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La Traviata - a hugh disappointment
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Armor
Apr 15, 2012, 9:47:53 AM4/15/12
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La Traviata last night on Met, HD broadcast, was a huge disappointment. Willy Decker´s staging was originally used by the Salzburg opera 7 years ago and that performance ... with the brilliant Anna Netrebko and Villazon ... was much better than the Met´s. Natalie Dessay has clearly not recovered from her illness, Polenzani is a colourless tenor and Thomas Hampson is far better than the overrated Hvorostovsky.
TM
Apr 15, 2012, 10:13:14 AM4/15/12
to
"Armor" wrote in message
news:8227837.2259.1334497673268.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@vbyz30...
La Traviata last night on Met, HD broadcast, was a huge disappointment.
and that performance ... with the brilliant Anna Netrebko and Villazon ...
was much better than the Met愀. Natalie Dessay has clearly not recovered
from her illness, Polenzani is a colourless tenor and Thomas Hampson is far
better than the overrated Hvorostovsky.
Dessay herself seemed hugely disappointed with her Act 1 performance by her
better than the overrated Hvorostovsky.
demeanor in her intermission interview. Clearly she was not well, coughing a
few times while chatting with Voigt ... and admitting that she "missed a
high note."
Things went much better for the rest of her performance though.
She got an enthusiastic round of applause at her solo curtain call, where
she appeared to be almost apologetic. But appreciative and deeply moved.
All in all, quite a performance. And I thought Polenzani and Hvorostovsky
were great.
Armor
Apr 15, 2012, 10:32:33 AM4/15/12
to
On Sunday, April 15, 2012 2:13:14 AM UTC-12, TM wrote:
> "Armor" wrote in message
> news:8227837.2259.1334497673268.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@vbyz30...
>
> La Traviata last night on Met, HD broadcast, was a huge disappointment.
> Willy Decker´s staging was originally used by the Salzburg opera 7 years ago
> "Armor" wrote in message
> news:8227837.2259.1334497673268.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@vbyz30...
>
> La Traviata last night on Met, HD broadcast, was a huge disappointment.
> and that performance ... with the brilliant Anna Netrebko and Villazon ...
> was much better than the Met´s. Natalie Dessay has clearly not recovered
> from her illness, Polenzani is a colourless tenor and Thomas Hampson is far
> better than the overrated Hvorostovsky.
>
> Dessay herself seemed hugely disappointed with her Act 1 performance by her
> demeanor in her intermission interview. Clearly she was not well, coughing a
> few times while chatting with Voigt ... and admitting that she "missed a
> high note."
>
> Things went much better for the rest of her performance though.
>
> She got an enthusiastic round of applause at her solo curtain call, where
> she appeared to be almost apologetic. But appreciative and deeply moved.
>
> All in all, quite a performance. And I thought Polenzani and Hvorostovsky
> were great.
After the show I went to a party with my opera-club and we watched the original Salzburg staging which was far better, not only was the singing better, the production was much better too. Then we watched a staging in the Verdi-theater with Bruson who was far better than Hvorostovsky and a staging with Leo Nucci - who was quite good, but not as good as Hampson and Bruson. I wonder if the quality of the Met might be slowly declining - so slowly though that the fans fail to notice it.
> better than the overrated Hvorostovsky.
>
> Dessay herself seemed hugely disappointed with her Act 1 performance by her
> demeanor in her intermission interview. Clearly she was not well, coughing a
> few times while chatting with Voigt ... and admitting that she "missed a
> high note."
>
> Things went much better for the rest of her performance though.
>
> She got an enthusiastic round of applause at her solo curtain call, where
> she appeared to be almost apologetic. But appreciative and deeply moved.
>
> All in all, quite a performance. And I thought Polenzani and Hvorostovsky
> were great.
TM
Apr 15, 2012, 11:02:09 AM4/15/12
to
"Armor" wrote in message
news:8425051.730.1334500353732.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@vbbdy9...
On Sunday, April 15, 2012 2:13:14 AM UTC-12, TM wrote:
> "Armor" wrote in message
> news:8227837.2259.1334497673268.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@vbyz30...
>
> La Traviata last night on Met, HD broadcast, was a huge disappointment.
> ago
> and that performance ... with the brilliant Anna Netrebko and Villazon ...
> was much better than the Met愀. Natalie Dessay has clearly not recovered
> and that performance ... with the brilliant Anna Netrebko and Villazon ...
> from her illness, Polenzani is a colourless tenor and Thomas Hampson is
> far
> better than the overrated Hvorostovsky.
>
> Dessay herself seemed hugely disappointed with her Act 1 performance by
> her
> demeanor in her intermission interview. Clearly she was not well, coughing
> a
> few times while chatting with Voigt ... and admitting that she "missed a
> high note."
>
> Things went much better for the rest of her performance though.
>
> She got an enthusiastic round of applause at her solo curtain call, where
> she appeared to be almost apologetic. But appreciative and deeply moved.
>
> All in all, quite a performance. And I thought Polenzani and Hvorostovsky
> were great.
After the show I went to a party with my opera-club and we watched the
original Salzburg staging which was far better, not only was the singing
better, the production was much better too. Then we watched a staging in the
Verdi-theater with Bruson who was far better than Hvorostovsky and a staging
with Leo Nucci - who was quite good, but not as good as Hampson and Bruson.
I wonder if the quality of the Met might be slowly declining - so slowly
though that the fans fail to notice it.
You may be right about this ... but Saturday's audience just wanted to love
> far
> better than the overrated Hvorostovsky.
>
> Dessay herself seemed hugely disappointed with her Act 1 performance by
> her
> demeanor in her intermission interview. Clearly she was not well, coughing
> a
> few times while chatting with Voigt ... and admitting that she "missed a
> high note."
>
> Things went much better for the rest of her performance though.
>
> She got an enthusiastic round of applause at her solo curtain call, where
> she appeared to be almost apologetic. But appreciative and deeply moved.
>
> All in all, quite a performance. And I thought Polenzani and Hvorostovsky
> were great.
After the show I went to a party with my opera-club and we watched the
original Salzburg staging which was far better, not only was the singing
better, the production was much better too. Then we watched a staging in the
Verdi-theater with Bruson who was far better than Hvorostovsky and a staging
with Leo Nucci - who was quite good, but not as good as Hampson and Bruson.
I wonder if the quality of the Met might be slowly declining - so slowly
though that the fans fail to notice it.
Dessay, come hell or high water.
Armor
Apr 15, 2012, 11:10:16 AM4/15/12
to
On Sunday, April 15, 2012 3:02:09 AM UTC-12, TM wrote:
> "Armor" wrote in message
> news:8425051.730.1334500353732.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@vbbdy9...
>
> On Sunday, April 15, 2012 2:13:14 AM UTC-12, TM wrote:
> > "Armor" wrote in message
> > news:8227837.2259.1334497673268.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@vbyz30...
> >
> > La Traviata last night on Met, HD broadcast, was a huge disappointment.
> > Willy Decker´s staging was originally used by the Salzburg opera 7 years
> "Armor" wrote in message
> news:8425051.730.1334500353732.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@vbbdy9...
>
> On Sunday, April 15, 2012 2:13:14 AM UTC-12, TM wrote:
> > "Armor" wrote in message
> > news:8227837.2259.1334497673268.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@vbyz30...
> >
> > La Traviata last night on Met, HD broadcast, was a huge disappointment.
> > ago
> > and that performance ... with the brilliant Anna Netrebko and Villazon ...
> > was much better than the Met´s. Natalie Dessay has clearly not recovered
> > and that performance ... with the brilliant Anna Netrebko and Villazon ...
> > from her illness, Polenzani is a colourless tenor and Thomas Hampson is
> > far
> > better than the overrated Hvorostovsky.
> >
> > Dessay herself seemed hugely disappointed with her Act 1 performance by
> > her
> > demeanor in her intermission interview. Clearly she was not well, coughing
> > a
> > few times while chatting with Voigt ... and admitting that she "missed a
> > high note."
> >
> > Things went much better for the rest of her performance though.
> >
> > She got an enthusiastic round of applause at her solo curtain call, where
> > she appeared to be almost apologetic. But appreciative and deeply moved.
> >
> > All in all, quite a performance. And I thought Polenzani and Hvorostovsky
> > were great.
>
> After the show I went to a party with my opera-club and we watched the
> original Salzburg staging which was far better, not only was the singing
> better, the production was much better too. Then we watched a staging in the
> Verdi-theater with Bruson who was far better than Hvorostovsky and a staging
> with Leo Nucci - who was quite good, but not as good as Hampson and Bruson.
> I wonder if the quality of the Met might be slowly declining - so slowly
> though that the fans fail to notice it.
>
> You may be right about this ... but Saturday's audience just wanted to love
> Dessay, come hell or high water.
Yes, they obviously loved her and so do I. She was great in La Somnambula, quite good in Lucia di Lammermoore and yesterday she was - heroic ;)
> > far
> > better than the overrated Hvorostovsky.
> >
> > Dessay herself seemed hugely disappointed with her Act 1 performance by
> > her
> > demeanor in her intermission interview. Clearly she was not well, coughing
> > a
> > few times while chatting with Voigt ... and admitting that she "missed a
> > high note."
> >
> > Things went much better for the rest of her performance though.
> >
> > She got an enthusiastic round of applause at her solo curtain call, where
> > she appeared to be almost apologetic. But appreciative and deeply moved.
> >
> > All in all, quite a performance. And I thought Polenzani and Hvorostovsky
> > were great.
>
> After the show I went to a party with my opera-club and we watched the
> original Salzburg staging which was far better, not only was the singing
> better, the production was much better too. Then we watched a staging in the
> Verdi-theater with Bruson who was far better than Hvorostovsky and a staging
> with Leo Nucci - who was quite good, but not as good as Hampson and Bruson.
> I wonder if the quality of the Met might be slowly declining - so slowly
> though that the fans fail to notice it.
>
> You may be right about this ... but Saturday's audience just wanted to love
> Dessay, come hell or high water.
Pooh Bah
Apr 16, 2012, 3:10:34 AM4/16/12
to
So? What else do you want from a consumptive heroine?
What part did hugh sing?
chsiii
Apr 17, 2012, 12:18:30 PM4/17/12
to
Hugh sang the role of the clock, and I never could really hear him over the
rest.
Whatever the wonders of the acting, listening to Dessay and Polenzani was
Traviata cast with Minnie and Mickey Mouse. I know Dessay has been ill, but
she doesn't have enough voice for Violetta, period, and you can't compensate
for being an over the hill coloratura by just blasting out everything above
the staff, and then sounding breathily emotive in the middle, with a
disembodied chest voice at the bottom. Ruth Ann Swenson already proved
that. Polenzani, while very pleasant in Mozart or Rossini, just doesn't
have the vocal...parts for Alfredo. It was all very much better last time
around with Netrebko and Beczala.
My best Met Violettas: Moffo, Lorengar, Maliponte, Soviero, Cotrubas.
Sutherland and Caballe had the notes, but just didn't fit the part. Callas
and Tebaldi and Albanese and Steber before my time. My old friend Billy
Munn, said the best next to Ponselle was Dorothy Kirsten.
"Pooh Bah" wrote in message
news:3382-4F8B...@storefull-3112.bay.webtv.net...
rest.
Whatever the wonders of the acting, listening to Dessay and Polenzani was
Traviata cast with Minnie and Mickey Mouse. I know Dessay has been ill, but
she doesn't have enough voice for Violetta, period, and you can't compensate
for being an over the hill coloratura by just blasting out everything above
the staff, and then sounding breathily emotive in the middle, with a
disembodied chest voice at the bottom. Ruth Ann Swenson already proved
that. Polenzani, while very pleasant in Mozart or Rossini, just doesn't
have the vocal...parts for Alfredo. It was all very much better last time
around with Netrebko and Beczala.
My best Met Violettas: Moffo, Lorengar, Maliponte, Soviero, Cotrubas.
Sutherland and Caballe had the notes, but just didn't fit the part. Callas
and Tebaldi and Albanese and Steber before my time. My old friend Billy
Munn, said the best next to Ponselle was Dorothy Kirsten.
"Pooh Bah" wrote in message
news:3382-4F8B...@storefull-3112.bay.webtv.net...
rich...@gmail.com
Apr 17, 2012, 5:14:57 PM4/17/12
to
Why this is marked as abuse? It has been marked as abuse.
Report not abuse
first of the season. I don't know what comes over on HD on this but
the production plays havoc with the voices (to the extent the singers
don't do that), and as they move around the stage the sound goes in
and out like I haven't heard since the Dexter Ballo of, what, twenty
of thirty years ago?
Dessay has begun to remind me of a bad Judy Garland impersonator; I'd
just seen The End of the Rainbow on Broadway, with a performance that
the New Yorker said "fetishized" Garland (the TIMES loved it). What is
shocking in the house is how little voice there actually is - we often
say singers are 'inaudible', meaning not particularly loud, but she
was, well, inaudible, and I was in the director's box, stage left, one
box from the stage.
Agree on Polenzani - think Anton Dermota.
I thought this was the closest thing to a Verdi role I have heard Hvor
do, but maybe I am just bracing for next year. I hated the
interpretation, though. Pere is NOT a gangsa.....he is a pure bougie,
and his is implaccable - that's the key to his character, and that's
actually what scares Violetta. She has been able to charm every man
she ever met, and she meets this guy who isn't physically going to
shove her around, but who simply won't be sidetracked from what he
wants.
Kind of liked the conducting.
The production seemed even worse than I had remembered last time -
maybe it's like childbirth. Although this might be the only
conceivable argument for abortion on demand.
I think this is Verdi's weakest set of characters, and it's the major
problem with the opera. Not the plot (sic) or the story, but the
characters go nowhere. From the moment you meet each of them, you know
exactly what they are capable of, which is exactly what they are when
you meet them. A third rate Donizetti heroine has far more complexity.
That's not to say that a great actress can't fill in the blanks, but a
great actress or actor can do that with anything. I would like to find
a 'reason' for the sameness of character, but I don't think there is
one....Middle period Verdi is for me the most troubled dramatically.
The early stuff just bubbles over, and the late material is non pariel
(imho), but in the middle years he risks being monumental and rather
stereotyped. This is the least successful of the operas, for me, on
that grounds. (I leave out Don Carlos from the middle period, because
we are not talking all or nothing, but just a tendency).
alanwa...@googlemail.com
Apr 25, 2012, 10:02:47 PM4/25/12
to
The music doesn't go anywhere either although I think you know my
view. :):)
10-2-3 11-2-3 12-2-3.
Macbeth is the most "troubled" for me. Fronted up with possibly the
most dramatic set of circumstances he ever encountered ***** all
happens.
Personal opinion as always.
Kind regards,
Alan M. Watkins
view. :):)
10-2-3 11-2-3 12-2-3.
Macbeth is the most "troubled" for me. Fronted up with possibly the
most dramatic set of circumstances he ever encountered ***** all
happens.
Personal opinion as always.
Kind regards,
Alan M. Watkins
DLU
May 16, 2012, 2:03:48 AM5/16/12
to
On 4/15/2012 07:13, TM wrote:
>
>
> "Armor" wrote in message
> news:8227837.2259.1334497673268.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@vbyz30...
>
> La Traviata last night on Met, HD broadcast, was a huge disappointment.
> Willy Decker愀 staging was originally used by the Salzburg opera 7 years
> ago and that performance ... with the brilliant Anna Netrebko and
> Villazon ... was much better than the Met愀. Natalie Dessay has clearly
> not recovered from her illness, Polenzani is a colourless tenor and
> Thomas Hampson is far better than the overrated Hvorostovsky.
>
As one who has to watch The Met HD broadcasts at the local theater, I
>
>
> "Armor" wrote in message
> news:8227837.2259.1334497673268.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@vbyz30...
>
> La Traviata last night on Met, HD broadcast, was a huge disappointment.
> Willy Decker愀 staging was originally used by the Salzburg opera 7 years
> ago and that performance ... with the brilliant Anna Netrebko and
> Villazon ... was much better than the Met愀. Natalie Dessay has clearly
> not recovered from her illness, Polenzani is a colourless tenor and
> Thomas Hampson is far better than the overrated Hvorostovsky.
>
was disappointed with the staging. I am a Hvorostovsky fan having seen
him several times in San Francisco. We also saw Dessay in Lucia in SF
and I was disappointed with her at that time. I just do not think she
has the Bel Canto technique for that role.
She was very good in Daughter of the Regiment, that is a good role for her.
--
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