La Cieca, being a very girly sort of girl, is not so good at math, so she is asking you, cher public, to help her with this diffy word problem. So, pick up your Number 2 pencils, and begin.
According to the New York Times, when you add all these things together:
….burly presence, effortless power and clarion tone….
Many Otellos just bluster their way through the role. Mr. Botha really sang it, and beautifully. I have seldom heard Otello’s yearning phrases during the love duet delivered with such honeyed tone and supple lyricism. He capped the line in the duet, on the words “Venere splende!†(“Venus is radiant!â€), with about as close to a true pianissimo high A flat as you are likely to hear from an Otello.
Sheer power was never a problem for him, right from Otello’s entrance music, the daunting “Esultate!†proclamation, when, after proving victorious in battle and surviving a terrible storm at sea, Otello, heady with triumph, summons the worried citizens of Cyprus to rejoice. And it bears repeating that to hear someone sing the role with such vocal refinement should not be taken for granted.
…he managed to look commanding and even threw himself about the stage during fits of anger.
…the sum is “His performance was a major disappointment.” Can someone explain that to me?
Now, an extra point problem. According to Renée Fleming, “This blond wig makes me look 20 years younger.”
La Cieca asks, “than who?”
Tell us: What was the best of 2025?
Parterre Box concludes the thrilling first year of Talk of the Town by inviting your lightning rod opinions on several more categories of operatic argumentation.
