Comments on: Physical culture

By: romani

romani — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:41:45 +0000

I was an admirer of the Zef for many years; it’s sad to see what his career has deteriorated into.
But the worst of all is the news that the Arena di Verona will install microphones. Apparently, entirely at the Zef’s insistence.
Granted, the Arena was never the place to witness a subltle performance, but all of the arguments made to justify amplification outdoors will eventually be made to justify amplification indoors, as well.

By: javier

javier — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:02:07 +0000

perfect example.

By: mrmyster

mrmyster — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:03:23 +0000

Don’t you mean ‘twit?’
I think so too.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:56:19 +0000

You’re quite a boring twat, aren’t you?

By: Camille

Camille — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:25:10 +0000

La Diva Carla is still dancing???

Oh dear. I truly hope it is not too embarrassing to witness. After witnessing her Black Swan @ Scala in spring ’86, I have never seen a ballerina to equal her. Never forget the milanesi yelling ‘Carla, Carla’ for her at the end. Utterly Stendhal!!!

Thank you very much for your information regarding the choreography as I was, indeed, most curious as to how it was reconstructed. I felt privileged to have had the opportunity to see a recreation done on such a level.

May I also ask this, Sigr. Willym, did you see the ‘Amica’ of Mascagni, which I just narrowly missed. Another rarity. I was wondering if it were a success. R.S.V.P.

Buona Domenica!

By: willym

willym — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:58:22 +0000

Ciao Camille
That is one of the good things about having Carla Fracci as director of the ballet company – she has revived some wonderful 19th century works. There is a downside in that she still insists on dancing but let’s not visit that question.

Yes I saw the Somnambule – it was a lovely performance. Well danced and designed with a real flavour of period ballet. I had a conversation with the choreographer Luciano Cannito afterward and he was telling me he had very little to go on for the reconstruction. He decided to create his choreography within a Bourneville style and it really did work. We were lucky to have an example of the Danish style when Thomas Lund was here last month for a revival of La Sylphide.

And this past season Dr. Ernani’s last – was an interesting if uneven one. It is a shame that things have come to this.

By: Camille

Camille — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 04:58:03 +0000

Caro Mr Willym

What can you expect when the primary occupation of Romans is, to paraphrase Fran Liebowitz, “going to lunch”??
When I was a resident romana there was no sovrintendente at Teatro all’Opera for the entire time I was there, nearly three years.

Last year, about this time, I was visiting and had the grand pleasure of seeing “La Sonnambule” — did you see it as well? It would be nice to hear your thoughts on this loving recreation.

Grazie tanto e Buon Pranzo!!!

By: Harry

Harry — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:39:55 +0000

Perhaps Zefferelli’s last direction is probably going to be called a production of Tea with Berlusconi.
As for when he offered his services to the Vatican, he would have been completely in his element. All those super epic big St Peters Square shows, are the finest displays of ‘cast of thousands’ Grand Opera imaginable anywhere. They just did not happen to offer the job to Cecil B de Mille when he was alive.

By: Ercole Farnese

Ercole Farnese — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:38:32 +0000

Zeffirelli used to be a Senator of the Italian Republic, elected with Berlusconi’s party Forza Italia. He doesn’t hold any official position right now, but he is extremely well connected with both the Vatican and Berlusconi. Berlusconi owns the villa on the Appia Antica where Zeffirelli lives. Zeffirelli has been renting that grandiose villa for over 30 years; however a few years ago the owners of the villa declared bankruptcy and had to sell it. Berlusconi bought it and allowed Zeffirelli to live there as long as he is alive, without paying any rent. Also, a few years ago, he offered his services as an image consultant to the Pope, thinking that the Pontiff wasn’t doing a great job promoting himself. The Pope politely declined. Zeffirelli declares himself to be profoundly Christian and vehemently opposes same-sex civil unions.

By: kashania

kashania — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:07:04 +0000

Dementia is a terrible thing.

By: mrmyster

mrmyster — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:56:48 +0000

Mert – Isn’t being a has-been old queen sufficient
reason? I always thought so!

By: La marquise de Merteuil

La marquise de Merteuil — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:47:17 +0000

I wonder what is the real source behind all of the big Zef’s bitterness? I bet there’s a really juicy big old reason …

Nonetheless, in all of this he is making a big a-hole of himself.

By: Lindoro Almaviva

Lindoro Almaviva — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:48:00 +0000

to quote Will:
self-appointed arbiter of opera production world-wide

Big whinny bitch also seems to apply.

By: Lindoro Almaviva

Lindoro Almaviva — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:46:47 +0000

Then, why not have Fillanotti sing Violetta and Stewart Neil sing Alfredo? Maybe that will please la Zeffa.

By: La Cieca

La Cieca — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:13:27 +0000

Particularly the “woman” quality…

By: CruzSF

CruzSF — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:12:43 +0000

Does old Zeff still have an official position anywhere? Just what is his title?

By: Ercole Farnese

Ercole Farnese — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:08:41 +0000

The editorial of that blog operaclick says that according to Zeffirelli Ms Dessì is not “esangue e emaciata” (exsanguine and emaciated) and enough for his view of Violetta. Ms. Dessì is a beautiful voluptuous busty woman and I guess Zeffirelli did not appreciate these qualities.

By: squirrel

squirrel — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:55:33 +0000

Has anyone dug up the reasons why Zeff would diss the Dessi? That Italian blog says nothing except that she doesn’t fit his idea of the Physique du Role. Does he want a blonde? And why does this old fart still have a pulpit for such whining?

By: mrmyster

mrmyster — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:22:13 +0000

I adored Valerie Masterson – what a treat she was; one of the great Gilbert and Sullivan sopranos of all time!

By: Cassandra

Cassandra — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:32:00 +0000

Let’s not forget that Berlusconi’s protective circle is getting smaller by the second, and he’s going to most likely end up in prison for quite some time.

By: Verdilover

Verdilover — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:43:12 +0000

Declared insane, I mean.

Reading Armiliato’s post in operaclick gives me more admiration for him and his wife.

By: Verdilover

Verdilover — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:18:30 +0000

Dessi is most probably my favorite lyric soprano in activity today (Stoyanova being a runner-uper).

There are many things rotten in the city of Rome nowadays, and Zeffirelli should be declared a few years back – right now he should be institutionalized.

By: mox

mox — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:06:38 +0000

As Luc Bondy said, after Zeffirelli called him a second rated European director: Zeffirelli is and was always the second assistant of Visconti. Which is true, Pasolini and Bertollucci were in front of him.

Just saw the final dress rehearsal of L’Elisire d’amore in Munich. Except the stupid staging of the soldiers a wonderful performance. The tenor played his part with a Chaplinesque touch, which worked just perfect and he is a very very good singer. The whole cast was very good. The leading soprano looks beautiful and after the break, she sang very well, before it was probably to early for her.

By: Ercole Farnese

Ercole Farnese — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:13:42 +0000

And let’s not forget that in Italy political connections are extremely important, and la Zeffa is very well connected to the current right wing government, and doesn’t waste a chance to publicly praise Berlusconi.

By: Ercole Farnese

Ercole Farnese — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:41:42 +0000

Precisely so. Dessì herself has said that her Violetta would be in the mold of Tebaldi or Zeani. I am sure she won’t give the most acrobatic rendition of the first act cabaletta, and obviously she won’t end it with a E flat, but the two other acts (which are the core of the opera, let’s not forget it) are her turf.

By: Will

Will — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:31:07 +0000

It appears Mr. Zeffirelli has become the self-appointed arbiter of opera production world-wide. Fortunately he didn’t get his hands on New York City Opera. Actually, the problem isn’t so much La Fef–he can just be ignored until he goes off to harass somebody else–but any opera company that would be so stupid as to knuckle under to his ravings. It’s sad–he used to be an artist several decades ago.

By: manou

manou — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:17:17 +0000

Neill replaced Filianoti as Don Carlo at La Scala.

By: Baltsamic Vinaigrette

Baltsamic Vinaigrette — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:37:27 +0000

You can trust La Cieca on this as on so many things, baritenor.

In the printed extract above, FZ is allegedly making comparisons between the 2007 Violetta and Dessi. Sgr Armiliato reports that apparently DD’s physique does not correspond to the maestro’s ideas regarding the personality of VV.

I presume that by ‘maestro’, Sgr Armiliato is referring to FZ himself and not Verdi. Either way, it’s little wonder he ended his report on a triple-exclamation mark: Dessi is in good nick physically. But perhaps only Ms De Niese will do?

Note that the report is exactly that – I do not see any direct quote from FZ on the blog link.

By: willym

willym — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:37:48 +0000

Good point browser on both counts. Dessi is one of those performers who has to be seen to be appreciated. Her Minnie here was a great experience and even if she had difficulty with the Traviata or parts of it, it would have been an event.

By: browser

browser — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:16:46 +0000

Willym…the way things are in Roma now, I wouldn’t be surprised if Dessi never received a contract out of which to be bought. And I don’t think it would ever occur to her that they would pull her from a production.

Big Q – you have to see Dessi on stage…and I wouldn’t take Adriana as a good indication of how she will sing Violetta (which is a very different opera when done in Italy anyway).