Alagnas go pfft?
According to Opera Chic, the Alagnas will announce their plans to divorce tomorrow. (That is, they will make an announcement tomorrow; the actual proceedings are likely a little farther down the road.) You may remember that La Cieca hinted at this sad eventuality several months ago. [UPDATE: As noted in the comments below, Alagna is calling it a separation and "Angela ne veut pas entendre parler de divorce," which could mean a whole range of things.] Image based on a photo by Ken Howard, Metropolitan Opera.
It’s sad when people talk about separating and divorce, no matter how crazy the pair might have drove others in the past. Why can’t they stick to each other like the Bonynges?
Okay, wrong example. But whatever.
Am I the only one among us who found it amusing/surprising that the first question in the interview was “So, dude, how’s your income?”immediately followed by “And what do you do with all that moolah?”
I was reminded of the basketball player who was being interviewed on the Jim Rome Show and was answering criticism of the huge salaries NBA players make. His rationale was irrefutable “Well, yes, we do earn a lot. But we spend a lot!”
FTW.
richard: I tried to calculate how much Florez makes per year. I came up with a gross of between 1 and 2 million dollars. After all expenses I suspect he nets below 1 million. I think he gets about 110,000 euros per concert; much less per night in an opera ($15,000 at the Met?). He has said that these days houses often ask singers to sing for less than their regular fees. But in compensation, sometimes will advance money to a singer in need. CDs and DVDs don’t make much anymore due to You Tube, etc. If you are good it is enough for a comfortable life, I would think, but not a way to get very rich. The problem, compared to movie stars and sports figures, is that your audience is very small and you get paid on the basis of the people who want to see and hear you. Re: Alagna’s marriage. I don’t think two people in the same profession make good marriage partners. Rivalry, schedule problems, etc. Florez at one time was linked to Laura Giordano, a singer. They parted without anyone paying much attention and he found Julia Trapp. She makes him her career and the marriage seems very solid. No competition and no schedule conflicts.
I agree Vicar: about ‘the singers that go unrecorded (though not just your necessarily British ones!) though your point is taken.
That Alan Blyth, you mention is just another of those music critic whores of Britain…who will recommend anything as long as they believe themselves ‘upwardly networking’, while their integrity and artistic judgment goes down ‘jack shit’ accordingly, at a faster degree. The British are and have always into their own individual perceived self-sense of ‘class’ 24/7. Makes for some very public silly buffoons.
Where would their ‘page 3 newspaper scandal sheets otherwise get their massive amounts of ready material. It is so uniquely ‘Brit’
As another said: ‘ Alagna had brought all the rights o his EmI recordings….’
The burning question is “Does THAT , include the ones where he is partnered by Angela G, too?”
I remember her ‘Verdi Heroines’ Cd on Decca.
A simple matter of picking out what previous singers ‘one by one’ she modeled and copied her various tracks on. Lazy thing!. The cover was a scream. ‘Coming down an airplane stair, dressed up like Maria Callas ….so VERY new wave late 50′s ‘. All she needs to do, to complete ‘her hat-trick’ -catch some silly aging billionaire as her next Rumanian conquest ‘Rum-balling him stupid’ – with her silly flighty petulant antics.
What a nice way for two opera married singers to find a neat way out, when they cannot stand one another.
First one ring their Agent/ Manager! Then it is “Oh Honey ……I just got a job to sing down in…..! Sorry, I didn’t hear of any opportunities open for you.”
(The other party ) “Well I am thinking of taking that offer up they made and left open for a while in….. at the same time…..”
Harry: The British are and have always into their own individual perceived self-sense of ‘class’ 24/7
is this a comment on the Vicar?
re: under-recorded singers, I too would like to hear more great singers recorded, even if they are British.
re: Alice Coote, she’s performed at the Met before. Anyone have an idea why she’s not a staple there? Is there really a bias against British singers or do these singers prefer to stay closer to home, or … ?
I mean, I don’t think there’s a bias against, but what do I know? I’m on the wrong coast.
Harry: The British are and have always into their own individual perceived self-sense of ‘class’ 24/7
is this a comment on the Vicar?
re: under-recorded singers, I too would like to hear more great singers recorded, even if they are British.
re: Alice Coote, she’s performed at the Met before. Anyone have an idea why she’s not a staple there? Is there really a bias against British singers or do these singers prefer to stay closer to home, or … ?
I mean, I don’t think there’s a bias against, but what do I know? I’m on the wrong coast.
For the record, I like them both.
“Chi ha Paura di Virginia Volfe?” as an opera, as suggested on OC with them sounds intriguing. La Cieca could host Operapedia where a group score and libretto could be created on this site.
Soubrettino – there was nothing wrong with your example- the Bonnynges are a perfect example of a couple that are “friends, mates and pals” that have stuck together. Aside from living together they’ve worked together for hours every day for years- its been a VERY successful partnership and their working relationship has to be one of the best examples to any other couple in the business.
Of course, now I’ve said this, I can almost hear Harry’s footsteps outside the door already- I’m sure he’ll be here any second to pour scorn, vitriol and innuendo on everything I’ve said etc- which is fine- it would be a day without orange juice if he didn’t…..
Must not disappoint.Do I frighten you THAT much, Ruxton? Boo! Have your orange juice, I do not want to deprive you of that. The Bonygnes ‘machine’ is sliding fast into History. Simple as that.Their ‘era’ is over. It was all a bad dream at times. It is over, thank goodness. That ‘administrative machine’ (‘you want Joan , you must take Dickie’) helped to fuck up Opera Australia for years.