Comments on Taminophile: Giudici ad Anna? Ad Anna?!!!!!!!

Netrebko is definitely a singer you have to see li...

2011-11-05T08:13:26.516-04:00

Netrebko is definitely a singer you have to see live - when she's good she's mesmerising in spite of any vocal imperfections. I think Anna is a good part for her as it's not too florid (ditto Giulietta). Am seeing her in one of the Feb Met performances so I shall report back ;-)

You know, Dr. B., I wouldn't have been able to...

2011-10-27T22:56:10.771-04:00

You know, Dr. B., I wouldn't have been able to make it through the Roberto Devereux video either before I saw the very same production in Munich. After having seen it, not only can I watch her Roberto Devereux, I can also watch her Norma. She is magic on stage. Instead of sounding like the air brakes on a city bus, she gave the appearance of an aged diva using her vocal flaws to great dramatic effect. And let me say there was a lot of dramatic effect! (I can't think what the mental scenario inflicted on her fans in the 80s was!) If you click on the link to the right for Roberto Devereux you'll see the post I wrote about seeing it. Just before the post entitled "Dear Lord, not another concept Don Giovanni!:"

Excellent point about the impact of evaluating &qu...

2011-10-27T20:14:11.614-04:00

Excellent point about the impact of evaluating "Nebs" based on seeing her. I confess: My evaluation is colored by having seen her in HD. She has a real stage/screen presence, and she marries her particular stage presence to her interpretation of Anna very well. When she first entered through the double doors it gave new meaning to "she took the stage."
Now, back to Siegfried on Sirrius.

Thanks for the comment. Interesting about Grubero...

2011-10-27T12:31:31.841-04:00

Thanks for the comment. Interesting about Gruberova. I've never seen her live, but I know they love her in Munich. Couldn't make it through the Roberto Devereaux video.

Well, Dr. B., I have a Callas recording, and I'...

2011-10-27T05:26:16.944-04:00

Well, Dr. B., I have a Callas recording, and I've heard the streaming broadcasts from the Vienna and Met openings with Nebs. I haven't yet done a critical comparison of them all. I think Nebs is a very fine singer in some other roles, and there are some moments in Anna Bolena that are perfectly beautiful. I really love how she can sing a beautiful line and make it seem like an endless thread of spun gold. But Anna Bolena requires more than fine legato singing.

I have no doubt that Nebs is one of those singers who is magic on stage and makes you forget about any vocal imperfecton. (I haven't seen her in the house and had to miss the HD broadcast.) Callas surely was one of those as well. (I have experience of that sort in seeing Gruberova live--simply amazing, whereas in recordings I've always found her singing like fingernails on a chalkboard, even in her prime.) In the end, however, I want the magic to be there vocally as well as dramatically. Fiery temperament isn't enough for me.

I want to ask your opinion. Anna Netrebko said th...

2011-10-26T23:41:27.063-04:00

I want to ask your opinion. Anna Netrebko said that she listened to and adopted ideas from Maria Callas. How do you feel about this? I sort of think she may have veered off course doing this. People may aspire to Callas but not really manage it. I went back and played the video of Netrebko and DiDonato doing I Capuletti together in Paris and was stunned by the difference. Of course, I have no way of seeing Meade.

Excellent write up of a great evening. I was there...

2011-10-26T18:47:41.595-04:00

Excellent write up of a great evening. I was there -- a few rows higher, alas, but still appreciated the performance by Angela Meade which got stronger and stronger as the evening went on. She saved her best for last...as it should be. She had a different take on the role, the character of Anna. Netrebko (I take it you are not a fan?) plays her as a QUEEN all the way through. Meade shows a vulnerable side where Netrebko was defiant. It was easy to see Netrebko as the one who ousted Wife #1, and was now facing the same fate but defiantly. But Meade captured the powerless reality of a those in a King's court, no matter what rank. F

For me, though THE best part was Costello. As Gale Martin said...blown away. And the ease and grace with which he sang. And the naturalness of his acting. More, please!

Well done, bel canto bear. Love the wry humor, too...

2011-10-22T12:38:50.954-04:00

Well done, bel canto bear. Love the wry humor, too. I listened to the opening night from the website, and I was blown away by Costello. I saw him in R&J in Philly and was left more than a little underwhelmed. But would love to see him in this show. Since that is not to be, glad I had the next best thing--your review.