parterre box

130 comments

• mrmyster says:

  120 Sanford, you are onto something. I’ve tried “Ev’n the bravest heart may swell/at the moment of farewell,” and it’s no easier than the
  French or the Italian. That aria is a bitch to sing unless you are a big burly baritone — William Walker comes to mind.
  But this brings up a puzzle I’ve not been able to unravel: The melody of Valentine’s aria is in the overture to Faust; BUT was it there in the overture written for the initial F. performances, if the aria for V. was not added until the London run? It’s an obvious question and I cannot find the answer; do you know?

  on August 30, 2009 at 8:32 PM
• CerquettiFarrell says:

  #121 I read in a few places that the original Valentin suggested to Gounod that he turn the melody appearing in the overture into an aria for himself. It worked of course but even transposed, the melody presents tessitura problems (similar tu ya vas lyublu from Pikovaya Dama)

  on August 30, 2009 at 9:33 PM
• Alexythymia says:

  @119, if you don’t get Flott even a little, then you are missing out. She’s as good as anyone still working today, and it’s not like the current crop are a patch on her:

  Consistency, textual and stylistic sensitivities, lovely voice, good or great in standard rep like the Marschallin, in terrific shape at 62 … you might not like the Briticisms, but otherwise, what more is there to ask for??

  on August 30, 2009 at 10:51 PM
• quoth the maven says:

  FeAlexythymia–thanks for the clip. quite wonderful.

  on August 30, 2009 at 11:16 PM
• brooklynpunk says:

  Alexythymia (123)

  Thanks much for that video..I found it one of the few times I was actually able to stomach that particular Aria…!!

  I really do admire Lott , very much…she is particularly good in the Offenbach rep as well…saw her in a very funny and well sung “Belle Helene” in Paris a number of years ago..(and a very fine “Grande Duchesse..”, as well, that the Parisian audience loved..!)

  on August 30, 2009 at 11:49 PM
• Sanford says:

  Interestingly, the aria didn’t appear in the score on a regular basis until a few years later.

  on August 31, 2009 at 12:07 AM
• Alexythymia says:

  I’m glad others appreciated the Flott clip; I like that she’s always, just, you know, been doing her thing. The Belle Helene and Grande Duchesse are both available on DVD, and I can vouch for the latter. Beg, borrow, or steal it.

  Getting back to the Fleming, I was not prepared to like it, but I’m going to give it a chance. Again, sometimes I wonder if I don’t like her in Italian stuff just because of who she is. Which doesn’t seem totally fair …

  on August 31, 2009 at 5:54 AM
• Harry says:

  I will throw a cat amongst the pigeons….I like Felicity Lott a lot in those two CDs she did of Strauss’ Orchestral songs under Neerme Jarvi. The soaring arc of the voice would have pleased Strauss no end.

  Monty Nostrey (117#) Suggesting big Joan S ‘doing an auusstarlian Salome’ please!!!
  Australia does not do things (by halves). To hell with what her singing would have turned out like….the mere sight of Joan S….shedding each veil in the form of a full bolt of material…. our delicate sensibilities could not stand the modesty shock!
  Back in the 80′s Australia did a Samson & Deliah and had naked creatures climbing up and down ropes.Unfortunately one night, one gentleman ‘extra’ became so fully aroused in the full lighting, he became (to the audience at that moment) the ‘star’ of the opera. People still remember!.

  The last Salome (X-rated!) done in Australia, just about everybody except strangely Salome, Herod & Heriodas were wildly cavorting and groping each other – -nude & full frontal throughout the whole Dance of the Seven Veils. It changed into the wild dance of all ‘the flopping willies’. It was not coy like the latest London production, where the naked executioner , positioned himself to not be seen fully frontal, except once or twice (by accident?)
  We know the delicate English!!!!!!

  And who has listened to Strauss’ own compositional take of Salome in French, besides the German?

  At the moment I am getting into the voice of Teresa Zylis-Gara. a beautiful voice, yet not often mentioned here.

  on August 31, 2009 at 3:52 PM
• sftenor says:

  Wow…that Lindoro guy seems to have a lot of time on his hands offering these petty critiques. Kind of a blowhard, huh?

  on August 31, 2009 at 4:33 PM
• Alexythymia says:

  Speaking of Zylis-Gara (any Canucks), wasn’t she the featured soloist on a Polish Christmas album that-wasn’t it Bob Kerr, RIP–used to play on the CBC every year?? Beautiful stuff.

  on August 31, 2009 at 6:18 PM