Comments on: Step by step

By: Graciella Scusi

Graciella Scusi — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:30:45 +0000

I think Gedda had to be talked into doing Vespri, but I remember an interview at the time where he called the opera “a work of genius”, though later in his autobiography I believe he says it was a mistake. He was my first Arrigo, and you know what they say about the first time. He threw himself into it heart and soul(something he could sometimes do a little too much of, risking looking a bit ridiculous, especially if he was over parted, and he was as Arrigo), but I too loved him. You knew going in that he was overparted and his tone was not Italianate, but he was a master of languages and a superb musician, and I felt he had a love for the music and knew how to communicate that. I also vividly remember his Riccardo in Ballo…well, actually I should say his Gustav, because he took his cue from the famous Swedish production where he was played as a flaming queen (apparently somewhat historically acurate). Unfettered, he pranced around in an ermine trimmed cape and some sort of strange high heeled shoes; for once, the ridiculous was sublime. Oh…and he sang very well.

By: Clita del Toro

Clita del Toro — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:19:59 +0000

justanothertenor,

I listened to the Lucia as well. I agree with everything you write about Devia, except that I find her singing boring.

By: brooklynpunk

brooklynpunk — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:40:43 +0000

Javier:

Thanks so much for the info—very much appreciated!!

By: javier

javier — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:24:40 +0000

There’s a listen again feature you can use to hear it.

Go here and click on the “listen back to most recent program link”.

rte.ie/lyricfm/operanight/

By: brooklynpunk

brooklynpunk — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:29:52 +0000

Hey, Javier:

I missed the listing for “Maria Padilla”, yesterday…damn..!!

Any chance that you ..err..”immortalized” it..?–please let me know..!

thanks!

By: javier

javier — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:17:31 +0000

To everyone who would rather listen to Caballe yesterday, this is what you missed:

I think I have way better taste.

By: richard

richard — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:28 +0000

I was working today so I didn’t listen to this. But I have a recording and I listened to it a few years ago.

I remember Monsty being good in this but doesn’t she sing the simplified cadenza in Arrigo, a Parli? Although that 2 1/2 octave downward scale is almost impossible…

By: justanothertenor

justanothertenor — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:41:19 +0000

Meanwhile, I am listening to Devia as Lucia on Sirius, and loving it. What a great cast, what a great performance.
Devia is really the last great bel canto diva: fearless, stylish, impeccable phrasing, astonishing high notes and a plangent middle voice.
LOVE HER

By: Sanford

Sanford — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:11:11 +0000

Caballe just rocked the house with “Arrigo, a parli a un core”. Sublime.

By: Baltsamic Vinaigrette

Baltsamic Vinaigrette — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:01:15 +0000

It is indeed Norwegian. Every bit as pretty as quite a few of the natives, and goodness knows I ain’t got eyes for Senta. The new opera house in Oslo alone is worth a visit, despite the stratospheric cost of living up there. You’ll find they all speak English to a higher standard than many an Englishman, too. [Sorry, Vicar.]

By: dame ernestine sherman tank

dame ernestine sherman tank — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:55:25 +0000

This is bad? Would that we could hear such singing at the MET today!

By: enzo

enzo — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:33:30 +0000

Are you a psychiatrist?

By: Sanford

Sanford — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:06:45 +0000

I’m not sure what language the announcer is speaking (Norwegian?), but it’s rather pretty. Lilting, even.

By: Sanford

Sanford — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:59:02 +0000

By: Hugo Santos

Hugo Santos — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:42:52 +0000

Wow!

By: richard

richard — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:59:04 +0000

Not exactly. As it ended up, the only casting that the broadcast and the recording has in common is Milnes (and Levine conducting). Raimondi was the bass and Domingo was the tenor on the studio recording.

By: Doberdawg

Doberdawg — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:48:23 +0000

I agree with Javier. Caballe never did it for me. She reminds me of the dog I had as a child. Whenever I had something tasty to eat, the dog would do the same trick over and over. Kinda like Monsti throwing in the same pianissimi trick just to impress. She was a lazy singer with pianissimi, folks. Nothing more, nothing less. I’d take third rate singers of the time over Caballe….at least they’d show up….

By: johnk

johnk — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:58:47 +0000

I love Gedda as Arrigo. So much better than Domingo. Now, the Caballe performance I prefer is the one with MacNeil. I never really enjoyed Milnes, but I only know these performances from pirates. Before my opera going time. Thank god for pirate recordings!

By: messa di voce

messa di voce — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:28:34 +0000

Gedda as Arrigo: Jimmy, what were you thinking?

By: rommie

rommie — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:19:58 +0000

hmm. i dont really think you can compare joanie and montsie. joan never sang Vespri on stage so comparing the 2 is actually quite inappropriate.

btw. last night’s aida was sooooo good.

squirrel, wherever u are….i’ve found something to replace boheme. lol. jk

By: javier

javier — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:13:17 +0000

Speaking of greatness of La Stupenda:

Her bolero is much better than Caballe’s.

By: Baltsamic Vinaigrette

Baltsamic Vinaigrette — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:05:21 +0000

Don’t you just love that they’re digging this one up on La Stupenda’s birthday…?

Oh well – Happy Birthday, Dame Joan!

By: javier

javier — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:02:49 +0000

Err. The opera is longer than 268 seconds? I didn’t know that. Thanks!

By: Cocky Kurwenal

Cocky Kurwenal — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:56:47 +0000

Err, Vespri is a Grand Opera, a distinguishing feature of which is that they tend to go on for considerably more than 4 minutes and 28 seconds.

By: javier

javier — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:53:50 +0000

Yes, I do tend to pass on the so called greats because I have my own definition of greatness.

By: javier

javier — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:45:09 +0000

Well, I’ve heard her Elena before.

By: Sanford

Sanford — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:34:31 +0000

I never acquired a taste for Ms. Arroyo. But I remember her being a very funny guest on Johnny Carson.

By: Sanford

Sanford — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:33:17 +0000

Yeah, I’d pick Barbara Quintiliani and Marco Caria over Caballe. Not.

By: Sanford

Sanford — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:30:50 +0000

Beatrice et Benedict is also on with JDD. But I’ll stick with Caballe.

By: tannengrin

tannengrin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:28:37 +0000

javier, you have got to be kidding me!