the others all jump in early too. predictable.

  on April 23, 2009 at 12:53 AM
• grandtier says:

  Just played Aristotle’s clip from tonight’s performances, and this is really fascinating, as Calleja’s vibrato was very much more prominent in the clip than in the house, and we were sitting in Row A. The mics are on the apron of the stage, very close to the singers, perhaps accounting for this. Also, his voice sounded much drier on Sirius than in real space. The voice is evidently one that needs space. I have heard Calleja from various places in the house, and Sirius gives little idea of the size of the voice. Trust me, it carries.

  on April 23, 2009 at 1:08 AM
• sean says:

  best lyric? no. best light lyric? absolutely. I don’t want to hear him sing anything heavier than rodolfo maybe ever. although I would love to hear him sing pearl fishers

  on April 23, 2009 at 1:48 AM
• eddiepensier says:

  I disagree, sean. To me (Ive heard him sing now Duke, Macduff, and Nemorino live), Calleja is a large lyric with some spinto qualities. I could see him singing roles like Don Jose, Pinkerton, and Ballo in the next 5-10 years (lets remember he’s only 31 as of now). He has that natural unforced ring and size to be a great lirico spinto.
  I was in the house tonight, and I loved every minute of his performance. His stage demeanor reminds me of Luciano (and no, not only because he’s a tad on the large side)

  on April 23, 2009 at 3:39 AM
• eddiepensier says:

  Also, I have to say having just heard it, this clip doesnt nearly do justice to the actual in house sound. So strange.

  on April 23, 2009 at 3:41 AM
• eddiepensier says:

  And as a final point, I think today’s 3 best tenors are
  Beczala, Calleja, and Kaufmann

  on April 23, 2009 at 3:44 AM
• La marquise de Merteuil says:

  The caprino or flutter happens only when support isn’t working properly – Popp also had that. Nevertheless a verry good musician with a very good instrument with a very good top – no strain W H A T S O E V E R! Bravo!

  on April 23, 2009 at 5:47 AM
• calaf47 says:

  Calleja was SUPERB and carried the evening on his back. The conducting and rest of the cast were secondary..but Calleja made the evening one of those “memorable” ones at the Met. BRAVO CALLEJA!!

  on April 23, 2009 at 7:38 AM
• ned says:

  messa di voce – it is not your imagination – she is sharp at least half the time – one can’t quite relaz when she is singing. But even apart from that she has no business singling at an A-level company – her voice is both tiny and undistinguished (if very pretty, at times).

  La Cieca is absolutely right. There is no one out there right now even in the same league as Calleja. Not as charismatic as the late lamented Villazon, but what a thrilling sound.

  on April 23, 2009 at 7:44 AM