Roberto d'Orange

Beatrice Uria-Monzon and Roberto Alagna perform in "Cavalleria Rusticana" directed by Jean-Claude Auvray @ Choregies d'Orange -- live broadcast next Tuesday on France 3.

Comments

[CrewMantle]

In some odd way it is depressing that Little Mr Nobody Tenor has finally found his place on the provincial circuit. His voice is a shadow of its lustrous form from only eight years ago. I have no doubt this man owns serious self doubt issues. Of the kind that can debilitate a singer if not kept in check.

Sadly this was not his case. Had he married a woman who could focus on his insecurities, his life would have known a layer of protective calm which could have routed his inner demons. Instead he married a shrill professional harpie who imagined herself greater than her instrument. Little Mr Nobody Tenor was a mere vehicle to promote her own name recognition.

At the end of the day, any good man/woman understands to separate the hype from what is real. And to recognise poison from what ever glamorous veessel which offers it.

[Gordon L]

Alagna sold over 350,000 records last year. I wouldn't consider him a Little Mr Nobody Tenor... he is obviously quite popular with audiences around the world. Same for his wife.

[Despina]

"has finally found his place on the provincial circuit"? But he's been singing in Orange every summer since - I believe - the mid or late 90s! It's sort of traditional for him.

[renee8]

Boy, Uria-Monzon is...ah...er...ah..weathered looking isn't she?

[Valerie de Cleves]

Orange holds an audience of 9,500. On Saturday there were several government ministers, various royals, prominent people from the media and certain VIP's who left their aircraft at Avignon for the night. Of course, there is also the live broadcast scheduled for 4th August nationwide. But then, of course, to some, without the Italian claque it would be provincial.

I shall wait for the critiques from the informed international press before I pass any judgement on Mr Alagna.

[Furst]

@Valerie de Cleves

Indeed

[Manou]

I was there on Saturday - the Grand Old Man himself (Georges Pretre) conducted, as Orange is far from the "provincial circuit" some of you seem to think it is. Even the weather held off and the storm did not start until the last note was played...

Uria-Monzon and Pretre were staying at out hotel, and he is as charming a she is beautiful, and definitely not as she appears in your photograph - my husband took several pictures of her at lunch the next day, and if only I knew how, I would upload one of them!

It is cool to sneer at Alagna because so many people seem to appreciate him - what do they know, the deluded fools...

[CrewMantle]

Although this will likely be buried given the passage of time. Orange IS on the provincial circuit; there can be no further discussion of this.

WHY???

IT'S A FESTIVAL IN AN OUTDOOR ARENA.

I have GREAT admiration for this festival as I do with the Verona Arena, but it is NOT an opera HOUSE. Besides that the ONLY notable performance of recent memory to reccomend itself; the Caballe Norma. One SINGLE historic portrayal is insufficient for the thinnest consideration.

The rules are the rules, regardless of seating size, percieved occasional VIP attendance et al.

[Valerie de Cleves]

Rules are rules? Whose rules? Let us delve into the history of opera as It first started as an after dinner entertainment for various royal houses and aristrocrats. When it became a popular entertainment in Italy for example, it took on the guise of what we would recognise as a musical. Only in recent history has it become an elitist occasion with "rules" applying which seem to have far more to do the price of tickets than common sense. I can hear super opera in Bayreuth, Aix or Salzburg and lousy opera at the Met or Covent Garden. I prefer my rules.

[Andrea]

1,300,000 viewers watched the Soirée Opéra on France 3 between 20h35 and 0h55