In the October 2004 issue of BBC Music magazine, Amanda Holloway writes: The phrase most often used of Anna Netrebko is a ‘package’: stunning looks, acting ability and a gorgeous,…
Category: Commentary
Pavarotti’s forgotten predecessor: Bruno Prevedi
By Jan Neckers The line of Decca-tenors seems to run straight from Del Monaco to Bergonzi to Pavarotti. Granted there are some intrusions by Giuseppe Campora, Giuseppe Di Stefano and…
Joseph Schmidt (1904-2004)
This is not a biography of the Jewish tenor. Just some personal thoughts on a few interesting aspects. Those interested in a biographical article and an outstanding discography better purchase the June 2000 issue of The Record Collector where your servant and Hansfried Sieben devoted more than sixty small print pages to the tenor. Those able to read German can still buy Alfred Fasbind’s biography published at the Schweizer Verlagshaus in Zürich 1992. It is still available in some German bookshops and maybe with the author himself (Rosenbergstrasse 16, 8630 Rüti, Switzerland).
THE RISE OF NEAPOLITAN COMIC OPERA
Goldberg No. 27 By Brian Robins During the eighteenth century Naples was one of the largest and most vibrant cities in Europe. Hot, dirty and overcrowded, it was a city…
Kiri Te Kanawa in Philadelphia
Soprano still sings, and talks about it By David Patrick Stearns Inquirer Music Critic The majestic voice of Metropolitan Opera radio announcer Milton Cross became painfully flummoxed at the name…
Chicago Tribune on Bolcom’s Wedding
William Bolcom: The `Wedding’ planner By John von Rhein Tribune music critic September 12, 2004 Elden is William Bolcom’s middle name, but it might just as well be Eclectic. He’s…
The Independent: The Sydney Opera House: a father and son enterprise
In 1966 Jørn Utzon was forced to quit as architect of the Sydney Opera House before it was complete. Next week, the first new interiors he and his son have…
ÓPERA ACTUAL: Angela Gheorghiu
Angela Gheorghiu “Sé lo que quiero en la vida” Todavía resuenan los ecos de su renuncia a esa Traviata que inauguraba la pasada temporada del Teatro Real. Después de su…
NYT: Why the Dying Richard Strauss Couldn’t Get Enough of ‘Daphne’
Why the Dying Richard Strauss Couldn’t Get Enough of ‘Daphne’ By BRYAN GILLIAM ON June 11, 1949, his 85th birthday, Richard Strauss performed at his piano for the last time.…
Le Monde on Film Makers and Opera
L’opéra au cinéma, entre chic et surprise LE MONDE | 30.09.04 | 14em5 La mise en scène d’opéra est, pour des cinéastes comme Benoît Jacquot, Atom Egoyan, Robert Altman… l’occasion…