Easter parade?
La Cieca hears that Opera Orchestra of New York’s 2010-2011 season will represent a step up from last two years of stopgap recitals as well as a step back from the three-opera seasons of yore.
The program, it is said, will consist of a double bill of Cavalleria rusticana and La Navarraise in the fall (Muti-maned Alberto Veronesi on the podium) and L’africaine with Eve Queler waving the stick in the spring. The cher public are invited to start guessing about casting; La Cieca will jump in with a suggestion of Aprile Millo for Santuzza.
What about Latonia Moore, if we are talking African-American sopranos (and typecasting), though I don’t know how her French is. Her sound is certainly gorgeous and I will try and catch her Aida in London next year. She doesn’t seem to be as high-profile as her talent deserves.
Or, for a French speaking soprano, how about Isabelle Kabatu? Slightly thick sound, but she seems exciting and was a success as Chimene in Zurich.
I have now seen Measha twice in recital, and she impressed me less the second time than the first. The diva thing has got to her, I’m afraid.
OONY will probably consider Latonia Moore, as she sang Fidelia in Puccini’s EDGAR for them a couple years ago, and indeed gave a beautiful performance. I didn’t think of her because that’s a lighter role than Selika, but considering the heavy Verdi roles she’s been singing, she could probably do it.
I’ve never heard Kabatu, though I know she recently sang Bess on the new Harnoncourt recording.