Comments on: Cast the first chat

By: tenornmd1

tenornmd1 — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:21:04 +0000

Sorry that this comment comes so late, but was anyone who listened to the singers’ round table as puzzled as I was that none of the sopranos (Kiri, Stemme, and I forget the other)did get the concept of “enjoying one’s sound”?

By: operaman50

operaman50 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:58:59 +0000

Radvanovsky in DEVEREUX? Can’t think of anything worse! Beverly AND Donizetti would be rolling over!! DiGiacomo eclipsed Radvanovsky in EVERY way!

By: Regina delle fate

Regina delle fate — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:19:44 +0000

She sings a fabulously temperamental Vitellia, Elettra and Donna Elvira on Rene Jacobs’s respective recordings of Clemenza di Tito, Idomeneo and Don Giovanni. I saw her as Gilda with WNO (Welsh) – must be 20 years ago when she was about 20 and I’m a bit surprised she isn’t a superstar. This Traviata clip suggests she could have been, few rough edges, but an amazing voice for a 17 year-old, no?

By: Camille

Camille — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:13:46 +0000

Oh Harry, you got it! Just think of the publicity it would generate, not to mention the records books. Or perhaps he could sing as Cura conducts??

By: Camille

Camille — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:05:09 +0000

Hi Mr. Hans Lick — have missed U — hope you are busy and well.

When is the MET going to do our Huguenots??

By: Hans Lick

Hans Lick — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:41:57 +0000

Yes, as La Cieca said at the time (in a filk of I’m Still Here):

“Saw Cura’s debut – and wondered why he was here.”

He’s quite atrocious on computer-cast, was merely woolly in the house. Not a Met-worthy artist.

By: boerseun

boerseun — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:01:33 +0000

And a ton of additional updates have been added to the page too! A new production of Cav/Pag for starters…

By: javier

javier — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:44:14 +0000

So this actually confrims what she said in an interview not too long ago. She’s going to work her way through the tudors and then sing Norma. I can already imagine hearing Rad singing “Quel sangue”.

By: Harry

Harry — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:39:18 +0000

Well Camille you bring to light, an interesting possible proposition…….if………Domingo was the cover, the problem is simply solved. Put a ‘dummy’ on stage to mime, then Domingo could pull off his greatest feat of all Time. Conduct the orchestra while singing Don Jose at the same time! The sound balance might be a bit’out’ for the audience though…

By: boerseun

boerseun — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:38:55 +0000

I noticed the Met Futures page has recently been updated over at Sieglinde’s website, and that S Radvanovsky is getting a new production of Roberto Devereux during the 2013-2014 season.

Does anyone have the scoop on this?

By: Harry

Harry — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:33:07 +0000

Down in Australia at the moment, Vicar if I am correct. Frankly Gavin I beleive would be better to stay put in things like Manon or in Rusalka, which he does well, for the moment.

By: Often admonished

Often admonished — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:09:51 +0000

Hiding under a rock.

By: The Vicar of John Wakefield

The Vicar of John Wakefield — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:05:11 +0000

Where was Julian Gavin????

By: AskMeAboutOpera

AskMeAboutOpera — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:32:50 +0000

I think (besides Cura being controversial, wasn’t that bad either…) something was wrong with the mikes, or with the transmission sound… I was listening to it on a radio then I was wondering why it sounds so awful, then I switched to the internet and listened to it on earphones… Was definitely better. The problem with Cura is that he is not consequent/consistent. He has an amazing voice but he is sometimes lazy and should have a more solid technique… but he spend his time on conducting (really average conducting, rather bad than good…) and not to practice more singing… shame…

By: Camille

Camille — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:01:19 +0000

His substitute was probably Domingo, Himself!

Cannot help wondering what Aprile Millo might have sounded like in this part, say around 1990? Miss DiGiacomo has a nice voice, possibly for Gilda or Luisa Miller. I got zero dramatic expression/intention out of her singing.

The miracle of Don Jose Cura! How does he do it? That inimitable voce strangolata of his should have long since been over–the rattiest technical ability I’ve almost ever heard from a tenor. So sublimely indifferent, too.

By: Lucky Pierre

Lucky Pierre — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 03:39:38 +0000

pendatchanska is not that young, is she?

By: wladek

wladek — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:44:56 +0000

Dorion !- bless you , now no one can say Stiffelio was any better than this . You give us proof .
isn’t Mr Lahr the real
artist opposed to what the Met has, considering the closing first
act singing if one wanys to call it that .

By: rommie

rommie — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:00:48 +0000

ok. maybe i just havent heard about her until now.

By: armerjacquino

armerjacquino — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:56:32 +0000

Pendatchanska? She’s a star now.

By: rommie

rommie — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:49:42 +0000

great diction, very good hefty voice with actual verve and significantly less fidgety than she who will sing violetta later this season..

whatever happened to this woman?

By: armerjacquino

armerjacquino — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:03:17 +0000

Still young, you say…?

By: Soporificat

Soporificat — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:14:04 +0000

I would like one or more of them! It would be like getting a surprise treasure box!

By: Will

Will — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 12:23:28 +0000

Does anybody know who was backing Cura up in this run?

By: dorion

dorion — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 07:10:01 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPP6L1_ooaQ&feature=related

By: mrmyster

mrmyster — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 23:49:28 +0000

It is extremely clear what is wrong, it can be
said in one word: Domingo.

By: Cassandra

Cassandra — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 23:02:38 +0000

Cura has sounded atrocious for years. I’m confused as to why people are surprised. He was a technical wreck when he was emerging. His Met debut was flat out bizarre. Today sounded no different than expected.

By: Harry

Harry — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:56:21 +0000

Yes,I believe Will is absolutely right. A good many years ago Cura put out a solo recital CD disc and it was plain that he had burned his voice to a very noticable degree, on track after track. Thankfully I was able to return the disc to the shop. I am surprised he is still flogging his vocal contributions, on stage. And THIS situation is happening at the MET…..supposedly the doyen of opera spots in the World??!!

Here’s a possible option that perhaps should have taken place (since Cura also conducts): if he became the replacement for Domingo in the orchestra pit!

wladek ‘mentions the matter of people with opera subscriptions’ and in the current climate so often reported here ‘as an almost weekly occurance’….what can they be thinking ? After buying ahead in good faith, trusting the supposed promises of integrity and excellence by the MET .Then repeatedly being let down at the final call …with chops/changes and cast replacements with 3 rd rate hacks, over & over again. Any fair person would have the right to be dis-illusioned and refuse to renew subscriptions, when they become due.

By: Constantine A. Papas

Constantine A. Papas — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:55:12 +0000

I wash Cura had taken ill. No tenor, sorry, could have sung any worse: off pitch, sliding and skidding all over the place. Di Giacomo did very well indeed. Pure, flexible voice, with secure top. Bravo!

By: whatever2

whatever2 — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:28:11 +0000

Bravo! Well put for all of us who cannot bear Rad’s caterwauling and faux Verdi posturing.

By: whatever2

whatever2 — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:26:46 +0000

“And not very accurate.” Cite what you mean. I was listening with the score and was impressed with her command of the score. Of course, she had horrific conducting to contend with…