As of now
Early reports indicate that Rolando Villazón was back in form last night for his return to the stage in L’elisir d’amore at the Vienna Stage Opera.
According to Larry L. Lash for Bloomberg News, the tenor “shaped the lament into a masterful technique, coloring each syllable and demonstrating astounding breath control during the long final cadenza, gradually raising the volume on the penultimate note and then reducing it to a mere whisper.”
Sarah (#39) and Betsy (#40),
Thanks for the link and the hint about google. Very kind of you. I think I was able to translate the googleeze into manageable English. I guess we won’t really know where RV stands in the operatic firmament for a while but it seems he is going to have to bypass a lot of the Verdi and Puccini staples and concentrate on lighter works in smaller houses. Either that or skip the whole legitimate opera scene and become a 21st century Mario Lanza. Whatever he does I hope he can have a good life and bring happiness to others. I just don’t see him in Don Carlos (my favorite Verdi opera with sounds of Jussi ringing in my memory) at the Met. Thanks again for your kindness.
Tim