Zajick - Cedolins - Verdi - Don Carlo - Milano - 2008

[Arnold3135]

This was a quirky performance. The tempos were to fast and ill-considered and made the dialogue between Elizabeth and Eboli's and her subsequent confession unbelievable. As a result, O Don Fatale was rushed and lacked power and impact.

[JessyeNormanFan]

It's refreshing to hear Zajick still has both her power and vocal beauty. Arguably the last great (verdi) soprano.

[raymzi]

la zajick needs to annunciate better so as to capture eboli's remorse and the SNAPPISHNESS of the italian language!!! :)

[ilnytska]

Bravo Zajick! The best Eboli of nowadays!!!

[kgarmaker123]

I think those that are critical are WRONG. She is amazing.. The tone is amazing.. The legato is amazing. She is extremely exciting and interesting.! but I suppose that is for nothing too.. She is also very musical.

[MAPIAKALLAS]

here Zajick did a good job even tho the staging is horrible and at opening night at La Scalla and ontop of that she is almost 60 so Brava Brava....

[faberx1]

Mi sembra piu' che decorosa .... un'ottima professionista. Certo che se tiriamo fuori la Bumbry , la Cossotto e via ci metto anche la Nicolai il paragone non regge .... ma quelle ce le dobbiamo dimenticare ..... purtroppo non cantano piu'

[arredifestivi]

è un'aria che non perdona, davvero terribile.

[voxservice]

Zajick !

[ElPiconeroalCognac]

She cut short the last note. Surely opera singers know that if you're going to hold one note, it must be the last. The primacy-recency affect has more impact than many performers seem to realize. People really do judge on the last thing they hear.

[italianoperafan]

Thanks for your comment. I am not quite sure one should be judged on the last note.. In that case, opera would be too "easy"; opera certainly is not circus. Should there be a judgment somewhere it should be done on the entire aria, performance or career. In that instance, because of the use of various registers, it is far from being bad.

[sevoflurane]

Personally I never do. There is a bit more to opera than the last note.

[moghedien13]

i dunno. the last note should be longer but u have to keep the time and sense of measure. she def cut it too short, but i think its fine to sacrifice the last one for the high one if done in the proper sense of the measure.

[Stuneill]

In no way to be provocative, simply FYI:

1) Maestro Gatti dictated the length of the final note as weel as any other notes. 2) Verdi wrote a half note. That is what Ms. Zajick sang and that is what Maestro Gatti wanted. Further, FYI, Ms Zajick was singing with a cracked bone. We we're luck on that night to have any notes from her at all. Just FYI. Enjoy.

[gtelloz]

the tv direction sucks! looks like the shots were made by an amateur. We miss a lot of the action because of this poor knowledge directing this cameras...

[mikeopera]

Dolora Zajick is in magnificent voice and remains the greatest living Verdi mezzo. Cedolins sounds great, too. I understand that it was the usual crotchety opening night crowd at La Scala.

[mrrk]

What terrible singing. Is this what La Scala has come to?

[Klassizismus]

You're right, I was thinking the same! This Eboli is a totally crashing bore. Zajick has the stage presence of a log and her singing leaves much to be desired.

[italianoperafan]

I certainly understand some do not like this but this goes (the word log) a bit beyond the respect for a singer ( a great one, throughout major opera houses and partners) who faces the opening season at La Scale (at almost 60) with the usual and traditional booing. A few singers would do that now.

[italianoperafan]

Somewhere that kind of person deserves some respect. I do not consider that a as perfection, indeed we have other and probably better Ebolis, but she remains a singer who did it through a poor staging, aware this was filmed and with so-so partners!

[italianoperafan]

Incidentally and after visiting your channel I understand, and share, your admiration for Grace Bumbry! She was my first Eboli for a live performance on stage (Macerata, Italy, August 2nd 1983 with Montserrat Caballé, Cesare Siepi, Giuseppe Giacomini)..

[mrrk]

You have hit the nail on the head. Terible. When you think of Cosssotto & Bumbry in this role.

[raymzi]

love the curtain call.. LOL

[sospello]

Thank you so much for posting. Could you post any other performance clips to get a feeling for the entire production. I had to listen via RAI3 streaming--no cinema within 5 hours drive simulcast here in my part of Florida. Are you listening La Scala, RAI and Emerging Pictures distribution??

[italianoperafan]

Thanks for your comment. I certainly am not the only one who has been watching/recording this (Arte is a French-German TV covering widely Europe and other continents too) and some more clips will certainly be posted. I will of course post others if not already posted. PS: 100% agreed with your comment below about Zajick and the part Youtube can and should play!

[sospello]

Thank you so much. Tell me sometime what you thought of the production. I am always wanting to learn more of what is going on in opera elsewhere (as I posted, I am in Florida USA) and think there are many worthy singers who need to be admired for their artistry, not only those who are promoted widely.

[italianoperafan]

A very personal answer I have heard and attended many Don Carlo(s) and somehow I felt disappointed by that one in spite of great moments such as this one. The audience booed a lot but it is a tradition for the opening in Milan for the opening season! I mean the staging was quite poor: this "autodafé" scene was not as impressive as it should have been

[italianoperafan]

The entire performance lacked this grandeur, something dark, heavy, impressive was not there. I had some (personal) problems with Stuart Neills Carlo. Furlanetto definitely did his best and has a lot of presence on stage but was he an memorable Philip? I dicovered Cedolins here: quite impressive voice with various colours! Again: very personal feelings!

[loggione51]

Bravissime ! Cedolins e Zajick , scenografia essenziale ed espressiva. Ottima scelta per l'inaugurazione della stagione scaligera!

[patjan92]

One of my favorite scenes in all opera. Zajick is wonderful!

[sospello]

Agreed. Certainly the one that connected with me listening on RAI3. Do you realize that she says her best publicity comes from posting on Youtube, little recorded, seldom featured at the Met. The more we can post and circulate clips of worthy current singers the better for them. The greater public needs to know them. Zajick is 56 and has been a tremendous performer for years; if ever there is a time for her to be recorded it is now!