Comments on: blonde ambition

By: Sanford

Sanford — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:40:11 +0000

Harry,I think that when you have that reaction to Violetta, it’s because the wrong emphasis is being stressed in the role. When I think of Violetta, I think of Moffo, because her voice had such an innate pathos. And I was recently sent her Met broadcast and she doesn’t sing the high note at the end of Sempre Libera. What she *does* do is capture the anguish during the scene with the elder Germont.

By: florezrocks

florezrocks — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:21:33 +0000

Speaking of Traviata, what’s going on with Dessay? She just made her Violetta role debut (and Verdi debut!) last night in Santa Fe? A coloratura-turned-bel-canto-turned-lyric….was she able to get through act 2 and 3?
Come on people – what’s the story?

By: Alexythymia

Alexythymia — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:28:27 +0000

@48 Oh My God, You’re absolutely right.

::rips down Stratas/Domingo poster, or is tempted::

By: Harry

Harry — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:10:45 +0000

I must confess I find Verdi’s La Tart’ one of the lesser Verdi successful operas , I like. Sure it has some exquisite moments, but too often the emphasis is on ‘did the Violetta sing a top ‘this or that’?. All I can think of, is some screaming diva creature running about at her own glittering parties, frantic to be the center of attention. AND haven’t we seen THAT all, at some parties we have attended? It is ‘so so tragic’ -with all that ‘dark side campy M.G.M operetta-like Merry Violetta’ plotting – ‘Garbo sings’! – one wants to laugh. Imagine what Gilbert & Sullivan would have done with a similar plot…..’changed it to a happy ending with a false tuberculosis report.

By: Alexythymia

Alexythymia — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:00:32 +0000

@3 What precisely does looking like Neblett have to do with anything?

@41, ITA. But I think the reasons one’s not aware of better people is that whoever is establishing Netrebko and Gheorgiu as recordings stars rather than better people couldn’t care less about opera qua divine art. It’s all bland showmanship. Speaking of which, I still see great similarities between Fleming and Dame Kiri, Traviata included. Except that I still think Te Kanawa was more innately musical. Perhaps a Nelson Riddle or showtunes phase is in order for RF. Now what has happened to my Serafin/De los angeles record? That was a nice thing in a world where there are no more really nice things.

By: OhNO

OhNO — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:24:38 +0000

verismo? fleming? yes that does constitute as jazz/

By: scifisci

scifisci — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:08:28 +0000

Well Camille…Fleming has a disc of Verismo “lost treasures” forthcoming, does that qualify as jazz?

I do think that’s the route she’ll take once she gets over this whole elsa/ariadne thing. In seven years, we’ll be seeing Fleming’s Fedora, which will also be available for purchase for $400 at Bergdorf’s.

By: Camille

Camille — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:01:20 +0000

The party’s over and the champagne is flat.

What is she going to sing when she is 60? Already done the Marschallin ten years ago.

At 50 she’s still doing the jeune dame roles.

How and what will she do now that she’s past her sell by date? Such a shame she could never sort herself out enough to give a Elena Makropulos? I mean Karita Mattila will doubtless latch onto that role in a couple years, anyway. Too bad “La Voce” could never learn to produce a consistent sound in a well chosen repertory. Hop scotching from Bellini to Handel to Rossini to Dvorak to Floyd, then Korngold, and Massenet on to Verdi and the dreadful dreck of Previn, I mean what in the hell is she, except, TIRED?

I dislike, even more than the twittering vibrato, the look of contempt she has for what she does, like she’d so much rather be singing jazz…only she would never have made it in that genre nor have been accepted.

So tired of Mme. Renata Flambe.

Love the Chunderland dessert.

So glad I saw Netrebko.

By: manou

manou — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:02:32 +0000

Alto (40) :

“J’ai vu Gheorghiu en 1994, et Netrebko l’an dernier, elles étaient toutes les deux supérieures a Fleming tant sur le plan musical que sur le plan artistique mais on ne peut pas nier que Fleming reste une diva du tout premier rang”

“Ho visto Gheorghiu nel 1994, e Netrebko l’anno scorso, tutte due migliore di Fleming tanto sul piano musicale che artistico, pero non si puo negare che Fleming rimane tuttavia una diva di prima categoria”

By: Buster

Buster — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:14:27 +0000

@41 Tinney, I was much intrigued by the little I saw of Christine Schäfer’s Paris Violetta. That should have been out on DVD by now, but does not seem to be yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11KlKBtNpZI

By: tinney

tinney — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:17:10 +0000

I am not the biggest Fleming fan when it comes to her attempts at Italian repertoire. I do agree that the addio del passato is a bit of a fiasco but the brinidisi isn’t bad to me. As for the whole role, I would prefer to hear her in something else. It is not my favorite portrayal of the character or the music. I still think it’s a beautiful voice and I don’t care who agrees or disagrees with me. Maybe not how she uses it all the time but the tone is lovely.

I hate to sound ignorant but who do you guys consider to be a great violetta these days? So many have bashed Netrebko, Fleming, and Gheorghiu and they are the latest slew of successful Violettas so who is left? I prefer older recordings of Zeani, Moffo, Gencer, etc but who in the heck IS comparable now?

By: Alto

Alto — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:04:49 +0000

I’m still trying to figure out this sentence:

“I have seen both Gheorghiu in 1984, and Netrebko last year, and they were undeniably better both musically and artistically, but there is no doubt that Fleming is still a diva of the very first rank.”

By: OhNO

OhNO — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:35:48 +0000

keep falling into line and praising the horrid attempts by Fleming or an understudied and therefore still learning the role Netrebko and that will be what passes for first rate these days. The ticket prices are when these two sing. at LEAST, netty brings the gorgeous voice.
in these “tin” age times that is still something.

By: Harry

Harry — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:26:54 +0000

And …..are we supposed to be talking about some singer touted as a first class professional on the world’s stages?

OhNO Comment 34# :….”At the very least Netrebko has a gorgeous tone. now she has to learn it.”

By: Harry

Harry — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:19:07 +0000

Condanna O’Screater: Why dear,how backward are you, asking whether or not someone would name a dessert after big Joan S….? Haven’t you heard of the ‘Chunderland dessert’? It is only genuinely made with definite aged ingredients, well passed their use -by date. Displayed as a wobbly top peaked Italian style balsamic vinegary gelato, thin and uneven in texture, spotty in appearance, but surrounded by adoring and liberal fan like shapes of rancid custard gush, to compensate. Then sprinkled with bran wafer material to achieve a consistency of well expected regularity. I believe its loyal blinded followers remain delighted with the cuisine. Best served , listening to something like her Lexcreta Borgia, Adriana L.,or perhaps her second Norma.

By: mrmyster

mrmyster — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:10:51 +0000

Heidi Grant Murphy was and is the definitive Flora Bervoix of our time, since the retirement of Margret Truman, of course!
But who will replace Murphy when she retires? Care to name your candidates? You know, of course, Mme Bervoix is a much under-rated role!

By: Krunoslav

Krunoslav — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:14:44 +0000

33 And then of course there’s Heidi Grant Murphy, who would have shone as brightly in any other era.

By: OhNO

OhNO — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:23:36 +0000

so having an opinion and not following the “sheep” that hear themselves in her “baaaaing” is carping? Carp on everyone, this is not acceptable, straight tone, gutteral noises at the end of phrases, and just an over all vibrato ridden un glamourous tone. NEXT.
At the very least Netrebko has a gorgeous tone. now she has to learn it.

By: enzo

enzo — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:15:05 +0000

32. Krunoslav: I’m just guessing of course, but maybe the three singers you mentioned would have been considered great. However, they would have had very stiff competition from the De Reszke brothers, Tamagno, Plancon, Schumann-Heink and Caruso.

By: Krunoslav

Krunoslav — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:32:21 +0000

23 Enzo: “Consider Joan Sutherland. I think she was the last singer who would have been considered great even in the age of Melba.”

Not as Violetta, obviously, but what about Marilyn Horne, Luciano Pavarotti and Kurt Moll?

By: SilvestriWoman

SilvestriWoman — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:38:15 +0000

Flat champagne

By: manou

manou — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:44:06 +0000

oops!

By: scifisci

scifisci — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:42:02 +0000

Manou, the production premiered in 1994, which is when Gheorghiu first sang in it.

By: Magpie

Magpie — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:26:08 +0000

oh! How I wish it had been Yma Sumac instead of Renee……

By: Often admonished

Often admonished — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:20:58 +0000

But not when the carping becomes as predictable – and unfounded – as it does above.

By: manou

manou — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:36:10 +0000

(cont’d)

Richard Eyre came back after 25 years to direct this revival, and it is full of little “theatrical” touches, which sometimes work very well (Hampson very believable in Act II), and are sometimes just absurd. As this was an HD transmission, I expect there must have been a lot of close-ups, and things that work well in a theatre look terribly overdone close to.

Renee was so-so at the beginning but improved as the evening wore on. I have seen both Gheorghiu in 1984, and Netrebko last year, and they were undeniably better both musically and artistically, but there is no doubt that Fleming is still a diva of the very first rank.

Calleja sang a wonderful “Dei miei bollenti spiriti”, but he is still very wooden – and ursine to boot.

Mrs Lulu Pickles – I am the resident Pollyanna, and I must therefore say that I had on the whole a very good evening.

The problem is that one is so much more entertaining when carping!

By: Condanna O Screater

Condanna O Screater — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:35:58 +0000

I suppose it takes all sorts.

#23 #8 Yeah Sutherland’s not bad, but who would name a dessert after her?

By: manou

manou — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:08:26 +0000

@6 – Gualtier: this is Kostas Smoriginas (Marquis d’Obigny), who is part of the ROH training programme (Jette Parker Young Artists – once the Alberto Vilar Young Artists…). My programme says that his plans for next season include his Carnegie Hall debut with Atlanta SO. Go get him!

Yes, I was there too last night (also Charles and Camilla in the Royal Box). The performance was relayed to various open air spots in the UK (and cinemas all over the place).

(to be cont’d)

By: enzo

enzo — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:38:20 +0000

#8. The golden age was golden only because of great voices. Consider Joan Sutherland. I think she was the last singer who would have been considered great even in the age of Melba.

By: thomas

thomas — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:23:26 +0000

Speaking of Traviata, here are some pics of Dessay’s first Violetta, opening in Santa Fe on Friday.
Could her wig really be orange?

http://www.playbillarts.com/features/article/8040.html