Enigma
At this point, Maria Guleghina is still listed as tonight’s Turandot at the Met. Any of the cher public attending this performance are encouraged to share news, reviews and scuttlebutt about what did or did not happen (broad enough for you?) here in the comments section.
She looks like a woman, but, um, the voice?
I think that whether or not she sings tonight, she should be roundly taken to task for how she might or might not sing some work not in her repertoire, next season.
No news yet?
“I think that whether or not she sings tonight, she should be roundly taken to task for how she might or might not sing some work not in her repertoire, next season.”
Brava! Said like a dog eating its own poop!
Seriously, congratulations on your win and having a review posted.
Oh my god–Guleghina was scheduled to sing tonight? On Halloween!?
I remember Halloween night 2007, exactly two years ago, she sang Lady Macbeth. Absolutely-worst-singing-I-ever-heard-in-my-life! She literally sounded like a werewolf baying at the moon. But amazingly, the audience still clapped. If anybody ever deserved to be booed it was her. They should stop scheduling her for all halows eve..
Okay so I’m fresh off a plane and making my way home from JFK and again I ask: no news? Did she or didn’t she? Inquiring minds etc.
I was there. I’m pretty sure she sang since there was no announcement from the stage or in the program.
I’m definitely not a vocal critic, but she sounded ok.
Liu definitely missed some high notes in Signor Ascolta. Her stuff in Act 3 sounded ok, though.
Giordani sounded alright. They stopped the orchestra after Nessun Dorma, which shouldn’t be done, IMO. Some applause over the last bars of the aria is fine, but the music sounds like Puccini wanted it to continue right from there.
This is my second time seeing the Zeffirelli production. I don’t love Act 1, but when the screen rises on the palace in Act 2, it’s quite a moment. Gelb will be asking for trouble when he retires this one.
What a height we have fallen from performers of the calibre of Shuard, Vaughan and Craig in these roles.
Big Al72 you’re definitely NOT a vocal critic, Guleghina didn’t sound ok. She sounded drugged. There were no low notes, the top is screamed, off pitch, she was constantly out of tune and there were cracks. The acting is pretty bizarre too, totally disconnected from the character of Turandot. She was Despina or Miss Gulch don’t ask me, certainly not Turandot. I could go on but the bitch isn’t worth it. Giordani, Ramey and the Liu were pretty decent.
I was sitting in Grand Tier and could hear Russian spoken everywhere. I wonder if the Russian mafia isn’t threatening Gelb’s life or family in order to keep the monstrosity at the MET. What she did to Norma, Macbeth, Gioconda and now Turandot is revolting. There are a few great singers out there who can do justice to the music, as we witnessed with Ms. Lindstrom last Wed., why not not give them a chance? And what about justice to the people paying up to $350 to hear this crap? It’s not like the woman had an off night, the management knew she hasn’t been well for the entire rehearsal process.