villazon out for rest of ’09
Rolando Villazón “should be well enough to return to the stage by the end of the year” after having surgery “to remove a cyst on his larynx” according to his concert management. Among the engagements Villazón is expected to cancel are Werther in Vienna and Munich, Nemorino in Los Angeles and Paris, and a new production of Les Contes d’Hoffmann at the Met opening December 3. [via AP]
Off topic – has anyone here heard Arturo Chacon-Cruz? hHe is coming to Portland to sing Rodolfo in a few months. SHould I be excited?
@ 71:
you should be more than excited. Chacon-Cruz is better than Valenti, Costello, etc combined. He has more heft to his voice but a top that rings out like there’s no tomorrow. Very Italianate sound. Another Domingo protege if I remember correct, but this one has promise..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4ddiD9TnQQ&fmt=18
Kammersaenger Ramon Vargas will replace Villazon in Villazon’s four scheduled Werthers in late May 2009 in Vienna. Elina Garanca sings Charlotte as planned. Villazon’s next scheduled appearances at the Staatsoper are 5 Don Joses in May of 2010 with both Garanca (Carman) and Netrebko (as Michaela).
Netrebko sings four roles in Vienna next season, Puritani Elvira, Manon, Michaela and Mimi, all during the Spring of 2010.
That Chacon Cruz clip shows incredible ease throughout the range. It is hard to tell from a Youtube clip, but if he is any close to the quality that seems to come through the bad acostics, he is a big star in the making. Let’s hope he doesn’t go the Villazon route and burns up doing too much. That ascent to the high C was breathtaking, and he seems very musical, paying attention to little notes in the aria that give the phrasing lift. It says Vargas is his teacher. Good job maestro! (although it sounds like such a natural instrument, but nevertheless).
Papas, we agreed just in case you didn’t get it. George suffered a paralyzed chord due to a stroke. What doesn’t your medical knowledge embrace.? You are a pompous ass most of the time, stroke is what he had. Stroke is what it is called…..It caused the pathology.
Cruz needs to learn to sound less robotic, portamenti would help make this less angular and blunt, but a really splendid top.
is that a high c? or a b natural…..sounds lowered. where is the pitch pipe.
Re.: George London
My recollection is that he suffered the vocal chord paralysis in the mid-60′s. He stopped singing in 1965 or 66 but had not had a stroke yet. Or if he did, it did not affect him in any way that was outwardly visible. I worked with him at the Kennedy Center sometime around 1977 or 78 and he was in good physical shape, active, etc. (He was directing a production of Werther with Gedda and Grillo. I participated in most of the rehearsals.) Then he suffered a stroke a year or two later and he never recovered from that.
I hate Opera Chic, she only lets you post the comments that she wants to hear! If she disagrees she will remove them.
I’m not going to visiting Opera Chic’s website anymore!
And I am NOT sorry to hear about RV’s retirement!
Viva La Cieca and her orgies!