Mutiny at La Scala: The Chorus vs. GM Lissner / Dessay says “Nay”

Opera Chic is back snug in Milan, and will post tomorrow about Muti’s conducting of Donizetti’s Don Pasquale (in one word: "teh"), which was attended earlier tonight at Teatro Dante Alighieri in Ravenna.

For now, there is just one piece of breaking news from Teatro alla Scala tonight concerning the chorus: They have decided to boycott this Saturday night's annual Concerto di Natale, to be conducted by Maestro Pierre Boulez.

The program reflects an all-Stravinsky selection (Le chant du rossignol, Le sacre du printemps, and the choral Symphony of Psalms), with the chorus appearing only for the Symphony of Psalms. However, seeing that the concerto would be televised, they approached Lissner for an additional stipend to supplement their previously-agreed fee. Lissner refused, and the chorus has been cut from the program completely. Thank goodness the remaining program does not require a chorus, as last year’s presentation was Barenboim's Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

...

Also to report is that soprano Natalie Dessay has cancelled her February 2007 Teatro alla Scala appearance in Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment. She was supposed to sing Marie, but has pulled-out. (btw, we have Flórez  Flórez Flórez singing Tonio, so Opera Chic will mos def be there.) Click here for a magnificent cache of Dessay still listed for La Fille du Régiment on the Teatro alla Scala website.

There is no official reason, but the off-the-record buzz is this: Dessay was under the impression (duh!) that Zeffirelli had created a new production of La Fille du Régiment (as he had done for Aida). Instead, Teatro alla Scala will recycle the old Zeffirelli production for La Fille. So Dessay was all like, kthxbi xoxoxox

Comments

[Parsifal]

Ohhh c'mon!!! I was looking forward to this!! Well, they re singing La Fille together at the ROH soon!

[Crew Mantle]

Well! Is there no end to Opera Chic's arresting insider announcements????

Ahhh the greedy chorus at La Scala, fresh off the insurrection and subsequent firing of Muti, this does NOT put them in a good light. I'm with Lissner on this one; he does serve up such delicious and FINAL justice!

I like Dessay, but La Scala of 'old' meant that if you were told you were getting a new production but did not, your tournee could be La Scala at it's most mediocre. At least she had the class to pull out looong in advance. Florez?? I demand an INSTANT review! He is one hot tenor these days to listen to!

[Crew Mantle]

Note on Florez;

One H3LLUVA tenor! His C reminds me of early Gruberova and her high notes; so brilliant and ringing they pierced the ear drum. AND He is an extraordinary actor to top it all off....not hard on the eyes either! This man has a shot at being the male version of Callas on stage.

A tenor of this magnitude will be asked to do everything... NOW. One trusts he has the good sense to take his time to add additional repertoire. I might be provoked into going to Peru to take the boy in hand if he begins to do otherwise...(be nice if he met up with Bolle; a buck who knows how to stay focussed on the 8 ball)

[Crew Mantle]

FINAL Note on Florez;

Tenor lead roles in the following opera's.. (some of my wish list...)

Next 5 years; Lucia, Anna Bolena, Traviata, Puritani, Hamlet, Rigoletto, Luisa Miller

5-8 years after that; Pirata, Roberto Devereaux, Norma (only a few), Guigliemo Tell, Medea, Tosca, Chenier, a private recital for me alone.

And after THAT; Trovatore, Aida, Don Carlo, Tristan, Turandot, Ernani

[Crew Mantle]

Final FINAL note on Florez....

When he sings at august La Scala, he WILL create thrilling pandemonium and will have all of Milan at his feet; at least 5 curtain calls opening night!.... Unlike certain other Has Been, Never Was, Little Mr. Nobody Tenor types that would do better as lounge singers.

[Jean Peccei]

I don't think anyone has to worry about Flórez's ability to say no. See this article and the one following it...

http://jcarreras.homestead.com/FlorezArtMay2006.html#anchor_13095

Incidentally, he's already sung 'I Puritani' twice, in Las Palmas and Vienna. He makes his role debut as the Duke in 'Rigoletto' in 2008, and is planning to sing Orphée in 'Orphée et Euridice' (the French version written for a tenor) in 2010. He might also do 'Linda di Chamounix' and 'Les pêcheurs de perles' around 2012. Apart from those roles, he plans to stick to the Rossini repertoire, but definitely no 'Guillaume Tell'.

As for 'Hamlet', isn't the title role normally sung by a baritone?? It was the last time I saw it - with Simon Keenlyside - at Covent Garden.

[Crew Mantle]

LROL Good Lord your right Jean! The Hamlet version I had in mind was indeed the Thomas. Alright strike that... but it should do him well when he's 70! ;-)

As for the rest, its a wish list of roles I'd like to see him take on in a particular order so as to utilize his instrument for a longer period.. Bravo to the early use of Donizetti though!

[Neal Persky]

Hi. I am looking for high resolution photos of Natalie Dessay. There were some on the La Scala website that were apparently taken off when Dessay withdrew from the upcoming run of La Fille. If anyone can point me to some or forward them by email, that would be great. Thanks.