tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665236978084294968.post6922049670057979364..comments2024-03-18T09:22:11.316-04:00Comments on OPERA OBSESSION: Sta in voi salvarloLucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02549302523503271428noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665236978084294968.post-141819536049725292011-01-18T21:16:17.976-05:002011-01-18T21:16:17.976-05:00@DTO: Fascinating! Thanks for sharing the info; &q...@DTO: Fascinating! Thanks for sharing the info; "chiaroscuro" makes a lot of sense to me. I think the Scotto-directed production you're thinking of is the Ballo in Maschera that was done in Nov/Dec of this past year. Re: S.R.'s acting, I don't think she's likely to disappear into her roles, but I don't really have a problem with that. I thought she was affecting and three-dimensional in Stiffelio, and outstanding as Leonora in Trovatore.<br /><br />@marcillac Thanks! I have my fingers crossed for more Verdi for her at the Met in upcoming seasons; I would love to hear her as Amelia, in particular. Glad that my sense of Struckmann's Scarpia wasn't just me filtering him through all the films of my childhood. :) Did not wish to draw unfair comparisons, but Luisi's precision and intense energy were missed. Sigh. I was too busy eavesdropping on the people sitting behind me to notice the empty seats, actually; very strange.Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02549302523503271428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665236978084294968.post-4262486469308013422011-01-18T20:45:58.822-05:002011-01-18T20:45:58.822-05:00A really interesting take on Sondra's characte...A really interesting take on Sondra's characterization that makes a lot of sense of what we saw last night. I also think you're absolutely right that her voice is (much) better suited to the nobility and flow of Verdi (some mild vocal discomfort might have been a cause of the less than invariably perfect diction). However, although I agree with you that her chest tones are a particular strength she handled the highs of the Don G Donna Anna with considerable aplomb several years ago. <br /><br />I too got a huge kick out of Struckmann's Scarpia and enjoyed his characterization almost as much as he himself seemed to do. <br /><br />Still, Luisi's work in the pit from last spring was missed and the whole event had more of a routine quality (and, as I'm sure you noticed, an absurd amount of empty seats - for a Tosca?!?).marcillachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10890948953007381186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665236978084294968.post-67280340675878943592011-01-18T18:30:37.937-05:002011-01-18T18:30:37.937-05:00Oh yes, and among other interesting things she sai...Oh yes, and among other interesting things she said was that Renata Scotto was an early fan. She noticed her early and was a mentor over the years. Scotto is directing her in an opera at the Chicago Lyric soon, or she has already, I forget.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665236978084294968.post-82158646437545406452011-01-18T18:25:32.880-05:002011-01-18T18:25:32.880-05:00COC had an online chat recently with the singers o...COC had an online chat recently with the singers of their 2010 Aida, and Sondra took part. I managed to sneak in a couple of questions myself, and when I asked her how she would describe her timbre, she said 'Chiaroscuro'. So, dark depths and light spikes, a multi-tasking timbre in a way. <br /><br />People complain about her acting a lot... I've only seen her in COC's Aida, where both her singing and acting were good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com