Comments on: The lady of the camellias vanishes http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/ where opera is king and you, the readers, are queens Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:29:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bianca Castafiore http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-9/#comment-128610 Bianca Castafiore Fri, 16 Apr 2010 04:47:49 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128610 Armer, carissimo, it's of course 'I' who went to the Met, not 'ME'. Don't worry, I shall always be ready to kick you while you are down, since Babirusa Bonbonniere is not always available for such duty. Armer, carissimo, it’s of course ‘I’ who went to the Met, not ‘ME’. Don’t worry, I shall always be ready to kick you while you are down, since Babirusa Bonbonniere is not always available for such duty.

]]> By: SopracutO http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-9/#comment-128470 SopracutO Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:18:57 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128470 httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YTeVy1X018&feature=player_embedded

]]> By: SopracutO http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-8/#comment-128455 SopracutO Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:39:27 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128455 21 y.o. Angela Gheorghiu singing: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX1Qv9pLiaE 21 y.o. Angela Gheorghiu singing:

]]> By: armerjacquino http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-8/#comment-128439 armerjacquino Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:39:11 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128439 Aaaagh, horrible horrible grammarfail. It was of course ME who first visited the met in 2006, not Hong as the above sentence suggests. That's one of my betes noires and I am horrified to have done it. Aaaagh, horrible horrible grammarfail.

It was of course ME who first visited the met in 2006, not Hong as the above sentence suggests. That’s one of my betes noires and I am horrified to have done it.

]]> By: armerjacquino http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-8/#comment-128438 armerjacquino Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:32:32 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128438 As someone who only visited the Met for the first time in 2006, Hong has never really been on my radar. The only complete role I have heard her sing (on radio) was the Contessa, in that Figaro where Oropesa stepped in as Susanna at the last minute. I found her (Hong's) performance detailed, spirited and intelligent, and there's no doubt that the voice is lovely, but she didn't particularly excite me- so I guess this is a pointless retread of a post. Sorry. The mention of Amara above reminds me of the cruel joke about her retirement gala- three acts of her signature roles, with Amara covering all three. As someone who only visited the Met for the first time in 2006, Hong has never really been on my radar. The only complete role I have heard her sing (on radio) was the Contessa, in that Figaro where Oropesa stepped in as Susanna at the last minute. I found her (Hong’s) performance detailed, spirited and intelligent, and there’s no doubt that the voice is lovely, but she didn’t particularly excite me- so I guess this is a pointless retread of a post. Sorry.

The mention of Amara above reminds me of the cruel joke about her retirement gala- three acts of her signature roles, with Amara covering all three.

]]> By: La Cieca http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-8/#comment-128437 La Cieca Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:21:59 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128437 <I>would you rather go see and hear hong — who may not bowl you over every time but never gives a bad performance — or take your chances with such variable entities as gheorghiu, netrebko or fleming?</i> Give La Cieca the thrill ride every time. would you rather go see and hear hong — who may not bowl you over every time but never gives a bad performance — or take your chances with such variable entities as gheorghiu, netrebko or fleming?

Give La Cieca the thrill ride every time.

]]> By: 98rsd http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-8/#comment-128435 98rsd Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:11:30 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128435 Not that I want to hear Hong do Traviata now (or ever did--I think she lacks the temperament, although this is a guess), but Cieca seems to misunderstand what a career is. Of course her wonderful performances in the 90s count in terms of judging her career. Whether you want to hear her now or not is a different matter. I'm not a huge Hong fan, but to say that because she's not on a plane now to Bratislava that she couldn't have a more international career is absurd. Some singers prefer to stick close to home. Is that so very difficult to imagine? Not that I want to hear Hong do Traviata now (or ever did–I think she lacks the temperament, although this is a guess), but Cieca seems to misunderstand what a career is. Of course her wonderful performances in the 90s count in terms of judging her career. Whether you want to hear her now or not is a different matter.

I’m not a huge Hong fan, but to say that because she’s not on a plane now to Bratislava that she couldn’t have a more international career is absurd. Some singers prefer to stick close to home. Is that so very difficult to imagine?

]]> By: casualoperafan http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-8/#comment-128424 casualoperafan Thu, 15 Apr 2010 07:05:10 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128424 Gallardo-Domas had a very bad time with a type of arthritis and announced a withdrawal from the stage on her web site, which she brought down and it was reported in various news outlets too.. Her health seems to have improved and she resumed stage performances and if I am not mistaken, she just received outstanding reviews for a recent performance of Salud in La vida breve in Spain. She has some other dates in the near future. Not sure if her vocal estate in recent years was the effect of ill health or poor technique or heavy roles or what... but one review said she sounded better than she had in years. I do not know if she has any future engagements at the Met or in the role of Violetta but she is still listed for Il Postino in Los Angeles and Boheme in Catania among a few other things. One role they mentioned her doing in 2011 was Tosca!! FWIW http://www.emol.com/noticias/magazine/detalle/detallenoticias.asp?idnoticia=405432 http://www.emol.com/noticias/magazine/detalle/detallenoticias.asp?idnoticia=405603 Gallardo-Domas had a very bad time with a type of arthritis and announced a withdrawal from the stage on her web site, which she brought down and it was reported in various news outlets too..

Her health seems to have improved and she resumed stage performances and if I am not mistaken, she just received outstanding reviews for a recent performance of Salud in La vida breve in Spain. She has some other dates in the near future.

Not sure if her vocal estate in recent years was the effect of ill health or poor technique or heavy roles or what… but one review said she sounded better than she had in years.

I do not know if she has any future engagements at the Met or in the role of Violetta but she is still listed for Il Postino in Los Angeles and Boheme in Catania among a few other things. One role they mentioned her doing in 2011 was Tosca!!

FWIW

http://www.emol.com/noticias/magazine/detalle/detallenoticias.asp?idnoticia=405432

http://www.emol.com/noticias/magazine/detalle/detallenoticias.asp?idnoticia=405603

]]> By: BETSY_ANN_BOBOLINK http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-8/#comment-128414 BETSY_ANN_BOBOLINK Thu, 15 Apr 2010 05:32:19 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128414 Dear Vicar, Susannah Glanville may be mentioned ANY time. Dear Vicar, Susannah Glanville may be mentioned ANY time.

]]> By: The Vicar of John Wakefield http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-8/#comment-128413 The Vicar of John Wakefield Thu, 15 Apr 2010 05:26:23 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128413 This seems the time to mention Susannah Glanville. This seems the time to mention Susannah Glanville.

]]> By: scifisci http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-8/#comment-128412 scifisci Thu, 15 Apr 2010 05:18:30 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128412 72: you clearly haven't be in attendance at the Met in the past 5 years. Gallardo-Domas was an awful butterfly in 2006, and gheorghiu has been singing rather well as of late. Did you hear her traviata this year? It marks quite a different approach than she has taken in the past, and is indeed overwhelming. I would say the same about her rondine last year. Just because someone's famous doesn't mean he/she is overrated, and it doesn't mean that he/she is not. Hong is a lovely countess, liu, etc. but I wouldn't say she has that bit of distinctiveness and individuality that move me. But believe me, i'd take her over some of the dreck the met has been serving up. 72: you clearly haven’t be in attendance at the Met in the past 5 years. Gallardo-Domas was an awful butterfly in 2006, and gheorghiu has been singing rather well as of late. Did you hear her traviata this year? It marks quite a different approach than she has taken in the past, and is indeed overwhelming. I would say the same about her rondine last year. Just because someone’s famous doesn’t mean he/she is overrated, and it doesn’t mean that he/she is not. Hong is a lovely countess, liu, etc. but I wouldn’t say she has that bit of distinctiveness and individuality that move me. But believe me, i’d take her over some of the dreck the met has been serving up.

]]> By: Avantialouie http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-8/#comment-128410 Avantialouie Thu, 15 Apr 2010 05:08:48 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128410 I cannot think of one single role in which Gheorghiu would be my preference over Hong, or in which I wouldn't rate Gheorgiu about the equal of Swenson. And speaking of that: what has happened to the soprano I would prefer to even Hong in the current "Traviata," Christina Gallardo-Domas? She cancelled her Butterfly run last season and seems to have dropped out of sight. Is she in serious vocal trouble? Is she ill? She gave some sublime performances. I've heard her wonderful Mimi and Violetta at the Met, and a concert "Otello" at Ravinia among several others. I cannot think of one single role in which Gheorghiu would be my preference over Hong, or in which I wouldn’t rate Gheorgiu about the equal of Swenson. And speaking of that: what has happened to the soprano I would prefer to even Hong in the current “Traviata,” Christina Gallardo-Domas? She cancelled her Butterfly run last season and seems to have dropped out of sight. Is she in serious vocal trouble? Is she ill? She gave some sublime performances. I’ve heard her wonderful Mimi and Violetta at the Met, and a concert “Otello” at Ravinia among several others.

]]> By: Lucky Pierre http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-7/#comment-128393 Lucky Pierre Thu, 15 Apr 2010 03:21:31 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128393 eli, gruber is locked up in my sweatshop making shoes, until she repays her debt to me over that miserable aida years ago. eli, gruber is locked up in my sweatshop making shoes, until she repays her debt to me over that miserable aida years ago.

]]> By: Lucky Pierre http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-7/#comment-128391 Lucky Pierre Thu, 15 Apr 2010 03:15:51 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128391 in other words, are you always overwhelmed by angie, trebs, renee or karita? well, i'm not. sometimes i am, but not always. in other words, are you always overwhelmed by angie, trebs, renee or karita? well, i’m not. sometimes i am, but not always.

]]> By: Lucky Pierre http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-7/#comment-128389 Lucky Pierre Thu, 15 Apr 2010 03:10:55 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128389 la cieca, i find your dismissal of hong as not enough of a star or prima donna quite funny considering how many bad performances you regularly attend at the met. so yes, the lady is not the biggest diva on earth, doesn't have the biggest voice, or the most distinctive tone, but would you rather go see and hear hong -- who may not bowl you over every time but never gives a bad performance -- or take your chances with such variable entities as gheorghiu, netrebko or fleming????? in the end, which fans come out ahead???? la cieca, i find your dismissal of hong as not enough of a star or prima donna quite funny considering how many bad performances you regularly attend at the met. so yes, the lady is not the biggest diva on earth, doesn’t have the biggest voice, or the most distinctive tone, but would you rather go see and hear hong — who may not bowl you over every time but never gives a bad performance — or take your chances with such variable entities as gheorghiu, netrebko or fleming????? in the end, which fans come out ahead????

]]> By: BETSY_ANN_BOBOLINK http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-7/#comment-128298 BETSY_ANN_BOBOLINK Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:04:00 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128298 . . . and Maria Guleghina and Natalie Dessay and Violeta Urmana and Salvatore Licitra and (clears throat)... . . . and Maria Guleghina and Natalie Dessay and Violeta Urmana and Salvatore Licitra and (clears throat)…

]]> By: peter http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-7/#comment-128297 peter Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:03:37 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128297 That's funny La Cieca. That's not what I heard besides she had sung enough seasons already to know whether she was "any good". That’s funny La Cieca. That’s not what I heard besides she had sung enough seasons already to know whether she was “any good”.

]]> By: lmsmith55 http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-7/#comment-128296 lmsmith55 Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:01:34 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128296 La Cieca is absolutely right; La Gheorghiu has the sacred fire and the other gals don't. La Cieca is absolutely right; La Gheorghiu has the sacred fire and the other gals don’t.

]]> By: Gualtier M http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-7/#comment-128294 Gualtier M Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:58:35 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128294 Where is Andrea Gruber these days? Andrea, call home! It is her face that should be on the side of the milk carton. Any news would be appreciated. Where is Andrea Gruber these days? Andrea, call home! It is her face that should be on the side of the milk carton. Any news would be appreciated.

]]> By: La Cieca http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-7/#comment-128261 La Cieca Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:01:47 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128261 peter, actually I don't remember anything of the sort. What appears to have transpired is that Gelb and his staff waited to hear Radvanovsky do the performances in her then-outstanding contracts before offering her new engagements. Not such a bad policy when you think how badly the Met was burned with the likes of Andrea Gruber. peter, actually I don’t remember anything of the sort. What appears to have transpired is that Gelb and his staff waited to hear Radvanovsky do the performances in her then-outstanding contracts before offering her new engagements. Not such a bad policy when you think how badly the Met was burned with the likes of Andrea Gruber.

]]> By: Hippolyte http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-7/#comment-128258 Hippolyte Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:57:45 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128258 It's funny that someone mentioned Hong's Ilia as one of her best parts. My recollection was that of the cast that included von Otter, Studer and Rolfe Johnson, my feeling was that Hong was the one who didn't merit inclusion--bland and dull. It’s funny that someone mentioned Hong’s Ilia as one of her best parts. My recollection was that of the cast that included von Otter, Studer and Rolfe Johnson, my feeling was that Hong was the one who didn’t merit inclusion–bland and dull.

]]> By: peter http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-7/#comment-128253 peter Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:32:17 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128253 Isn't star quality in the eyes or ears of the beholder? Remember Gelb thought Radvanovsky dull and didn't hire her back until he realized she had a big following. Isn’t star quality in the eyes or ears of the beholder? Remember Gelb thought Radvanovsky dull and didn’t hire her back until he realized she had a big following.

]]> By: La Cieca http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-6/#comment-128248 La Cieca Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:10:16 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128248 60: When I say prima donna role I mean something like Violetta where I think there is a certain need for star quality along with the many other requisites for the role. I heard Hong do Cleopatra, for example, and she sang it beautifully and looked ravishing, but I never got the sense, "that is Cleopatra." Something reserved and a little distant about the personality. 60: When I say prima donna role I mean something like Violetta where I think there is a certain need for star quality along with the many other requisites for the role. I heard Hong do Cleopatra, for example, and she sang it beautifully and looked ravishing, but I never got the sense, “that is Cleopatra.” Something reserved and a little distant about the personality.

]]> By: uwsinnyc http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-6/#comment-128247 uwsinnyc Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:03:40 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128247 Re: 57 I just don’t think she is or ever was an appropriate choice for a prima donna role at the Met. Not sure I agree (and I usually agree with most of La Cieca's musings). True she does not have the fire that some of her colleagues in the same repertoire do, but the purity and consistent beauty of sound make her prima donna role capable. Re: 57 I just don’t think she is or ever was an appropriate choice for a prima donna role at the Met.

Not sure I agree (and I usually agree with most of La Cieca’s musings). True she does not have the fire that some of her colleagues in the same repertoire do, but the purity and consistent beauty of sound make her prima donna role capable.

]]> By: Gualtier M http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-6/#comment-128245 Gualtier M Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:58:46 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128245 But also remember Sophie Tucker's great line: Twenty goes into Sixty more times than Sixty goes into twenty. So listen, Mmes. Hong, Swenson and the newly single Mme. Gheorghiu - cougars rule! (I would add Cieca to this list but she has the mental age of 12) But also remember Sophie Tucker’s great line: Twenty goes into Sixty more times than Sixty goes into twenty. So listen, Mmes. Hong, Swenson and the newly single Mme. Gheorghiu – cougars rule!

(I would add Cieca to this list but she has the mental age of 12)

]]> By: almavivante http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-6/#comment-128243 almavivante Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:50:38 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128243 Re: "Lyric sopranos and lyric mezzos get traded in for younger models in their forties." Reminds me of the funniest title in a silent film I ever read (the film was Orchids and Ermine): "When a woman turns forty, a man trades her in for two twenties." Re: “Lyric sopranos and lyric mezzos get traded in for younger models in their forties.”

Reminds me of the funniest title in a silent film I ever read (the film was Orchids and Ermine): “When a woman turns forty, a man trades her in for two twenties.”

]]> By: La Cieca http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-6/#comment-128241 La Cieca Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:49:08 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128241 Was responding to "I also found Hong's Ilia and Pamina in the early nineties to be close to perfection." Don't get me wrong: I agree that Hong was, and probably is, an artist of charm and lovely artistry. I just don't think she is or ever was an appropriate choice for a prima donna role at the Met. (Covering, later in the run, yes. And it would have helped if she hadn't waited so long to add Violetta to her repertoire.) Was responding to “I also found Hong’s Ilia and Pamina in the early nineties to be close to perfection.”

Don’t get me wrong: I agree that Hong was, and probably is, an artist of charm and lovely artistry. I just don’t think she is or ever was an appropriate choice for a prima donna role at the Met. (Covering, later in the run, yes. And it would have helped if she hadn’t waited so long to add Violetta to her repertoire.)

]]> By: Gualtier M http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-6/#comment-128239 Gualtier M Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:47:56 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128239 This reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend who has been going to the Met for over 50 years (close to 60 if you count Philadelphia performances). He said that during the Bing era there were subscriber favorites and standee favorites. The subscribers didn't go every night and liked old favorite singers like Amara, Tucker and Steber who were dependable and would show up regularly on their subscriptions. The standees who went everynight were tired of them since they got them all the time and wanted more Del Monaco, Bjoerling, Callas and Schwarzkopf who were more recherché and didn't sing often. They would bitch about Amara and Elias and Guerrera et al. and pine for Gobbi, Simionato and Gencer. The same thing is going on today. Hong is a subscriber favorite and Gheorghiu is a standee favorite. Familiarity can breed contempt. And La Cieca despite her candy ass being seated in the orchestra has her mind still in standing room with the other operatic "characters". This reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend who has been going to the Met for over 50 years (close to 60 if you count Philadelphia performances). He said that during the Bing era there were subscriber favorites and standee favorites. The subscribers didn’t go every night and liked old favorite singers like Amara, Tucker and Steber who were dependable and would show up regularly on their subscriptions. The standees who went everynight were tired of them since they got them all the time and wanted more Del Monaco, Bjoerling, Callas and Schwarzkopf who were more recherché and didn’t sing often. They would bitch about Amara and Elias and Guerrera et al. and pine for Gobbi, Simionato and Gencer.

The same thing is going on today. Hong is a subscriber favorite and Gheorghiu is a standee favorite. Familiarity can breed contempt. And La Cieca despite her candy ass being seated in the orchestra has her mind still in standing room with the other operatic “characters”.

]]> By: Krunoslav http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-6/#comment-128234 Krunoslav Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:34:00 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128234 51 What is this Camner-like obsession with UP-TO-THE-SECOND STARDOM? I (and several other thousnand Met patrons) heard Hong's Liu and Countess three seasons ago. Dos that make her, perforce, a back number? 51 What is this Camner-like obsession with UP-TO-THE-SECOND STARDOM?

I (and several other thousnand Met patrons) heard Hong’s Liu and Countess three seasons ago. Dos that make her, perforce, a back number?

]]> By: La Cieca http://parterre.com/2010/04/13/the-lady-of-the-camellias-vanishes/comment-page-6/#comment-128233 La Cieca Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:30:42 +0000 http://parterre.com/?p=13911#comment-128233 "... and ingenuity!" “… and ingenuity!”

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