parterre box

47 comments

• ellerveira says:

  I’d suggest using DiDonato as Octavian. She did a marvelous Presentation of the Rose with Damrau in concert.

  on October 16, 2009 at 3:07 AM
• elvino says:

  transforming the ironic, moody aristocrat into a Lifetime movie drama queen

  . . . so much for constructive criticism . . . for a moment i thought i was reading Martin Bernheimer . . . what, i wonder, is the true reason behind jj’s seemingly hateful renee fleming obsession?

  on October 16, 2009 at 4:33 AM
• Krunoslav says:

  21 — Outside of Manhattan — if that counts for anything– Joyce di Donato sang and acted the whole part beautifully at SFO opposite Soile Isokoski (and, later, Martina Serafin).

  on October 16, 2009 at 5:53 AM
• MontyNostry says:

  Kruno — did you see Serafin? She seems an interesting singer. A fine Marschallin who is also a fine Maddalena — and a fine-looking woman. I’m sort of surprised she is not more famous, though I haven’t seen her live. Her father, of course, is an operetta legend in Austria. He has sung more Danilos than anyone else in history!

  on October 16, 2009 at 6:44 AM
• Krunoslav says:

  MontyNostry — My spies were at the first Serafin performance and said she was even better vocally and dramatically than Isokoski, who was very good if restrained. On Youtube she sounds very good; I too wonder she is not better known.

  on October 16, 2009 at 8:43 AM
• CerquettiFarrell says:

  I referred to Serafin over here something like 5 months ago and then ppl shushed me and said she had no top. True, she doesn’t, or rather that her top is extremely constricted, a la Polaski. But nevertheless on the basis of her youtube clips she seems to me to be an artist of real worth, having a substantial instrument, and the musical and theatrical know-how.

  on October 16, 2009 at 10:44 AM
• parpignol says:

  maybe I haven’t been following the threads closely enough, but with all the Rosenkavalier discussion, it seems as though the previous Marschallin from the last run of Rosenkavaliers (about 5 years ago) has been somehow quite forgotten; am I the only one who thought that Angela Denoke was a memorable Marschallin, beautiful voice, a little small for the house but very well deployed, restrained and elegant characterization, fine Viennese style (to my sensibility); has she been somehow completely eclipsed or forgotten?
  and one word for another forgotten Marschallin from years back: Evelyn Lear!
  anyway, I’m going tonight. . .

  on October 16, 2009 at 10:47 AM
• CruzSF says:

  Kruno: I saw that Rosenkavalier with Isokoski and DiDonato in SFO. Both of them were very good — DiDonato was dazzling — and that performance transformed my fling with opera into a full-fledged love affair. I hope both of them return soon to SFO.

  on October 16, 2009 at 12:03 PM
• ellerveira says:

  I wonder how many hold my invidious opinion that DiDonato is a better singer than Fleming. Better voice, better technique.

  on October 16, 2009 at 12:12 PM
• squirrel says:

  cruzSF -I’m glad to hear this! Isokoski was absolutely amazing as the Marschallin in at Vienna State Opera. I had found her ill suited as Desdemona in Paris and wasn’t sure about her, but boy am I now!

  on October 16, 2009 at 12:16 PM