Comments on: It’s Pat!

By: Krunoslav

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…

By: MontyNostry

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 …

By: MontyNostry

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

O&E ?

By: ellerveira

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?

By: dorion

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.

By: dorion

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.

By: Quanto Painy Fakor

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

I wonder if Sally ever lusted after those boobs!

By: louannd

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.

By: louannd

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

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

By: louannd

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

Yes, I do know.

Signed, a dyke.

By: pernille

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.

By: luvtennis

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?

By: messa di voce

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

“the dress, the voice, etc.”

The boobs.

By: uwsinnyc

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?

By: La Marchesa Attavanti

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.”

By: Sanford

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.

By: CruzSF

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.

By: CruzSF

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.

By: javier

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.

By: rommie

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.

By: La Marchesa Attavanti

La Marchesa Attavanti — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:22:35 +0000

Podles was fabulous.

By: CruzSF

CruzSF — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:19:53 +0000

Whoops. The above was meant for javier. Kashania, Ewa Podles sang the Pricipessa in the SFO production.

By: CruzSF

CruzSF — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:16:53 +0000

wrong because she’s “not your father’s lesbian,” or … ? What word do the kids use these days?

By: Satisfied

Satisfied — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:11:48 +0000

Doh! Just realized that the revival premiere is tonight. Jumped the gun a bit!

By: javier

javier — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:04:27 +0000

By the way, I never use that word in conversation and I never really type it until now. It just seems wrong.

By: javier

javier — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:03:07 +0000

Well, in that case, Dyke, I didn’t know. This actually makes her more interesting!

By: PucciniRavel

PucciniRavel — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:58:49 +0000

A vocal score for the entire Trittico can be found here:
http://books.google.com/books?id=ITtYAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover
and here
http://www.mediafire.com/?yzwzitkdmdz

By: kashania

kashania — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:49:29 +0000

Blythe didn’t sing in the SF production, I don’t think. She was fabulous in the Met premiere. Her Principessa was perfection.

By: kashania

kashania — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:48:22 +0000

Thanks for that. She looks great as Giorgetta. That dress really works for her.

By: Satisfied

Satisfied — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:24:13 +0000

Racette is all well and good and all, BUT HOW WAS MS. BLYTHE?? I was saddened having to miss her in the 2007 premiere production and was delighted to see her return to the part(s).