Gagnidze was good. He threw away "...tu sei la schiava" on Sprechgesang, but he's hardly the first Amonasro - the first *good* one, I mean - to do so.
So what am I doing now? I'm in the lobby of the University Theater at Old Dominion U., Norfolk, Va., waiting for HANSEL AND GRETEL in a production by the Governor's School for the Arts.
The Vocal Arts Dept of this high-school program has such depth of young talent, they're putting on three performances of HANSEL with three different casts. I make that 24 capable teenage voices. And that's just the Vocal Arts Dept: the Musical Theater Dept is separate.
I'm at the closing performance. I could have gone to them all, I suppose, but I still have law exams to grade, so I've chosen one Diva dei Tutte Dive at GSA - Malia Diaz - who's singing the Dew Fairy this afternoon. But I've also heard great things from Anyée Farrar, and I understand she kicked it as Gretel on opening night.
More later.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Gagnidze - about time for me
I break the long and excuseless silence of this blog to note that I am about to hear, for the first time, George Gagnidze.
Of course he came to the Met with the Bondy TOSCA, but that's hardly his fault, and somehow, despite his many Scarpie and Rigoletti since, I somehow haven't heard him until the b'cast of his Amonasro today.
Of course he came to the Met with the Bondy TOSCA, but that's hardly his fault, and somehow, despite his many Scarpie and Rigoletti since, I somehow haven't heard him until the b'cast of his Amonasro today.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Charles Anthony R.I.P.
I have a lot to get caught up on, especially about the Met's RING, but for the sake of beloved Charles Anthony I had at last to shake the blogger rust off and post the news of his death at about 4:30 this morning. At the time @SusanneMentzer first posted it on Twitter and a Distinguished Personage confirmed it, the news was still not circulating in the media, nor yet on Opera-L, but here we lament his passing -- and also that of fellow character tenor Paul Franke a few weeks ago.
Sometimes they were in the same shows: Franke as Cassio, Anthony as Roderigo; Franke as Spalanzani, Anthony as the Four Servants; Anthony taking over as the Holy Fool ("Simpleton" in those days) when Franke was promoted to Shuisky. And so on. Franke got more cracks at leading parts (David, the Captain, and of course The Witch!), but, don't forget, Anthony recorded Ernesto for the Record Club!
Two giants of their Fach, and two great artists. But today is Charlie's day. Praying for him and for his family.
I have a lot to get caught up on, especially about the Met's RING, but for the sake of beloved Charles Anthony I had at last to shake the blogger rust off and post the news of his death at about 4:30 this morning. At the time @SusanneMentzer first posted it on Twitter and a Distinguished Personage confirmed it, the news was still not circulating in the media, nor yet on Opera-L, but here we lament his passing -- and also that of fellow character tenor Paul Franke a few weeks ago.
Sometimes they were in the same shows: Franke as Cassio, Anthony as Roderigo; Franke as Spalanzani, Anthony as the Four Servants; Anthony taking over as the Holy Fool ("Simpleton" in those days) when Franke was promoted to Shuisky. And so on. Franke got more cracks at leading parts (David, the Captain, and of course The Witch!), but, don't forget, Anthony recorded Ernesto for the Record Club!
Two giants of their Fach, and two great artists. But today is Charlie's day. Praying for him and for his family.
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