Marcelo Alvarez-less Scala Looks For Tenor

The Marcelo Alvarez decision to cancel his Scala engagements -- Andrea Chenier next June directed by Terry Gilliam & conducted by Daniel Oren, with Fiorenza Cedolins, and next year's prima, 12/7/2008 in Don Carlos under Daniele Gatti's baton -- opens a big hole in the season's roster, and in next season's too: if Ian Storey got his Tristan part only after Barenboim's first choice -- Burkhard Fritz -- said no, well, losing a big name like Alvarez TWICE opens a huge can of contractual worms.

If we ran la Scala -- and one day we will, oh we will -- we'd hire the best Chenier out there, Fabio Armiliato. But then we'd have hired him from day 1, and Dessì in Cedolin's place. Then, for shock value, we'd hire Alagna for Don Carlos, settling the lawsuit and getting lots of press for it.

And it would all be a lot of fun.

Now, not so much.

Comments

[CrewMantle]

Could we possibly find out WHY precisely Mr. Alvarez is cancelling? It's one thing to cancel a series of performances during the off summer season, but to cancel December 7 at La Scala is virtually unheard of. That there are TWO direct cancellations would suggest there has been a falling out of significant proportions.

Does the December 6th Muti Otello at The Teatro dell'Opera di Roma (which will overshadow EVERYTHING in Italian opera) have anything to do with it?

Is this anyway to run august Teatro Alla Scala? What could be MORE embarrasing to the Milanese than a not quite top tier tenor refusing December 7th? Perhaps Little Mr. Nobody Tenor will be begged to return...

[Donna Anna]

What's with Alvarez backing out? Any reason given or none needed?
Yes to Fabio, absolutely. He'd be killer. So would Alagna in Don Carlos--I don't think he's done it since the mid 90s. The ensuing pr circus would be as interesting as your productions.

[willym]

damn we're doing well then in Rome - we got Alvarez for some of the Toscas and Fabio and the Devine Dessì for Fancuilla. And Muti Otello.

[Christine]

In the first comment someone writes something very silly about a NOBODY, but the singer who is meant is for sure no nobody but one of the few top tenors of our time.

Marcelo Alvarez canceled his Scala contracts because he is earning better behaviour as the artistic management of the Scala has shown him during the rehearsals for the Verdi Requiem.

If you want to know more about the Scala cancellations of Marcelo Alvarez read my posting no. 2378 in the MarceloAlvarezFans yahoogroup, see the URL which I added.

Best regards,

Christine

Alvarezfan but first operafan and very happy with other tenors as well as Fabio Armiliato or Roberto Alagna and many others.
Although I had to laugh a lot about the funny picture, thanks!!! :-))

[Christine]

I wrote:
> If you want to know more about the Scala cancellations of Marcelo Alvarez read my posting no. 2378 in the MarceloAlvarezFans yahoogroup, see the URL which I added.

The link didn't appear, so here it is, copy and paste:

http://de.groups.yahoo.com/group/MarceloAlvarezFans

Christine

[CrewMantle]

Christine, my hat is off to U! I find it really something to be able to critique a comment with English so impaired it suggests this must be a foreign language to you. I myself could never imagine to ever risk such an action as I may unintentionally affront someone in their native tongue.

Regardless, hardcore opera enthusiasts are welcome anywhere in any language.... when good taste is applied.

[deadtenors]

i guess my name tells you how i'd recast these roles. or maybe carlos alvarez could step in. could do worse. nice photo work.

[missdezember]

I <333 you, OC. All da powah of the world to you is all I say.

[Christine]

CrewMantle, normally I would not dare to criticise in a language which is not my own, but I wanted to let people know the reasons why Marcelo Alvarez has cancelled. Also I think it is not in good taste to refer to somebody who is highly regarded in the opera world as a "nobody" (an INtentionally affront!) and these two things made me forget my caution.

[CrewMantle]

That Mr Alagna is still held in high regard by some opera afficianodos is a marvel to more informed circles. No, he remains Little Mr. Nobody Tenor, since that epitomises his value correctly.

As a gentleman, I regard the voiced, personal opinions of others with tolerance if not pleasure, as criticising THEIR view would be boorish to a level that is unspeakably rude.

[flipstinger]

whoaw girl!

things get really catty! here eh!?

well, we sure hope La Scala will hire FAB Arm for Chenier to replace Alvarez. this will be total coolness since he gets rave reviews whenever he does this role. but, may not be the case if it's in June 2008 as our fellah is fully booked for that month - doing Manon L. in Palermo with the wifey!, debut for Otello in Malaga for 2 performances avec wifey again and to wrap up the month Turandot in Napoli...busy busy busy!

this means, i don't have a good alt Chenier in mind...to take Alvarez' place. I know Cura has done it but neveh got a good review - specially the last one he did in Barcelona.

[Christine]

Yesterday Marcelo Alvarez spoke again about the contracts with the Scala and someone who was there told me that he said explicitly that he has no problems with Lissner or Barenboim but only with the artistic management of the Scala. Although Marcelo Alvarez told them a long time ago his contract data with the Opernhaus Zürich, they wanted to place an obligation on him for a rehearsal for the Verdi Requiem on a day for which he already had a contract for rehearsals in Zürich and they threatened to do the Requiems without him if he wouldn’t appear.

[Opera Chic]

Christine, it doesn't sound right -- Lissner IS the Artistic Director, too. He has a guy coordinate it, but he is General Manager AND Artistic Director. Careful about the spin here. Lissner runs la Scala, period. You don't cancel your engagement there because you had an argument with an underling. Not if you're smart.

[mezzosoprano]

OC, I just wonder if this cancellation has anything to do with his Requiems at Scala...he never actually did a public (he did do the dress) performance due to the strikes but he sounded like he was in a LOT of trouble during rehearsals...???!

[ariel]

Opera houses like Scala etc. have little to do with music as much as politics and which ditzy soprano rules and which half assed tenor brays
the loudest .The beautiful sounding tenor Beczala should give it a try -it would be interesting to hear Beczala sing Chenier rather than bellowed to please the dim wits that now
fill the seats of opera houses .