To be sure, it’s been only nine years, but it certainly feels much longer
“In addition to her work on stage and in recordings, Renée Fleming has represented Rolex timepieces in print advertising since 2001. Master Chef Daniel Boulud has created the dessert ‘La Diva Renée’ (1999) in her honor, and she has inspired the ‘Renée Fleming Iris’ (2004), which has been replicated in porcelain by Boehm.
“Having been added to Mr. Blackwell’s best dressed list in 2001, her gowns have been designed by Gianfranco Ferré, Issey Miyake, Bill Blass, Vivienne Westwood, Angel Sanchez, Oscar de la Renta, John Galliano, Christian Lacroix, and Karl Lagerfeld.” [voiceofthecentury.net (NSFW: autoplays verismo!)]
Guys (Gals?),
The Steber Traviata (and all the other Naxos Met broadcasts) are easily obtained from the UK. Try MDT or Europadisc. Both give excellent service and charge only $3.00 to say $5.00 for shipping. The Steber Traviata is currently on sale at Europadisc for @$10.00!
http://www.europadisc.co.uk/ or
http://www.mdt.co.uk/MDTSite/pages/home/default.asp
I cannot access comments beyond #16 or the first page. Does anybody else have the same problem?
Monty Nostry(18.1# comment.) Regarding Bryn Tefel: presently, what I find most noticeable is the lack of weight, the inability to project menace (if called for)or suggest a voice with glint of black steel or coal. A good litmus test : if one listens to the Iago’s Credo (Otello) on that new Terfel ‘Bad Boys’ CD, one is shocked. One, only has to vividly remember the likes of Gobbi, on that Serafin complete recording with Vickers/Rysanek and the problem is as plain a mud. Ditto: Terfel’s Scarpia (Tosca) contribution, his Sweeney Todd excerpt etc etc. He is fast becoming the baritone version of a Bocelli. An operatic- entertainer type for the non discerning.
The CD is what I would call ‘a stinker’.
P,S The pathetic woman used in the Sweeney Todd excerpt as Mrs Moffat makes its original star Angela Lansbury, appear a interpretative Callas by comparison!
I luckily do not own the CD. I heard it repeatedly played complete, over & over on a all night digital radio channel. The dream that was once held that he was set for stardom as a ‘Wagnerian’ I think we can now put to rest, once and for all
The Steber Traviata was broadcast by Sirius a few weeks ago and will likely be broadcast again. Easy to tape it off the air.
Thanks for that heads-up, iltenoredigrazia.