Comments for I HEAR VOICES

Comment on The sunny side of the Vienna Philharmonic by rmlibonati

rmlibonati — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:32:05 +0000

The choice probably has to do with the fact that Both Jomelli and Muti were born in Naples. In any case, I would be curious to hear it - his Salieri-ian venture had some positive qualities.

Comment on More about Antonacci by rmlibonati

rmlibonati — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:25:48 +0000

I agree with you both about Urmana - although her Italian performances are vocally and musicianly adept, they are, as André put it, too chic for the circumstances. I believe she really belongs in the German repertoire. That said, I found her Manon Lescaut exceptionally good - it is a role with a difficult tessitura and she handled that beautifully.
I also know that she sang Norma in Dresden and, in spite of the considerations above, I would kill for a tape of that. Her Adalgisa in Amsterdam (to Nelly Miricioiu’s Norma) was very very good.

As for Anna Caterina Antonacci, I still believe that Elettra and Norma are both above the “gravitational center” of her range.

Comment on More about Antonacci by DRe

DRe — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:17:44 +0000

Urmana is one of my fetiche singers… but I do have to admit that she lacks a bit of that “je ne sais quoi” any second-rate italian soprano display in this kind of role… Her totally-in-control-and-too-chic-for-the-circunstances Tosca is another good example. But, my heart doesn´t care and always has a nice and warm place for her!

Comment on The sunny side of the Vienna Philharmonic by Olivier

Olivier — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:39:27 +0000

By the way, Muti will conduct a rarity this season in Paris: Jommelli’s Demofoonte. With young singers and the Cherubini orchestra (also young players). Initial project for Muti in Paris was Aida with Alagna.

Comment on More about Antonacci by Olivier

Olivier — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:35:15 +0000

Urmana will sing Lady Macbeth in Paris this season. Wait and hear. I must admit I have always found too much self-control with her. But I had a great experience with Zampieri live in Vienna. The voice was magnificient, much more beautiful than on records. And her Lina was a wonder of both singing and dramatic involvement. By the way, she received a well deserve triumph that night. More than Carreras and Bruson, both so beloved in Vienna at that time (I think it was 1996).

For ACA, she will appear twice this season in Paris: Cleopatre (Berlioz) in concert with Nelson, and a one-woman-show on stage with arias by Gluck (Armide), Berlioz (Didon) and Rameau (Phedre). Can’t wait. Nothing planned today for the next seasons in Paris Opera. Rumor says new Paris director has only offered to her at the moment Hanna Glawari she declined. Other rumor says she could be Elettra in Bondy’s production. Also no news regarding to her Norma-project in Toulouse.

Comment on More about Antonacci by DRe

DRe — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:38:05 +0000

I was going to say something about another non-dramatic voiced singer to sing Lady Macbeth - I listened to the broadcast and I really really liked: Dimitra Theodossiou. She´s a very nice greek singer and hasn´t made into great theaters, only to Italian smaller than Scala or San Carlo houses.

Comment on More about Antonacci by DRe

DRe — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:14:07 +0000

I saw Zampieri live only once… I think I was 11 or 12; unfortunately, very young to enjoy the experience completely. She was not singing Lady Macbeth, but her twin sister Abigaille. Although her tone had a light quality, even that late in her career, her natural projection allowed her to be perfectly heard in the ensembles, something most Abigailles and Ladies today, when we are running out of dramatic coloratura sopranos, have trouble about!
BTW, is there something in the web with my beloved Violeta Urmana singing Lady Macbeth??? She sang it in La Scala this season, but I think it wasn´t put in broadcast.

Comment on More about Antonacci by rmlibonati

rmlibonati — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:33:45 +0000

Hi, André!

As soon as I write that down, I thought someone would mention Zampieri. I think Zampieri’s case is very special - it is a very peculiar voice with this kind of penetrating quality which enabled her to sing above her Fach, while Antonacci has a darker and warmer tonal quality . In any case, as you say - she is an artist who always makes you curious, even when you think the whole venture is risky…

Comment on More about Antonacci by DRe

DRe — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:08:54 +0000

Well, Lady Macbeth recquires a dramatic voiced singer. No doubt about that. But light-voiced ones could offer very nice performances of this fantastic role. I would say Mara Zampieri, who could deliver, in my opinion, the sound picture of the Lady like no other singer. Of course, I have my doubts about Antonacci´s sucess in this particular interprise, but I´m sooooooo sooooooo curious of what she could do with it.
Unfortunately, she canceled her Elettra in Spain.

Comment on More about Antonacci by rmlibonati

rmlibonati — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 01:13:01 +0000

Hi, Olivier!

Long time no see! I would be interested to hear that Eboli! I am sure she would make something really interesting out of it.

As for Lady Macbeth, I would be definitely interested to _see_ it. I am not sure she has the right voice for the role, though. I believe that Verdi’s opinion that the role requires an “ugly” voice has been misinterpreted as a licence for singers to get away with downright bad singing - poor coloratura, bad intonation, flat high notes, sharp low notes, you name it. Of course, this is not the case of Anna Caterina Antonnaci - who is a sensitive, stylish and musicianly singer. But the role requires a dramatic voice - and I don’t think she falls in that category.