parterre box

31 comments

• La marquise de Merteuil says:

  16. Monty, I’m not even GOING there about Villazon…

  The costumes are nice enough, but what the fuck are these casting directors thinking about putting these people who look good into roles they clearly CANNOT sing.

  Fuck, if you can’t cast an Elisabetta what’s your hope of casting an Isolde or a Brunni?

  I mean – this is why I seldom go to the opera.

  on May 14, 2009 at 12:05 PM
• Harry says:

  Notice the naughty shape of the shadow in the photo? Why would she, not look very afraid?

  on May 14, 2009 at 1:18 PM
• Monty Nostry says:

  Chere marquise, you are so right. Elisabetta needs a spinto who can do the quiet stuff, not an overstretched lyric. Roocroft is not a bad singer, but I find her sound sort of thick and doughy.

  on May 14, 2009 at 1:36 PM
• rysanekfreak says:

  I thought this was some drag queen doing a Caballe as Turandot impression.

  on May 14, 2009 at 2:00 PM
• pavel says:

  Rysanekfreak – yes!! I KNEW this picture reminded me of something. It’s the picture of Caballé on the cover of her Turandot recording.

  on May 14, 2009 at 3:32 PM
• Vivaldi says:

  Has anyone listened to her new album just released. La Kasarova moved to dramatic mezzo arias like Acerba voluta and O don fatale. If I say she is terrible it’s really an understatement. It’s disgrace for the profession. Either she has tons of fans who actually buy her CD’S (somehoe I doubt it) or someone in RCA is afraid to fire her, otherwise I cannot understand why they waste so much money on an abominative recital like that.

  on May 14, 2009 at 3:40 PM
• Kekszakallu says:

  The hair is “enhanced” by shadow … but on the left you have the shadow of a man and the shadow of something huge at groin level – worrisit?

  on May 14, 2009 at 4:59 PM
• tamerlano says:

  Mein Gott! This is pretty rank…take a listen… [La Cieca has moved this gem to the top of the site.]

  on May 14, 2009 at 5:12 PM
• Nerva Nelli says:

  16

  Yet in OPERA magazine we are told that Miss Roocroft is now THE consummate Jenufa, the one to whom all others should be compared.

  The arrogance of making this proclamation about a performance sung in English translation speaks volumes. But of course from such a point of view, the British INVENTED Janacek (never mind that German theaters performed his works heavily in the 20s and again in the 50s, that is not part of the mythology)

  on May 14, 2009 at 5:19 PM
• Hans Lick says:

  7., 8. Marquise — I, if no one else, am pleased to have your note of clarification, as I had always thought ALL 18th century pitch was way lower than modern.

  Yeah, Connolly is a better bitch than a butch, but women who can sing male heroic roles convincingly have never … convinced me. Well, I didn’t see Baker’s J. Caesar (or even my adored TT’s). But I think JC HAS GOT to be sung by a male. Which is to say: NOT by Brian Asawa.

  on May 14, 2009 at 7:40 PM