Comments on: It’s Pat!

Krunoslav commented

Krunoslav — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:39:50 +0000

dorion says: “Racette is a generic soprano, a limited actress…”

OK, dorion, if Racette is ‘limited” ( which nothing I have ever seen her do would suggest), whom would you consider a “gifted” operatic actress?

Jeez…

MontyNostry commented

MontyNostry — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:09:35 +0000

To me, it’s a really Anglo-Saxon sound. The sort of thing Vicar John ought to like. But with that blonde wig on as Lauretta, she really reminds me of the late, great Madeline Kahn. If anyone ever makes an opera of Blazing Saddles …

MontyNostry commented

MontyNostry — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:03:57 +0000

O&E ?

ellerveira commented

ellerveira — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:16:25 +0000

I’ve tried to like her voice but it is a shade too raw, or perhaps “dikey”. Who knows?

dorion commented

dorion — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:37:41 +0000

I judged her against Frittoli because that’s who we first saw in this production. Frittoli was quite subtle and efficient, but by no means the ultimate Angelica. She’s not. That leaves Racette in even deeper caca.

dorion commented

dorion — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:31:51 +0000

I was just using her contemporaries as contrast. Racette is a generic soprano, a limited actress with no distinctive sound. But she does the job.

Quanto Painy Fakor commented

Quanto Painy Fakor — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:42:50 +0000

I wonder if Sally ever lusted after those boobs!

louannd commented

louannd — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:08:35 +0000

I saw Patricia in La Traviata many moons ago in Santa Fe, and her voice was so much better in those days. I loved her in Butterfly which I saw on the internet though the voice doesn’t do much for me anymore. and, how is Ms. Blythe? Now that voice….the best I’ve heard in any HD production since O&E.

louannd commented

louannd — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:04:06 +0000

That’s really a shame. I have enjoyed the Youtube videos of past galas.

louannd commented

louannd — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:00:56 +0000

Yes, I do know.

Signed, a dyke.

pernille commented

pernille — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:48:57 +0000

Fritolli was a vocally convincing Amelia in the BSO concert version ( with Levine) of Simon Boccanegra this last January. Technically secure – no problems there.

luvtennis commented

luvtennis — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:50:54 +0000

I actually think Racette is one of the good ones out there. I heard her Elisabetta di Valois at the HGO in 200? and she was superb in a role not ideally suited to her voice. The upper register has real gleam and spin and she is the mistress of her instrument. Admittedly, the timbre is not truly distinctive, but she is a REAL singer.

Fritolli was an almost great that never happened. Frankly, I think she moved into the Verdi roles way too soon. While her voice was roughly the same weight as Price’s – heavy lyric – she lacked the technical security to sing those roles safely. Have heard little of her since. Any idea of how she sounds today?

messa di voce commented

messa di voce — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:39:45 +0000

“the dress, the voice, etc.”

The boobs.

uwsinnyc commented

uwsinnyc — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:16:29 +0000

I really like both Racette and Frittoli but at the same time feel their voices are not distinctive at all.

On a tangential note, is anyone going to the Richard Tucker Gala Sunday? I heard that this year they are neither telecasting nor broadcasting it… Has anyone heard anything to the contrary?

La Marchesa Attavanti commented

La Marchesa Attavanti — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:42:46 +0000

I didn’t see her as close up as the video camera in the clips above. Her “bustin’ out all over” look as Lauretta reminds me of Patricia Arquette in “The Medium.”

Sanford commented

Sanford — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:37:07 +0000

Was that Eva Podles in the Suor Angelica? I thought the Senza Mamma sounded wonderful. I haven’t sung much Puccini and don’t really enjoy listening to it very much, but I have fond memories of singing Gianni Schicci in college.

CruzSF commented

CruzSF — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:36:34 +0000

I just realized that you might not even know what an Oldsmobile is. Never mind, I’ll shuffle back to the Home now.

CruzSF commented

CruzSF — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:34:15 +0000

I was afraid of that. Haven’t you ever heard “not your father’s Oldsmobile”? It was a joke.

javier commented

javier — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:25:34 +0000

I don’t know what you mean by my father’s…

No, it just sounds kind of mean to me, that’s all.

rommie commented

rommie — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:23:37 +0000

javier, political lesbians love the word DYKE just as I love the word FAG. Queer reclamation of these words are the cornerstone of queer activism so do not feel ashamed of using them.