Menu:
Home
Opera Main Page
2008 Courses
Events
About Will Kent
About "A Passion for Opera"
The Blogger's Opera
Recommended CDs
Recommended DVD/Video
Course Archives
Student Comments
Contact Will
|
Opera Newsletter
Fall 2007
In This Issue:
Readers, Please Note:
A Passion for Opera's Fall 2007 Course, "Beckoning Treasures", is now 90% full. If you plan on attending, register soon and tell your friends about it. I look forward to seeing you in October for what I think will be the most exciting course yet!
|
BEVERLY SILLS
(1929 - 2007)
 There is not much more one can add in tribute to Beverly Sills, who died in New York, July 3, after a short illness. It took Sills far too long to be recognized as one of the great and unique opera talents ever. For the most part, her 25 year career was in New York until her last decade on the stage when with her La Scala & Met Debuts, she sang for the world.
Sills is just as well remembered as the voice of Opera in this country for the last third of her life. Perhaps her most important contribution will be that she loved Opera, its history and music and believed it important enough to work passionately to ensure that everyone would have a chance to experience it in the future.
In the Fall Class, we'll pay tribute to this American Icon with a look and listen to Donizetti's Roberto Devereux, with Sills in the role of Elizabeth I.
ROLANDO VILLAZON
CANCELS BERKELEY AND MORE
 For those of us who were eagerly anticipating Villazon's return to Berkeley this month, the news that the tenor cancelled was disappointment enough. Unfortunately, it may portend something far more distressing. The premier tenor of our times, Rolando Villazon, has just cancelled all performances from September through November. And with a look at his schedule, it should come as no surprise!
All too often we in the audience don't understand the incredible energy and stress required to become a great singer and perform night after night (see related article below). Some of the old Divas used to say that they would lose 6 kg during a performance, while in heavy costume under the stifling heat of lights and the exertion of singing for 3-4 hrs. (Many gained it back quickly)
Villazon who burst on the international scene with a televised Rodolfo in La Boheme in 1995 from the New York City Opera skyrocketed to amazing stardom in the past decade and has been instrumental in bringing singing and excitement back to opera. Villazon, makes his astounding talent look so effortless that one forgets the ephemeral nature of singing and the voice.
In demand throughout the world and often appearing with superstar soprano colleague, Anna Netrebko (who also has been plagued by cancellations this summer) Villazon's schedule had been grueling for the past 2 years. Singing in opera or in concert about 3 times a week on average, the pace was bound to catch up with him and it has. Officially he is taking a rest. Some rumors suggest that he has more serious health problems.
He was scheduled for a number of performances at the Met of Romeo and Juliette this Fall and in December, but has cancelled all but 3 at this time. Let's hope that this is just a blip in the tenor's career and a rest will return him to the stage in full thrilling voice and his artistry will grow for years to come.
Roland Villazon sings "Ah, la paterna mano..." from Verdi's Macbeth,
our Fall Opera selection at San Francisco Opera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTkCW610l04
It was bound to happen - headlines of steroid use and more with OPERA SINGERS!!! Hopefully, none are into dog fighting. While the article is absurdly sensational, it does tell a tale that highlights the downside of having a voice and a talent that is in demand throughout the world of opera.
Read the article at the S.F. Chronicle's sfgate.com.
Seemingly before anyone could even quote Lady Macbeth, San Francisco Opera announced that they had replaced the Lady scheduled to sing in the Fall production of Verdi's early masterpiece, Macbeth. Debutant soprano, Doina Dimitriu was replaced a week or so ago with little fanfare or explanation with Hungarian soprano, Georgina Lukacs stepping in. 
Will this be an improvement or a wash, thrilling or excruciatingly dull?? Few have heard Dimitriu, who has sung mostly in second tier opera houses. She was recently replaced in Opera Colorado's production of Ballo in Maschera.
Lukacs, while not exactly a household name in Opera, has perhaps more impressive credentials. Perhaps new General Director, David Gockley just continues to put his thus far impressive mark on operas & casts previously selected by past General Director, Pamela Rosenberg.
The truth is that while many try few are successful in portraying the Lady. It is generally conceded that only a handful of sopranos have been truly memorable in one of Verdi's most taxing roles that requires a very dramatic voice with coloratura ease and great acting ability. There was Maria Callas and Leonie Rysanek and (some would mention ) Renata Scotto. No one else comes to mind.
To judge for yourself what might await us when we attend Macbeth this Fall with Thomas Hampson as Macbeth, here's soprano Lukacs singing "La mamma morta" from another opera I'll feature in the Fall Course:
Giordano's revolutionary Andrea Chenier. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=expPodQyuLg
Santa Rosa Symphony Evening of Opera
Mark your calendars (better yet, get your tickets) for Sunday, September 30 when the Santa Rosa Symphony presents a Gala Evening of Opera Arias celebrating its Ruby Jubilee (80th Anniversary) and featuring the Symphony's new Conductor, Bruno Ferrandis.
"Belles Amours: Love Arias" will feature an evening of great romantic arias and will be followed by a gala evening at the Vintners Inn, where you can feast on great food with fine libations while meeting Ferrandis and the singers. Ferrandis is apparently a conductor who loves opera, so perhaps opera related offerings will become a regular feature of each Santa Rosa Symphony season.
You can also bid or buy tickets for a 2 hour lecture that I have agreed to donate entitled "Operas Greatest Romances" It should be a lot of fun with great wine and hors d'oeuvres after the talk. There are only 12 places and tickets are $150. It will take place at a beautiful private home in Healdsburg in late October. If interested email me for more information or see below:
http://www.santarosasymphony.com/08_events/event_Jubilee_Concert.asp
Mado Robin sings a Bb above High C!!!
From the wonders of You Tube comes this astounding finale to the Lucia mad scene. According to her bio below, Mado Robin sang in San Francisco in 1954.
 French Soprano, Mado Robin (1918-1960) was born in Yzeuressur- Creuse in the Touraine. She made her debut at the Paris Opéra in 1945 as Gilda, and gave her first performance as Lakmé, which was to become her most famous rôle, during the following year at the Opéra-Comique. She enjoyed enormous popularity in France, where she was also a frequent broadcaster, her exceptional vocal range enabling her to sing a wide repertoire.
In 1954 she appeared at San Francisco as Gilda and Lucia, and she toured the USSR in 1959. She died in Paris in 1960 from cancer, a few days before the 1,500th performance of Lakmé at the Opéra-Comique, arranged for her birthday.
 Hottest San Francisco Opera Ticket
2007/08 Season
Don't wait for next summer to roll around and expect to get a ticket for Natalie Dessay and Giuseppe Filianoti (both San Francisco debuts)in Lucia di Lammermoor. Get it now!!
Dessay and Filianoti are singing Lucia at the Met this season and it is sure to be sold out both there and here. Dessay is the French phenomenon of the decade and Filianoti is the most promising tenor on the horizon since Villazon. Take a look at Dessay singing the finale in French. (the same that Robin sang in Italian above.)
Sebastopol Middle School Opera Class
For the 2nd year, I will be teaching Opera to 8th graders in Middle School. The 3 classes will be in November and will be followed by a trip to San Francisco Opera in early December for a performance of Puccini's Madama Butterfly.
Last year's class was great fun and the students reacted just like most opera audiences do with some riveted to the music and visuals while others attended who snoozed or chatted with friends. What they all seemed to enjoy was the idea that if they liked a particular aria a lot (and it was well sung) they could scream Bravo!
Internet Trailer!!! New Album
by Juan Diego Florez
It should come as no surprise that opera quickly is following the road to marketing on the internet. There is a "trailer" out for Florez's new CD entitled "Arias for Rubini".
 The "Rubini" is, of course, Giovanni Battista Rubini (1795-1854), the legendary bel canto tenor we discussed a few years back in class, who championed the works of Rossini, Bellini and Donizetti. His otherwise smooth and beautiful tone was characterized by a rapid vibrato which gave the voice a peculiarly vital and thrilling quality. He set the historic standard for the bel canto tenor voice and it is to him that most tenors of similar vocal gifts pay homage.
There are four vocal selections you can sample in the trailer and a wonderful video promotional. This is very informative and thoroughly enjoyable. Have fun and watch and listen to it all!!
By the way, I've heard that Florez is scheduled to sing La Fille du Regiment (another opera featured in the Fall course) in San Francisco in 2009.
Opera Orchestra of New York
Many of you travel to New York each year for opera at the Met. There is another venue that frequently is as exciting as the Met at its best and almost as venerable. Opera Orchestra of New York, under its director and conductor, Eve Queler, has been bringing Operatic Rarities (Beckoning Treasures) to Carnegie Hall for several decades.
The operas are presented in concert format, so it is truly all about music and singing. Queler has an uncanny ability to pick young singers who later become superstars. I remember a fantastic 1997 offering of Renee Fleming in Armida, a Rossini rarity. Fleming had sung the role in Pesaro ( Italy's Rossini summer festival mecca) early in her career and recorded it live (a truly great CD ) but it has been her only performance to date in the U.S. of that opera. Fleming is now scheduled to sing Armida at the Met in 2009.
To check out this season's offerings at OONY:
James Sokol's
Upcoming New York City Opera Tour
Save-the-Dates!
Exploring Opera: Tutti Verdi Tour to NYC
March 18-23, 2008
Take off for a 6-day/5-night operatic journey to enjoy spring in "the city that never sleeps."
 Giuseppe Verdi's style traces the development of opera across the 18th century from the bel canto era (his early period) through the romantic era (his middle period) to the late-romantic (his late period), in which he tips his hat to a more contemporary sound. Our operatic journey will include one masterpiece from each:
Ernani - Verdi's rarely-heard "early period gem" returns to the Met for the first time since 1985 in a highly anticipated reappearance. Sublime solos and one of Verdi's finest ensemble scenes are brought to life by a stellar quartet of lead singers, including Marcello Giordani in the title role, Sondra Radvanovsky, Thomas Hampson, and Ferruccio Furlanetto, conducted by Roberto Abbado.
Falstaff - Verdi's last opera and a personal triumph, fulfilling his long-time ambition to write a comedy is revived in a fun and rambunctious production at New York City  Opera. This comic caper of disguises, cross-dressing, plots and counterplots was adapted from Shakespeare. Jan Opalach portrays the lovable rogue opposite City Opera favorite Pamela Armstrong.
One of Verdi's "middle period" masterpieces "La Traviata" stars soprano Ruth Ann Swenson in her highly acclaimed interpretation of Verdi's most engaging heroine, in Zeffirelli's opulent production. Lyric tenor Matthew Polenzani sings Alfredo, the conflicted lover of the title's "fallen woman" while Dwayne Croft sings the elder Germont. An irresistible score and deeply human characters ensure the impact of this romantic favorite.
Tour Notes
Tour includes:
Hotel accommodations for five nights at a lovely hotel on Manhattan's Upper West Side, orchestra seats for two performances at the Metropolitan Opera and one performance at New York City Opera, customized opera lectures, a Kick-Off Toast, Welcome Lunch, Farewell Lunch w/special opera guest and more. Final details to be confirmed.
Price:
This announcement is a save-the-date. Tour price is currently being negotiated and will be announced in September. It is expected to be $1,900-$2,100 per person based on double-occupancy.
Reservations:
Due to availability of performances tickets and hotel rooms, tour participation is limited. Reservations will be taken in the order received. Interested travelers are encouraged to reserve as soon as possible to insure space on this exciting operatic journey! A "reservation" is an expression of interest, not a guarantee of participation. Those with reservations will be given the first right of refusal to guarantee a spot on the tour once the final price is announced.
For questions or to make a "reservation," contact:
James Sokol
415-444-8017
ExploringOpera@yahoo.com or jsokol@marinjcc.org
|
|