Vittorio Grigola

[Guest alanm]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/17/arts/music/17grigolo.html?ref=arts

 

The Sunday Times on Vittorio Grigola. As I have mentioned I saw Renee Fleming and Vittorio Grigola in "Lucrezia Borgia." I was impressed by Vittoria. But, I remember the excellent camp quality of the production (Vittoria had blond hair and Fleming was more than game) more than anything else.

 

Do others see Juan Diego Florez as niche performer?

[whipped guy]

The Sunday Times on Vittorio Grigola.

He certainly has taken an unorthodox road so far... It will be interesting top see how far he progresses.

Do others see Juan Diego Florez as niche performer?

Well JDF certainly has a reputation as a Bel Canto (and especially Rossinian) specialist... has marketed himself as such... and certainly has the talents to effectively carve out such a niche. Now as far as camp is concerned... it will be interesting to see him in drag this season in Le Comte Ory!! That final trio has so much potential!!!

[Guest alanm]

In the next 10 days or so Juan Diego Florez has two new opera DVDs coming out.... "Rigoletto" with Diana Danran and Zeljko Lucee, Dresden; Fabio Luisi and "I Puritani" with a different cast, city and conducter. Also, Jonas Kaufmann's "Werther" (Paris, I believe) goes on sale during that same time period. I apologize for not getting all the information for the last two operas.

 

Not counting bootlegs, isn't that more full opera DVDs than were ever released starring Caballe for her entire career?

[whipped guy]

In the next 10 days or so Juan Diego Florez has two new opera DVDs coming out.... "Rigoletto" with Diana Danran and Zeljko Lucee, Dresden; Fabio Luisi and "I Puritani" with a different cast, city and conducter. Also, Jonas Kaufmann's "Werther" (Paris, I believe) goes on sale during that same time period. I apologize for not getting all the information for the last two operas

I knew about the Rigoletto, but not the others... thanks for the heads up.

 

Not counting bootlegs, isn't that more full opera DVDs than were ever released starring Caballe for her entire career?

Well opera on video was not a factor during the heyday of Caballe's career... and possibly fortunately so... of course the Orange Norma film is the main exception... I remember seeing her in Ballo and Don Carlo... and while she sang like an angel, her appearance somewhat hindered her credibility to say the least.... Of course those were the days of the fat lady singing... and literally so! Remember the first live from the MET was in 1977... Boheme with Scotto... and she went on a diet because she did not like the way she looked on the screen... Of course her voice never sounded up to par after that... but that's a different can of worms.

[whipped guy]

Vittorio Grigolo's new album "The Italian Tenor" just reviewed an excellent review in the British publication "Gramophone". The latest issue also includes an interview. I find this magazine to be biased toward certain artists and composers at times and especially British artists. As examples, Brit composers Finzi and co. are made out to be much better composers than they actually arelways given, plus Sir Simon Rattle is always given god-like status as well... So to have them touting this "foreigner" as the new Pavarotti could indicate he is the real thing... or are they just part of a well orchestrated campaign by Sony Classical to hype this guy? Still, he did make that splash at Covent Garden and the enthusiasm seemed to be genuine, plus he is a good looking guy... so time will tell!

[whipped guy]

I was in NYC for some fun over the weekend and stopped by the MET Opera Shop... Signor Grigolo will be there on November 3 signing copies of his new album "The Italian Tenor".

[Guest alanm]

I'm glad you posted about Grigolo, we have not communicated in a while. Grigolo received good review in his Met debut.

 

I never gave Beverly Sills' Three Queens a fair hearing. Yes, I was put off by her voice ... at first it gave me a headache. Once I got to like it more, I had run out of free time. It's ironic because my first opera ever was "Il Barbiere di Sevighia" with Sills at the NY State Theater. I saw my first Met opera a few months later ... "Death in Venice" with Peter Pears. I mentioned watching Sills' farewell gala in 1980 on tape quite often. Now, after Three Queens, I know why she retired at only age 50.

[whipped guy]

Thread detour...

 

I never gave Beverly Sills' Three Queens a fair hearing. Yes, I was put off by her voice ... at first it gave me a headache.

Yes, her voice is headache material! My quick 3 queen analysis:

 

The voice sounds tired in Roberto Devereux...Surprisingly it was recorded shortly after her phenomenal run of performances in Rossini's L'Assedio di Corinto at La Scala where the voice is fresh and pristine... at least it accurately represents the bitchy old Elisabeth I. In fact she is Elisabeth.

 

She sounds fresher in Maria Stuarda... and I found this to be the best of the three. Also, a lighter voice fits the character better than the other two.

 

In Anna Bolena the over embellishing and pushing of the vocal line higher and higher just does not work for me... and the voice is really not right for the role... too light... she gets away with it in Devereux by the strength of her characterization... but not here.