parterre box

100 comments

• Krunoslav says:

  Speaking of washed-up sopranos, can we *believe* that the NY TIMES allowed Tony T. to gush all over Heidi Grunt Murphy, whose desssicated vocalism is like a lead weight in the otherwise strong current Met SUOR ANGELICA and who was terrible — TERRIBLE– vocally and unbearable dramatically in ORFEO. She hasn’t sung well in years.

  Her Paris performances, to which TT airily alludes, were booed and excoriated in the French musical press.

  It is depressing that the senior music critic of the leading American paper cannot begin to judge voices. And if that outer borough soi-disant”punk” poster here nurses any further doubts that the TIMES will go to any lengths to bolster the ticket selling needs of Mr. Gelb’s Met, this utterly pointless “Power Couple” article should put them to rest.

  Ms. Grant Murphy sang prettily for a few years. Her subsequent career at the Met continues the nepotistic legacy of such immortals as Nina Morgana and Mary Ellen Pracht.

  on November 28, 2009 at 6:46 AM
  • mrmyster says:

    In addition to which, Kruno, HGM looks like a New Jersey housewife gone to seed, otherwise known as a Pig With Lipstick. She is not stageworthy.
    Why oh why doesn’t the NYT replace Tony T. with a decent and reliable; he is shockingly misleading.

    on November 28, 2009 at 10:11 AM
  • Cassandra says:

    This is so true. It’s something like almost two decades that she’s been having problems. I have refused to listen since being forced to sit through her cracking every high note written for Sophie at least sixteen years ago.

    on November 28, 2009 at 11:39 AM
• Harry says:

  Regina delle fate: the scariest voiced Queen of night committed to disc on a ‘premier release’ would have to be Luciana Serra’s attempt on the Colin Davis version, one also from Philips. It is a true classic sore thumb miscast.
  As a slight sidetrack, who has noted Netrebko’s CD release called Souvenirs…..With Strauss she appears to ‘just make it’ but at the same time a listener could quite easily imagine her stressed and cross-eyed in the attempt. She does not appear to be a Strauss person.

  on November 28, 2009 at 9:20 AM
  • Regina delle fate says:

    Oh yes – I forgot Serra – she sounds like a tin-whistle on that. She was a terrific Olympia at Covent Garden, however, and a light Pagliughi-like Sonnambula a bit later. Better coloratura than Cotrubas at the time, but considerably less warmth.

    on November 28, 2009 at 10:00 AM