Goodbye Paris: La Netrebka Cancels Stuff, Part XXXVIII

Are you one of the optimists who bought tickets for I Capuleti e i Montecchi, in Paris, in the hope of seeing Anna Netrebko there?

Well, now that it's basically all sold out, turns out that Anna Netrebko won't probably be there that much: she seems about to cancel at least six 3 nights of her commitment there (from May 31 on). Goodness knows if she'll show up at least for the May 24 prima and the May 28 seconda rappresentazione.

update:

dear Mei (aka gtl torn t) alerts us that Opera de Paris says Netrebko only canceled three engagements, May 31, June 11 & 15.

end update

No official reason for the cancellation, but maybe she caught a cold the other night in London, due to the unusual choice of attire.

As our readers know we love la Ciofolina, so Paris audiences (tickets there are not as shamefully expensive as la Scala's, but pretty steep nonetheless) will be getting more than their monies worth anyway. But still.

Bait and switch, baby. Bait and switch.

Comments

[Willym]

Okay there must be something going on here - Erwin cancelled the late May Lombardis in Napoli, now the big A is cancelling late May appearances in Paris. What does the dynamic duo have planned?

[A Real Cad]

Caribbean holiday?

[Constantine A. Papas]

Netrebko's pregnancy- she must be close to the 7th month by now- is her only priority, and I don't blame her. Besides, mobility of her diaphragm must be restricted. I'm wondering if she's going to keep her June 27 recital in Germany with Domingo and Villazon.

[dze]

Hi OC!

I have the tic for la prima and am keeping my fingers Xed. Otherwise Patrizia Ciofi is more than a decent replacement.

And let's not forget that Joyce DiDonato will be singing Romeo -- I hope you LOVE Joyce DiDonato (it is really hard not to :)

[Mei]

Anna Netrebko only will cancel three performances: Les Capulets et les Montaigus : Patrizia Ciofi chantera Giulietta, en alternance avec Anna Netrebko
Miniature Madame Anna Netrebko en répétitions pour Les Capulets et les Montaigus de Vincenzo Bellini étant dans le cinquième mois de sa grossesse a demandé à la direction de l'Opéra national de Paris de la libérer de trois spectacles.

Heureusement, il a été possible d'engager Madame Patrizia Ciofi pour assurer le rôle de Giulietta les 31 mai, 11 et 15 juin 2008. C'était la seule façon de sauver les débuts de Madame Anna Netrebko à l'Opéra national de Paris qui chantera les 24, 28 mai et les 2, 5, 8 juin 2008. La direction de l'Opéra national de Paris remercie Madame Patrizia Ciofi d'avoir accepté de partager les spectacles avec Madame Anna Netrebko.

30/04/08
http://www.operadeparis.fr/Accueil/Actualite.asp?id=584

[Bill Philin-Ploplis]

Oh, she should just take a year off and relax into motherhood. She can also practice more Vaccai and get her bel canto skilz in better shape. She's young and can still afford to dally and come back full bel canto guns blazing. I think she is even scheduled to sing all the dames in Hoffman at the Met in a season soon. Trebs, stay at home and do some serious releves to get your calves in shape!

[ellie]

I agree that she should pull out the Vaccai...IF she has it on her bookshelf. The things people get away with these days...as if anyone should be singing that late into the pregnancy...someone doesn't have her ducks in a row if you ask me...but as it happens she is doing the Parisians a favor by not appearing more than three times. I can't believe they gave in to the Netrebzitis...

[ellie]

Oh...and one more thing...since I cannot get enough of Trebbashing...the Parisians are cultivated enough to know the difference, and when Ciofi and Netrebko are basically held one up against the other in the same role...well, I hope they will not ask opera's favorite Russian babydoll to tarnish the stage again...(am I being harsh?)...

[dze]

Oh yes, you are Ellie! [harsh] :)

If you ever get to listen to Netrebko live, you'll understand that she more than deserves all this fuss and buzz ;P

Cheers

[dze]

BTW, today she was at the rehearsal at l'Opera Bastille and the folks who were there --and who were dead-set anti-Netrebko-- said that her beauty and the volume of her instrument are just irresistible.

Can't wait next Saturday :)

[Beardo]

I think that la Ciofe is a more than "decent" replacement...she's the $het in this role. DiDonato+Ciofi+Belcanto=great night.

[Constantine A. Papas]

dze,

You're absolutely correct. I saw Netrebko at her Carnegie Hall recital and in her second performance of Romeo et Juliette at the Met. Her voice and charisma filled both houses like thunder and lightning!

[Les Mitchell]

It's interesting that when a singer attains super-star status, be it Netrebko, Alagna, Florez, Villazon, Dessay, Gheorghiu, or whomever, people can't wait to throw zingers at them. Like it or not, its the likes of the above-mentioned artists that help opera to survive. It's nice to have opera superstars again - this is the first REAL bumper crop since the primes of Pavarotti-Domingo-Scotto-Caballe-Sutherland-Horne-Nilsson-Freni, who were, in turn, the greatest bumper crop since the days of Callas-Milanov-Tebaldi-Tucker-del Monaco-Schwarzkopf-de los Angeles-Gobbi-Gedda. They may have all had their detractors, but they MADE opera what it was for their respective generations.
I'm enjoying this current crop of stars - long may they sing!

[dze]

Hi all!

Joyce DiDonato sings sounds great. Hope she stays healthy for la prima but if she does, we're in for a HUGE HUGE performance next Saturday: Anna Netrebko, Joyce DiDonato AND Matthew Polenzani (who recently got the Beverly Sills award & who was fab in Die Entfuhrung at MET!) And let's not forget that this production is signed Robert Carsen.

Totally agree Mitchell. Constantine, can't wait to hear the duet Anna + Joyce singing "Fuggire" :)

[ellie]

Well, I expected this kind of backlash...as it happens I HAVE seen Netrebko live or I wouldn't dare to criticize her the way I do. I do NOT consider it realistic to compare her to the likes of Sutherland or Callas, who indeed were crucial for the continued flourishing of opera. This day and age is all too different. I think some stars end up rising for the wrong reasons. Dessay and Alagna are borderline cases for me...Florez is also too hyped up, IMO, but is arguably one of the better tenors out there...Netrebko...nah...too much to criticize. And she gets away with it every time.

[Philip]

I think Giulietta is a Bel Canto role that will play to Netrebko's strengths. Her much publicized Puritani was not ideal, because the role lies so high, and she was so somehow convinced to attempt every Eb one can interpolate. The singing sounded edgy. The Sonnambula from Vienna was a lot better, partly (I think) because she did not do crazy interpolations throughout the night, but only in selected moments (read: Ah non giunge)
Giulietta, although it lies high, does not go all that high. Netrebko only seems uncomfortable when she has to go above the high C. Up to that, she seems in comfortable waters. I think also the long legato lines of Giulietta's aria will play to to her abilities, as opposed to some of the coloratura. Although maybe now that she is 5 months pregnant, her breath support will really be there!
Have tix for the 28. She better be there!

[ellie]

All good points, Phillip. She has no place singing coloratura passages (not that she alone is at fault for doing it); her voice clearly lends itself to the voluminous phrases of Russian repertoire...if she had only stayed there...but that is just my opinion. Hope you got a chance to read this lovely interview:
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article2224243.ece
Netrebko in her true colors. To think that this is how an opera icon presents herself.

[dze]

ellie,

But I DO NOT want to compare her neither to Callas nor to Sutherland. They do not sing any more! Anna does and I LOVE it!

You maybe listened to Callas and Sutherland live when you were young, and now nothing compares to that experience... To me that lightening strike happened when listening to Anna : THAT power of the voice and that beauty -- there must be some divine touch involved in the whole thing :-)

To each his/her own! You enjoy your CD's of Callas and Sutherland, I'll worship the live performances of these great singers we have today.

And OF COURSE I TOTALLY disagree with you on JD-Florez.

[dze]

Forgot to say that I went to see the general reh. last night and 2.000 people went nuts about Anna and Joyce at the end.

Anna's singing and her overall presence is really something special. She sang BEAUTIFULLY, was totally into her role, and in spite of a few extra-pounds she still looks SMASHING!

Joyce DiDonato was MAGNIFICENT! Absolute triumph for both girls.

Hope they will both be as good this Saturday (la Prima!)

Evelino Pido brilliant AND Matthew Polenzani fab too.

Unforgettable night for me, no doubt about that.

[dze]

Philip. I have the tic for la Prima, and am now looking to buy one for the 28 too. The touts are
selling the 3rd cat. tics for 300 euros each. BOOO!!!

[Peter]

I'm one of the lucky ones on the opening night, May 26th.
I learned from the Opera Bastille website that this performance will be broadcast June 28th at 19:30 on France Musique's (Webradio)http://www.radiofrance.fr/francemusique/em/liste/index.php?page=chrono

For those who don't read french: click "écouter le direct" under the "accueil" heading in he left column.

[Peter]

OK, I am one of the lucky ones to listen to(and see) Anna in Paris tomorrow evening in Opera Bastille.
For all those who are less lucky: Listen to the webradio of France Musique on June, 28th at 19:30 for the transmission of this performance.
http://www.radiofrance.fr/francemusique/em/liste/index.php?page=chrono.
This information is from the website of Opera Bastille.

If you don't read French: Select "écoutez le direct" under the heading "acceuil" in the left column.

For coming opera transmissions select "émissions". Next search down in the alphabetical list for and select "Soirées lyriques". Finally click the "`a venir" tab. (At this moment only the coming transmissions in May are displayed).

Now, I have to hurry to get packed and catch my high speed train to Paris!!

[Peter]

The opening night is May, 24th of course!
To find next opera transmissions on this webradio of France Musique select "émissions" in the left column, search for and select "Soirées lyriques" in the upcoming alphabetical list. Then click the "à venir" tab. (Only the next tansmissions during the recent month are shown).

[dze]

It is happening TODAY! La prima!!! I'm excited and happy and feeling like a kid again :)

Do guys also visit the blog of Joyce DiDonato. She's an angel (http://yankeediva.blogspot.com/)

I'll write a few lines on the show tomorrow morning. If I take some photos, will send them to OC.

Cheers

[dze]

What a show!!! That was one of those rare unforgettable opera-nights and I truly hope someone will decide to record this on DVD, ESPECIALLY this distribution (Carsen+Pido+Netrebko+DiDonato+Polenzani).

The crowd was going nuts at the end, and everyone was exulted at the exit -- the way you feel when you know you were THERE & you were part of IT :)

For the basic info
http://www.operadeparis.fr/Saison-2007-2008/Spectacle.asp?IdS=345

Anna Netrebko was AWESOME! That volume, power and the basic beauty of her voice, simply disarmed all the conservative operagoers who came to fish for the material to bash her. Everyone was just stunned by the magnetism she generates on the scene. She was even adding the higher notes in the 2nd act. This role of Giulietta fits her to perfection! You gotta love her after this. Her dress was large enough, so the fact that she's pregnant did not make any less credible her WONDERFUL Giulietta.

Joyce DiDonato gave it all she had, and it was a total triumph. It's her first time to sing Romeo, it's a very VERY long role, and she was glorious. The way she covers the low register and projects her voice to pick the high notes is just brilliant.

Two ladies (Anna & Joyce) were equally acclaimed at the end and they more than deserved it.

Matthew Polenzani sang brilliantly too. It was a tough match for him (esp in duos with Joyce -- Tebaldo & Romeo) as Joyce was just mind-blowing, but he was also obviously in a risk-taking mood and sang splendidly. Take note guys! Matthew will soon become one of the top 5 world's tenors (in my book he already is :)

G.B.Parodi (Capellio) was fabulous too, M.Petrenko (Lorenzo) a tad less good than the rest of the crew.

The orchestra of l'Opera National de Paris was fantastic and Evelino Pido better than ever.

Definitely that was the night at the opera that I'll never forget! The singing was a blast and the Carsen's stage.

I have the tic for may 28 too. Will try to get one more (AND a bit closer to the stage).

Pics (alas blurred, but what the hell :)

(1) front artists from left to right - Petrenko, Polenzani, DiDonato, Netrebko, Parodi

(2) program

(3) entering Opera de Bastille

(4) advantage of having a seat too high up is to have a beautiful view on Paris:
(4a) Place de la Bastille
(4b) parisian roofs

(5) entreacte
(5a) and (5b)

Will send them to OC by mail so if she wants to post any on her blog, she will.

[ElizabethD]

WE were there too, and thought it was superb.

[Peter]

I was there too with my wife, and I must say: the performance was OK but the ambiance a bit disappointing. The staging was stylish but static, so the strong point of Netrebko of taking possession of the stage was lacking. Secondly, she had some hesitant notes to start with and a kind of sob after laying dead on her back on stage for 10 minutes or so. DiDonato played a very powerfull role.
Evelino Pidò was THE revelation of the evening for me, not only in his way of conducting the superb orchestra (just one tempo flaw immediate after the break) but also in meticulously stearing the two divas! From the minor (men's) roles I liked Petrenko's voice the most.
What I don't like at all are (American?) people in the audience shouting and screaming even before the conductor finishes the music. I don't like people coming late or leaving before the applause has finished (to be the first in the vestibule or the after-dinner). I don't like people in front of me recording with their mobile phone (parterre row 17, seat 52 or so). All in all a memorable evening with some side-thoughts, but not as blurred as dze's pics (and thoughts).

[Gordon Smith]

I was at the performance the 28th, and for me, it was just utterly amazing...
The way the two divas voices blended created something so rare, so unspeakably beautiful... it gives me gooseflesh even to remember it...
What a combination!
Anna Netrebko's voice seemed more mellow than I have ever heard it on CD or DVD...and as it weaved in and around Joyce DiDonato's in the duets it was wonderful.
As others have noted, the orchestra was superlative and the entire cast very strong.
The staging was a tad static though, ulthough it was refreshing to see that it hadn't been "updated" to the First World War or something (the "updating" of the otherwise excellent (but also largely static) production with Patrizia Ciofi on DVD is rather marred by everyone waving guns around - and yet still singing about "swords").
One of those evenings at the opera you are bound to remember for the rest of your life...

[Lesli McCully]

My husband and I will be in Paris in November and we plan to see The Magic Flute at Opera Bastille. What attire do you recommend for an evening performance (not opening night)? Your advice would be most helpful as we wish to dress in accordance with the locals!!