Netrebko and Meade sing "Al dolce guidami" Anna Bolena 2011

[robjacksontop]

Now that Netrebko is a butterball, I wonder where she buys her underpanties.

[NEBESHIKU]

If hogzilla Meade needs for us to give her more time to get a technique, then she should be perfmorming for free like the amateur she is. She's getting paid like a profesional and if she ain't ready then too bad for her, but then again that is why she sings for the Met; The met and it know that the brain dead audiance there will applaud to every thing and any thing; and that they'll never fathom that they're getting ripp-off. Opera is not charity, it's sublme art. Both bimbos are train wrecks.

[Ariadne7710]

Meade's continuous vibrato is very distracting and spoils the melodic line by making the whole piece sound like a continuous vibrating trill in various guises No contrast between steadily held long notes and the fioriture passages. She has a big strong clear voice but hardly any colouring: only variation through pianissimi on occasion; rest very monochromatic. Netrebko may lack as much coloratura agility but her singing is much more polished with beautiful phrasing and richness of colour.

[jovi1715]

What about her Armida at the MET? Anyone has some some clips?

[asdfopera]

@jovi1715

nope.meade was only fleming's understudy in case she got sick. fleming sang every performance so there aren't any recordings of meade. meade will probably sing armida at the met in a few seasons for the revival.

[gman20101]

Meade - Al Dolce... is much better than Coppia Iniqua but annoying vibrato as usual. Netrebko - beautiful as always but seems a bit tired of Bolena

[Mooseman327]

I heard Meade do the first act of Norma (inc. "Casta Diva," of course) with the BSO at Tanglewood this summer and I heard Netrebko do Anna Bolene at the Met just recently. I agree with those who say that Meade's voice is ideally suited for the bel canto repertoire. She has the fluidity and suppleness necessary and she will improve. You hear ALL the notes. Netrebko's very solid, of course, and has a firmer lower register and she's a true star but bel canto is not her strongest suit.

[Homoclassicus]

Meade's trills are good and she has a good sense of how to sing the vocal line, but her timbre throughout her range is not nearly as solid and as Netrebko's and it occasionally wavers more than it'd be ideal (and I do like voices with fast vibrato, but only when they sound homogeneous and inherent to the singer's voice). That said, I liked her interpretation, however Netrebko's is more beautiful and heartfelt, curiously more refined and more straightforward at the same time.

[cantorandopera]

@Homoclassicus Sorry, my dear friend Homoclassicus. We disagree. The delicacy of Meade in this aria is exquisite. Her trills are for real. And her legato is gorgeous. What she lacks is the experience and glamour of Netrebko, and she may never get it . . . but I take her any day over Netrebko in bel canto repertoire - it is MADE for her voice. When Netrebko starts the aria you hear all the murky gunk going on.

[Addiobelpassato]

@cantorandopera I can only connect to your comment. You hit the nail on the head. Better could not explain the differences. Meade is a stunner.

Thank you for making me acquainted with her.

[Homoclassicus]

Granted, she has the adequate voice for Bel Canto, but my problem with her is that "unsure" quality of her timbre and much of her singing: it changes quality too much, wavers more than ideal and often gets very fluttery and the vibrato and other inconsistencies of her voice/technique often seem (to my ears) to get into the legato singing, which should be even and rock solid. The overall effect is a little "uneasy" to hear. Netrebko's is the less flexible, but more consistent voice.

[cantorandopera]

@Homoclassicus I think we agree more than disagree - but let's give Ms Meade some time. You are right that Ms. Netrebko's voice is less flexible but more consistent. Don't forget - she is in her vocal prime and Ms Meade is at the beginning of what I hope will be a long and glorious career.

[09avenger]

@Homoclassicus - great comment. I was at the premiere and also watched HD live with Anna. I heard more confidence in Anna's singing the second time. This is only natural. As a real talent Netrebko attracts lots of jealousy. This is sad but we can do nothing about that. She will be better and better with time. God bless her.