Tosca in Zurich
Kay
I don't know if it is of any interest for you, but I thought I share my
evening with Tosca at the opera in Zurich.
If you wish, I can report whenever I go but I do not know if it is
desired.
Saturday, 13th of January 2007, Zurich Operahouse
I am excited.
E lucevan le stelle is my preferred aria.
Marcelo Alvarez is one of my preferred tenors and a great actor.
Ruggero Raimondi is always good
And I am curious to see and hear Norma Fantini. I never heard of her
before.
Nello Santi as the director is always doing a good job in Zurich.
The opera is not fully booked.
Surprise.
The setup is classical so I am happy. Sometimes Zurich is modern or
mixed.
The first highlight is recondita armonia which is sung beautifully by
Alvarez. He is singing well
the entire evening, except once.
E lucevan le stelle: Damn. He sings it too hard, not smooth enough, not
soft enough. I think also his legato is not that good this time. I love
the aria, but with this singing it is only good, not making me cry, as
usual. It also doesn't sound that "suffering" as Wunderlich or Licitra
sing it.
But when he is tortured his voice comes beautiful from the background.
Superb. And when he shouts: Viktoria, Viktoria (Victory, Victory), his
voice is crystal clear and strong. His high tones phantastic. Although
it always looks that he has to work hard to sing high tones.His entire
body is working then.
Norma Fantini starts wonderful. I am very surprised how beautiful her
voice is. Sometime later her voice gets a small minor scratch. I don't
know why. It vanishes later again and comes back at the end. But
overall her voice is very very nice. Full and round. Only her acting is
not that great as Alvarez or Raimondi.
Raimondi.
What can I say?
The ideal cast.
His acting, his singing, his appearance. Absolutely perfect.
So sad he wasn't there anymore for the applause he well deserved.
Tosca is not my favorite opera. But Alvarez and Raimondi are always
worth a visit.
And Fantini was a positive surprise.
So sad, E lucevan le stelle was not up to my expectations.
Kay
Kiwi
I can't speak for anyone else, but I enjoyed reading your post abut
Tosca in Zurich. It is always interesting to read views and reviews
from 'the rest of the world' (:)).
One of the things I most admire about RMO is the international climate
that provides us interesting commentary from listers like you. Just
don't be discouraged if you don't get a lot of responses.....
Best wishes,
Kiwi
Stephen Jay-Taylor
desired."
You go, girl. Consumed with interest...
I'm not speaking for anybody else here - I never do, hohohoho - but it would
be nice if you could throw in the names of the conductor and stage director
[ and, if you're going to mention the designs, the designer(s) ].
SJT
Kay
conductor
Nello Santi
Next report in 2 weeks:
Lucia di Lammermoor
with Elena Mosuc
Kay
Stephen Jay-Taylor schrieb:
AlisonC
If the theatre wasn't full for Tosca, does that mean one can usually
get tickets at short notice, or was it exceptional? Alvarez guarantees
full houses here in London, I think.
Transy...@webtv.net
As many of you know, Marcelo Alvarez is my favorite tenor - indeed, my
favorite SINGER - and I would have given anything if I were the Kay who
saw him in Zurich, but alas, I was not.
I WAS fortunate to see him in his role debut at the ROH last year - his
first performance after having been laid low by illness - he was
spectacular, and I loved the whole production with Gheorghiu and Terfel.
To avoid confusion, when I post here in the future perhaps I should
identify myself as:
Kay
(in the U.S.)
Fede
Do you now "Piccola Lirica"? www.piccolalirica.com
Kay
usually not
But this time yes
Kay
AlisonC schrieb:
Kay
:-)
> Whoa! Another "Kay" on RMO!
yes strange
>
> As many of you know, Marcelo Alvarez is my favorite tenor - indeed, my
> favorite SINGER - and I would have given anything if I were the Kay who
> saw him in Zurich, but alas, I was not.
he is mine too, together with Licitra and Florez (except Pavarotti)
His timbre is awesome and his acting too
to make you more jealous: La Boheme with Alvarez in Zurich in March
:-)
>
> I WAS fortunate to see him in his role debut at the ROH last year - his
> first performance after having been laid low by illness - he was
> spectacular, and I loved the whole production with Gheorghiu and Terfel.
I would love to heat Gheorghio live
>
> To avoid confusion, when I post here in the future perhaps I should
> identify myself as:
>
> Kay
And if I am there sometimes.
I can be Kay (ZH)
or Kay (CH)
or Kay (the Anna admirer)
>
> (in the U.S.)