parterre box

70 comments

• Troppo Primavera says:

  40 you were a college boy-I was a school boy with an over developped memory for-um-trivia.No,Miss Cross did’nt cover and I don’t think that word would have been in her vocabulary.Aida with Stella you may recall had the legendary if somewhat aged Ebe Stignani as Amneris.A true donna immobille.

  on September 1, 2009 at 5:11 PM
• jatm2063 says:

  Cara La Cieca:

  As always, the smallest acknowledgement from you makes my day, and usually makes me laugh as well.

  You look STUNNING these days. Red sequins become you so well! And “the girls” are certainly flying high these days also!

  on September 1, 2009 at 6:11 PM
• mrmyster says:

  Ma no Troppo: Indeed I recall Sra. Stignani as Amneris; her costumes looked about 1910; Stella was youthful and ‘modern’ in dress; I also recall Gino Penno was the tenor whose voice was experiencing very severe problems — I think he quit the trade not too long thereafter.

  on September 1, 2009 at 10:08 PM
• mrmyster says:

  #13 Javier – certainly a very interesting example of what Fleming can do, but what of the date? From hair style I would say it was ten years ago, even 12? I am not certain she can sing that way now — are you?
  But with respect, and much is due, I would not call that ‘bel canto’ singing, even if it depended on bel canto technique, if you know what I mean. What’s the sustained high note, a C?

  on September 1, 2009 at 10:15 PM
• mrmyster says:

  Ah, now I see the date; yes 12 or 13 years ago; makes sense. One
  does not have to sing all that ornamentation and if fleming sings
  Armida at the Met as scheduled one presumes she will sing a more lyric soprano version. So I hope!

  on September 1, 2009 at 10:18 PM
• sutherlandfan says:

  Incidently, the clip at #13 is from the April, 1996, Opera Orchestra of NY Armida with Gregory Kunde and Bruce Fowler as well as Fleming, and those of us lucky enough to be there enjoyed ourselves tremendously.

  on September 2, 2009 at 12:02 AM
• javier says:

  mrmyster, if it’s not beautiful singing then what is it? :/

  on September 2, 2009 at 12:20 AM
• Krunoslav says:

  Speaking of (diminishing) returns:

  http://www.bsomusic.org/main.taf?p=1,9,1,3,1,1&EventID=SPEC3

  on September 2, 2009 at 6:39 AM
• CruzSF says:

  Come on, Sanford, help a brother out, man.

  on September 2, 2009 at 3:26 PM
• Sanford says:

  Cruz,

  :25 Swoop
  :50 Swoop
  1:10 the tone on the first few notes of the descent is a little tentative, I think. As if she needed a second to find the pitch.
  2:54 Croony at the top and starting the descent.
  And glottal stops all over the place. Minor, but there, which I believe is one of the reasons La Cieca compared her 2005 performance of the Vespre Bolero on a later thread to verismo.

  There is a lot to love about this performance, and at that point in her career, I loved most of what she sang. I still love some of what she sings, such as the Marietta’s Lied from the Met Gala this year. But I don’t think this is what Armida will sound like. Certain rep seems to accentuate her mannerisms, and I think bel canto in particular is an issue. Interestingly, I went to Amazon to listen to excerpts from earlier albums, and heard her Haunted Heart album, and aside from My Cherie Amour (and it’s the fault of the arrangement more than her singing), she sounds amazing, perfectly at home and relaxed. And it seems mostly lie in the middle and bottom of her voice, which is stunning.

  on September 2, 2009 at 4:51 PM