Voilà donc la terrible idée!
La Cieca hears that Placido (“Simon Boccanegra is the only baritone role I’m interested in singing”) Domingo is going to expand his repertoire yet again, to Athanaël in Thaïs, sometime in 2012. The role after that, La Cieca hears, will be eponymous, but as of now the title is known to only a few chosen people.
I’m not terribly familiar with this opera but Athanaël seems to me to be a better fit than Boccanegra. It’s a more lyric role and doesn’t require as much sonority which Domingo lacks as Boccanegra. And there isn’t a Paolo in the opera so there won’t be the unfortunate comparisons to the “real” baritone voice.
Tom Hampson is going to have to take a contract out on Domingo if he keeps stealing his roles.
Isn’t Oreste in Iphigenie en Tauride a baritone role? I suppose he could be singing it without being interested in singing it?
Oreste is a true baritenor role. Domingo has already sung it at the Met opposite Graham and the two of them are singing it again this season. I believe it’s part of the HD broadcast schedule.
As far as Domingo’s “statements” , for example “Boccanegra is the only….” they need to be taken witha grain of salt.
Back a few years ago (2006) when interviewed in London by Jessica Duchen, Domingo advised that he would not be singing past his 70th birthday.
Does anyone believe THAT prediction will hold true?????
I am taking bets to see how long will it be before he takes on Gerard in Chenier.
Éternellement!
Thaïs with Domingo sounds like a great idea… sold out houses and a beautiful interpretation. But this is only the beginning of the new phase in roles intended for baritones, especially now that Washington won’t be a distraction.
I always thought Athanael was supposed to be, or at least look like, a hunk.
He will look like Saint-Saens Samson, who really escaped the rubble, converted to Christianity and moved to Egypt.
What can you do to cast an male opera singer that reaches to be remembered as aging disgracefully on stage, as a mocked figure of both dubious regard and curiosity? Not knowing when ‘to call it a day’?
At least perhaps Athanael could be played as ‘some tired dirty old man’ desperate to be tempted by Thais not by her natural charms, but someone the possessor of ‘elixers’: sex aid objects and Viagra…. in a regie production.
Then of course the role of Arkel the old King in Pelleas & Melisande awaits.
Now what about a crazy casting, as Strauss’ Herod…..fits with the frayed over -reach of the tenor character. Domingo could possibly vocally limp through that role.
Am I the only one who remembers this?
Shit! And, I was so hoping he would sing the role of Thais.
Christ, I wish he’d just go away now. And I say that as a one-time incredible fan.
Yeah, I was a huge, huge fan for soooooo long.
I even saw him at City Opera even prior to his Met debut.
And for YEARS, I thought no one could match him for number of roles/performances that were done in such a quality, consistent manner (even if I rarely found him unforgettable in anything). He was so consistent.
And even as late as the late 90s, I admired him as Sampson.
But now I wish I could just never see his face again.
Love the title, Cieca!