Sopranos on Mad Scenes

Anna Netrebko, Renee Fleming, Renata Scotto and Beverly Sills discuss the challenges of the bel canto repertoire and the art of the mad scene, particularly the role of Elvira in "I Puritani."

Category:

Music

Tags:

• anna
• netrebko
• renee
• fleming
• renata
• scotto
• beverly
• sills
• opera
• soprano
• mad
• bellini
• puritani
• elvira
• coloratura
• bel
• canto

[Andante735]

No, I didn't listen to her Lucia at the Met. I had a root canal scheduled for that day and it was more enjoyable. She's getting promoted because that's the image they want to project " the new and improved face of opera", Big boobs and musically challenged. Actually, I have slapped someone in the face recently. Just listen to Callas or Sutherland - it'll make you feel better.

[htshoward]

Anna has such a beautiful voice, but there is no excitement in her singing, and she can get pretty sloppy in her singing at times. Beautiful lady, however. Doesn't hold a candle to Sills, Sutherland, or La Callas.

[shsutenor]

@fullbuck50 you know... I felt the same way for a long time until I watched her in Thais and listened to her interviews on youtube. Up until recently, her voice hadn't been all that moving to me, but the more I listen, the more I like. And the more I liked the voice, the more I took what she said at face value. But, then again, not everyone likes every singer!

[fontenayperi]

@windstorm1000 callas was not a coloratura either, was she? yet she sang belcanto and Medea

[fullbuck50]

I am mystified by Fleming. She seems so completely false. But people adore her. I don't know what I'm missing. To me she feels/sounds like one big lie.

[mmisaku]

WHY ,AND WHO TOLD HER TO SING THE COLORATURA ROLES,WHEN HER VOICEIS NOT A VOICE OF AGILITY,AND THE COLORATURA IS HAVY,AND IS MISSING SO MUCH OF THE BELCANTO STYLE.FOR MONEY? OR SOMEONE PAY THE MET TO HER SING IT THERE? SHAME AFTER LEGENDARY LUCIAS AT MET HAVING HER AS LUCIA IS A BIG,NO SENCE OR TASTE,HAVE THE HIGHT NO MEANS NOT MEANS WE CAN SING ALL,PLUS IS TASTE LESS HEAR HER AT SUCH REPERTOIRE.AND THE TRUE ANSWER IS THAT SHE IS NOT BOOKED TO SING THIS REPERTOIRE ANY MORE ANY WHERE.THANKS GOD

[windstorm1000]

Isn't it great to see Beverly again? She's our Bubbles--funny and a class act. One learns so much from what she has to say about opera--yes it is about the voice---

[windstorm1000]

Ms. Netrebko is lovely, but she is NOT a coloratura. Why is she hogging roles like Lucia from other artists? Why?-cuz the Met management (Levine, et al) is mad about her (talk about mad)--and have lost their common sense in casting. Now, Ms. Netrebko, watch a REAL coloratura artist like Sills or Sutherland go to work here.

[classicalgalNYC]

@Andante735 What are you talking about Anna is like a B cup haha Her Lucia wasn't a traditional but the acting was superb not far fetch like Natalie Dessay =/

[NEBESHIKU]

Netrebko and Fleming look like those high school girls that are bitches and sluts and are "friends" but that in reality hate each other but face to face they just tell each other: "you are wonderful" "No, you are" "No, you are".

[gustopheles]

The blackface at 2:41 is making me uncomfortable.

[kngiht84]

Okay, Fleming praising Nebtrebko for her Lucia and Netrebko praising Fleming for her Imogene; no offense but they kept putting their feet deeper and deeper in their mouths! I These are not bad artists by any means (I actually ADORE Fleming and Anna has an amazing vocal instrument) but their musical appreciation and interpretation are just miles away from my expectation. Needless to say I appreciate their doing it, I just wish that there would not be that prolific marketing circling around!