Comments on: “And thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges” http://parterre.com/2009/12/04/%e2%80%9cand-thus-the-whirligig-of-time-brings-in-his-revenges%e2%80%9d/ where opera is king and you, the readers, are queens Sun, 27 May 2012 09:13:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: mox http://parterre.com/2009/12/04/%e2%80%9cand-thus-the-whirligig-of-time-brings-in-his-revenges%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-109040 mox Sun, 06 Dec 2009 10:15:49 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=10896#comment-109040 As much I like this website as much I dislike this ongoing comparing of living and still singing artists with dead or since a long time not singing anymore artists. If so then beside Caballe, Sutherland, Sills there should be also Erika Köth. I did not watch this dvd and will not, I saw the live broad cast on TV and heart the one of the opening night on radio. Gruberova sang during the taping period three time Lucretia and two time Norma, what she never should do. The dvd is for sure edited out of two taping sessions and was also the one which was broadcasted. If the producer would be a producer then he would correct the wrong notes with the ones from the radio broadcast, which was just wonderful and would be not a fake because it was the same cast and conductor. What made me more angry during watching the broadcast, how the video director missed most of the very intellegent staging work of Loy and how additional TV lighting destroyed the scenes. Again a producer problem. As much I like this website as much I dislike this ongoing comparing of living and still singing artists with dead or since a long time not singing anymore artists. If so then beside Caballe, Sutherland, Sills there should be also Erika Köth. I did not watch this dvd and will not, I saw the live broad cast on TV and heart the one of the opening night on radio. Gruberova sang during the taping period three time Lucretia and two time Norma, what she never should do. The dvd is for sure edited out of two taping sessions and was also the one which was broadcasted. If the producer would be a producer then he would correct the wrong notes with the ones from the radio broadcast, which was just wonderful and would be not a fake because it was the same cast and conductor. What made me more angry during watching the broadcast, how the video director missed most of the very intellegent staging work of Loy and how additional TV lighting destroyed the scenes. Again a producer problem.

]]> By: DottoreMalatesta http://parterre.com/2009/12/04/%e2%80%9cand-thus-the-whirligig-of-time-brings-in-his-revenges%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-108985 DottoreMalatesta Sat, 05 Dec 2009 22:55:22 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=10896#comment-108985 June is actually pretty amazing here! June is actually pretty amazing here!

]]> By: dorion http://parterre.com/2009/12/04/%e2%80%9cand-thus-the-whirligig-of-time-brings-in-his-revenges%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-108981 dorion Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:40:50 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=10896#comment-108981 June Anderson's at least partially faithful to the score, Gruberova's a total mess. Caballé will remain the ultimate Lucrezia, followed closely by Sutherland, who was also superb. This is a master score that should be staged more often, it was way ahead of its time for 1833, Verdi was heavily influenced. Plus there's no love interest, Gennaro and Orsini might as well be openly gay. June Anderson’s at least partially faithful to the score, Gruberova’s a total mess. Caballé will remain the ultimate Lucrezia, followed closely by Sutherland, who was also superb. This is a master score that should be staged more often, it was way ahead of its time for 1833, Verdi was heavily influenced. Plus there’s no love interest, Gennaro and Orsini might as well be openly gay.

]]> By: dorion http://parterre.com/2009/12/04/%e2%80%9cand-thus-the-whirligig-of-time-brings-in-his-revenges%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-108979 dorion Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:27:49 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=10896#comment-108979 not her name, it's her family's. And the displaying of BORGIA then ORGIA is part of the story in every production. not her name, it’s her family’s. And the displaying of BORGIA then ORGIA is part of the story in every production.

]]> By: Sanford http://parterre.com/2009/12/04/%e2%80%9cand-thus-the-whirligig-of-time-brings-in-his-revenges%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-108916 Sanford Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:35:40 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=10896#comment-108916 Ismael Jordi, the Gennaro, is really cute, and the voice is beautiful. June has never been a singer who did it for me. But I think she sounds terrific here. She's not that much younger than Gruberova. Off topic, during the chat the other night, someone provided a link to download Don Giovanni with Sills (Donna Anna), Michel Senechal (Ottavio), and Gerard Souzay (Giovanni). OMG! Souzay is about the silkiest Don ever. And Sills is amazing. Ismael Jordi, the Gennaro, is really cute, and the voice is beautiful. June has never been a singer who did it for me. But I think she sounds terrific here. She’s not that much younger than Gruberova.

Off topic, during the chat the other night, someone provided a link to download Don Giovanni with Sills (Donna Anna), Michel Senechal (Ottavio), and Gerard Souzay (Giovanni). OMG! Souzay is about the silkiest Don ever. And Sills is amazing.

]]> By: Verdilover http://parterre.com/2009/12/04/%e2%80%9cand-thus-the-whirligig-of-time-brings-in-his-revenges%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-108913 Verdilover Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:20:06 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=10896#comment-108913 June Anderson is still doing a fine job at this: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh51YKwbh2o httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVm8rDR8y34 June Anderson is still doing a fine job at this:


]]> By: Ercole Farnese http://parterre.com/2009/12/04/%e2%80%9cand-thus-the-whirligig-of-time-brings-in-his-revenges%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-108907 Ercole Farnese Sat, 05 Dec 2009 13:22:23 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=10896#comment-108907 There is a little known fact about Lucrezia Borgia. Her tumb is inside the Corpus Domini convent in Ferrara. It is not open to the general public, but if one rings the bell, a nun will usually come to the door and allow you to visit the tumb, The tumb's marble transudes with a sort of slightly sticky liquid (condensation, if you will). The nuns collect it in little vials and claim that it will heal any throat's ailment. I know a few singers who make regular use of it. There is a little known fact about Lucrezia Borgia. Her tumb is inside the Corpus Domini convent in Ferrara. It is not open to the general public, but if one rings the bell, a nun will usually come to the door and allow you to visit the tumb, The tumb’s marble transudes with a sort of slightly sticky liquid (condensation, if you will). The nuns collect it in little vials and claim that it will heal any throat’s ailment. I know a few singers who make regular use of it.

]]> By: La Cieca http://parterre.com/2009/12/04/%e2%80%9cand-thus-the-whirligig-of-time-brings-in-his-revenges%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-108829 La Cieca Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:23:08 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=10896#comment-108829 "Gennaro and his friends come into the Plaza. They see the [legend] BORGIA under the escutcheon of the palace. Gennaro, to show his detestation of Lucrezia’s crimes, rushes up the steps and with his sword hacks away the first letter of the name, leaving only ORGIA. At the command of the Duke, he is arrested." “Gennaro and his friends come into the Plaza. They see the [legend] BORGIA under the escutcheon of the palace. Gennaro, to show his detestation of Lucrezia’s crimes, rushes up the steps and with his sword hacks away the first letter of the name, leaving only ORGIA. At the command of the Duke, he is arrested.”

]]> By: J. G. Pastorkyna http://parterre.com/2009/12/04/%e2%80%9cand-thus-the-whirligig-of-time-brings-in-his-revenges%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-108818 J. G. Pastorkyna Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:30:24 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=10896#comment-108818 I believe the name on the wall is part of the story, with Gennaro's buddies striking off the B in Borgia. I believe the name on the wall is part of the story, with Gennaro’s buddies striking off the B in Borgia.

]]> By: javier http://parterre.com/2009/12/04/%e2%80%9cand-thus-the-whirligig-of-time-brings-in-his-revenges%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-108814 javier Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:27:42 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=10896#comment-108814 It would be much better of they would just release on DVD the concert performance of Gruberova's very first Borgia which has a much better cast:Ewa Podles (Orsini) and Jose Bros (Gennaro). I was filmed and radio broadcast, but no one will release the entire video. She was in much better voice, especially for "Era desso" in that performance. Anyway, who the hell wrote this review? Mention Caballe and Gencer but completely skip Sutherland in favor of Devia? OMG! It would be much better of they would just release on DVD the concert performance of Gruberova’s very first Borgia which has a much better cast:Ewa Podles (Orsini) and Jose Bros (Gennaro).

I was filmed and radio broadcast, but no one will release the entire video. She was in much better voice, especially for “Era desso” in that performance.

Anyway, who the hell wrote this review? Mention Caballe and Gencer but completely skip Sutherland in favor of Devia? OMG!

]]> By: Sanford http://parterre.com/2009/12/04/%e2%80%9cand-thus-the-whirligig-of-time-brings-in-his-revenges%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-108811 Sanford Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:12:48 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=10896#comment-108811 She;s one of the singers I felt like I *should* like, rather than someone I *actually* liked. And I never understood with this production why it was necessary to put Lucretia's name on the wall. Did the audience not know they bought tickets for this opera? (he asked snarkily) She;s one of the singers I felt like I *should* like, rather than someone I *actually* liked.

And I never understood with this production why it was necessary to put Lucretia’s name on the wall. Did the audience not know they bought tickets for this opera? (he asked snarkily)

]]> By: DottoreMalatesta http://parterre.com/2009/12/04/%e2%80%9cand-thus-the-whirligig-of-time-brings-in-his-revenges%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-108807 DottoreMalatesta Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:49:46 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=10896#comment-108807 And about Gruberova, let me add that while I give her all the credit for the career she had (even though I've never really liked her very much), I think she's entering that "Oh, why is she singing yet?"-phase that Christa Ludwig wanted to avoid. And about Gruberova, let me add that while I give her all the credit for the career she had (even though I’ve never really liked her very much), I think she’s entering that “Oh, why is she singing yet?”-phase that Christa Ludwig wanted to avoid.

]]> By: DottoreMalatesta http://parterre.com/2009/12/04/%e2%80%9cand-thus-the-whirligig-of-time-brings-in-his-revenges%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-108804 DottoreMalatesta Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:45:16 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=10896#comment-108804 While I find the concept of the production interesting, I think that both Gruberova and Breslik are terribily miscast. She because even though her voice isn't completely gone, her sense of style gives Renee's mannerisms a run for their money. Come è bello posted here isn't bad, but check for the final scene and it's a complete trainwreck: vibrato-less tones, scoops, coughs (read "chest voice attempts"), tonally strange candenze, see it and you'll understand. And yes, the E flat doesn't really count as a note... It's on the final scene that Berslik also hits the bottom. He simply isn't a belcanto tenor yet. He might be good in Mozart (I have to say I don't know much of his work) but he's got no business singing Donizetti the way he sang it on the final scene. Overall, I think this could have been a good production had they casted someone else as Lucrezia and Gennaro. Mariella Devia comes to my mind: her voice is in much better shape and she does have a sense of taste. By the way, I think Gennaro would be a good comeback role for Villazon. While I find the concept of the production interesting, I think that both Gruberova and Breslik are terribily miscast. She because even though her voice isn’t completely gone, her sense of style gives Renee’s mannerisms a run for their money. Come è bello posted here isn’t bad, but check for the final scene and it’s a complete trainwreck: vibrato-less tones, scoops, coughs (read “chest voice attempts”), tonally strange candenze, see it and you’ll understand. And yes, the E flat doesn’t really count as a note…

It’s on the final scene that Berslik also hits the bottom. He simply isn’t a belcanto tenor yet. He might be good in Mozart (I have to say I don’t know much of his work) but he’s got no business singing Donizetti the way he sang it on the final scene.

Overall, I think this could have been a good production had they casted someone else as Lucrezia and Gennaro. Mariella Devia comes to my mind: her voice is in much better shape and she does have a sense of taste. By the way, I think Gennaro would be a good comeback role for Villazon.

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