Franco, ingenuo
The Zeffirelli saga continues. According to the Corriere della sera, yesterday “lo Zeffirelli furioso” held what could mildly be described as an “animated” press conference in Rome for the presentation of the new season.
Daniela Dessì and Fabio Armiliato, the top stars of the company, did not show up. She has also canceled her appearance in Falstaff, which is going to be Zeffirelli’s next production for Rome.
Zeffirelli was not gallant, sniping that Dessì is not fit for Traviata for vocal reasons. “She had a great career and in her current state she fears the audience’s reaction.”
At this point Gelmetti, the conductor, jumped in to defend Dessì: “I don’t agree on her vocal state. Dessì is in excellent vocal shape,” adding that she is still a very attractive woman: “As a man, I would definitely date her!”
Zeffirelli replied that “Dessì is splendid for Alice, but no longer Violetta; she is not close to my idea of Violetta, who is certainly not supposed to be a well-to-do woman with a husband that always takes care of her. I have seen the Violettas of this production, they are very close to the idea I have of Violetta. I prefer to think of Traviata as an opera for young people. This is perhaps the most beautiful Traviata I have ever done, even better than the one I did with Callas. I get all emotional seeing these two young singers who are truly believable. My judgement of Dessì is not about the artist, but about the fact that she is not giving me the Violetta I have in my heart.”
Before this, there was a fight between the director and a journalist. Zeffirelli was telling about a Traviata he had seen in Hamburg, where Violetta’s party was taking place in a brothel, with the prostitutes using the bidet (“fare il bidet,” he says) behind a transparent screen. Zeffirelli concluded, “after all, they are whores, they need to wash, they are there to do things ‘alla Marrazzo’.” Now, a small parenthesis to explain this dig. Piero Marrazzo was the governor of the region Lazio, a left-wing liberal politician, who had to resign last month because he was videotaped having sex with transgendered prostitutes.
At this point, journalist Livia Bidoli reacted indignantly, saying that these insults could with equal justice be applied to Zeffirelli’s crony Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, then suggested that Zeffirelli should stop keeping saying things like these.
Zeffirelli flew into a rage and (speaking of Berlusconi) said “You are insulting a friend a mine, a man of valor,” adding “This is a serious theater. Go away, you cretin rascal [mascalzona cretina], you asshole [stronza], go fuck off [vada a fare in culo]. You don’t belong here, how dare you! Berlusconi is a friend of mine, an extraordinary man.”
zeffirelli FASCISTA!!
All the sadder because of his anti-fascist service during WWII
oh DIO!!!!
I’m sure it was a “delicate” rage . As for Dessi she is too much a “lady”
for his idea of the coughing one . If \you ever saw his stagings you would
know “gallant” was not in his dictionary . Settings that bring to
mind drag something or other.
WOW
Well the old fart has finally lost it! The reason he loves Berlusconi so much is because he provides him with his house on Via Appia. And the only reason he’s getting the directing assignments is because of his friendship with Berlusconi – Berlusconi crony our beloved Mayor Alemano is acting Superintendent of the Opera. He can’t get the potholes filled in or the garbage collected but he can run an opera house and he can get the Zef to give us his thoughts on Falstaff which if anything like his Tosca here is pretty much the same thoughts he had in 1964 at the Old Met.
Interesting that his production – new and very expensive in 2008 – of Tosca will not be used this season. Instead we are getting a reconstruction of the sets and costumes from the premiere in Rome in 1900. Fascinating planning from a man who accused of outgoing director Ernani of financial mismanagement.
Ya gotta love opera politics here in Italy.
I second the WOW!
Also, Zeffirelli cannot possibly have referred to the Hamburg Traviata. A lot of good and bad Regie stagings can be seen in Hamburg, for instance a number of highly interesting Konwitschny productions (including the high school Lohengrin), but the La Traviata is a long-time staple. The production is from 13 April 1975 and although it has been quite a while since I saw it (in 2002, the 181st staging), I am pretty sure no bidets are involved.
In the interests of world peace I think Zeff should steer clear of the Hamburg opera house. Really, he probably shouldn’t go see opera in Germany at all. It will lead only to temper tantrums.
franca would probably ADORE the Hamburg traviata (except of course, because he didn´t do it)
The Hamburg Traviata is, like you said, more than 30 years old. Incredibly boring old museum production. Nothing to do with bidets. No clue what was Franca talking about. She´s senile anyway, who cares. I can´t believe he is still in business.
Brava Livia! Who keeps on hiring this bitter old man?
tannengrin – see my comment above…
Criticize the man all you want, he deserves it. But him him this one: He might be right about Dessi. I’m not sure she can pull off Violetta, at least vocally.
Lindoro I understand that by her own admission Dessi has said she will have trouble with Act I but I have a feeling she’s still able to handle the rest. And I honestly question how effective singers like Cinzia Forte will be once past the hurtles of that act.
Very true. I am not saying that La Zefa has better ideas, just that he does have a point in calling to question Dessi’s vocal estate.
He’s not the conductor and he’s not the artistic director of the Rome Opera, so, no, it’s none of his business commenting on her vocal state. Think what a hissy fit Zeffirelli would throw if a conductor gave a press conference before the first rehearsal saying, “Signorina X, Zeffirelli’s choice for this role, is unsuitable because she can’t act the part.”
Very true Cieca carissima, but we do it here all the time. What’s the difference? We are constantly engaging in discussions about who is right for this or that part.
Stating the fact that it is not his business to comment is obvious. Are his comments based on some resemblance of knowledge? I am saying, he might have a point.
Whether it was nice of him to say it or not, whether he spoke out of turn, whether he has the authority to make those comments, whether he hold any authority over the company or anything else, is besides the point.
Being the village simpleton does not make you wrong all the time.
As I know everyone is on the Elektra chat I will take this opporunity to say that, based on what I heard of La Dessi yesterday on a Sirius broadcast from about five years ago, that unfortunately she probably may not be a very good choice. This pains me, as I rather enjoy her and esteem her, but between the voice I heard, which took a very long time to warm up, plus is dark, metallic I would venture that Lo Zeffer may have a legit point. I think the Tosca she is slated for in the spring should be much more her meat at this stage of the game. I look forward to that, but I think Lindoro Almaviva has raised a legit concern here. Sorry.
How do you think she’ll sound as Tosca? Some people here, thoroughly disappointed with Mattila earlier this season, expressed anticipation towards Dessi’s assumption of the role.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Dementia is a terrible thing.
Zeffirelli concurs.
You just said that.
And I’ll say it again!!
“Dimentia is a terrible” thing unless deep down in your heart you know you’re right.