I have just received on line the Sept issue of Classical Singer. Anna is its cover and looks very romantic and attractive. But what is much more interesting is the possibility to read for free the article about her art of singing.LINK
I am impressed by the richness of her tremendous voice, not by the way she sings. I am totally under her spell when she sings in her mother tongue. The recital of russian melodies accompanied by Daniel Barenboïm was delightful on television.(ZDF Berlin) This season I have already booked two events, one for sure and another one to be confirmed. I can feel that the hype around her is not all based on the profit of her record company. I can remember how she launched herself in her part in I Capuleti e I Montecchi the only time I saw her live at Bastille opera house.
She takes you in rapture completely at one point or another! she seems to be oblivious of herself to such an exent that she is irresistibly convincing. Her voice, though it could be often in the same range of colours, being so rich and easy in splendid tops, has, like her looks, a strong seductive power.
The only time I saw her, in I Capuleti e I Montecchi,( opera Bastille June 2008, she was expecting her baby boy)she was a beautiful Juliet. I realised how "easy" her voice was. Then suddenly at the last scene, she hooked me because she went over the top really as it is and that was the big emotional pang. There is one role I would have liked to see her in on stage. Luckily there is a fairly good youtube sample. She had a lighter voice and Rolando Villazon was also in great vocal shape.
She has now a very mature and gorgeous appearance, she looks radiant with happiness and that can be felt in her voice. Venus reborn on opera stage?
Hi Yvette,
ReplyDeleteThat sure is a beautiful cover! I love your impressions of Netrebko, too. I wasn't very impressed with her at first -- I thought she was gorgeous and had a beautiful voice, but I first heard her in bel canto repertoire and she just wasn't a very good fit for that type of singing. Once I heard her Russian arias, though, I was quite sold. It would really be a dream to get to hear and see her singing something like The Snow Maiden. :o)
Unfortunately being successful and pretty turns a lot of people against her. :oP I've never met her, but from all I've seen I really quite like her style. Have you seen her youtube channel ( http://www.youtube.com/user/AskAnnaNetrebko )? The gal even post clips of herself without make up on. I love it! :oD
Hope you are well! Will send a proper email soon. :o)
Dearest Smorgy, I have the feeling we are like' neighbours' and yet you are on the other side of the world! I am quite pleased you like that easy stuff of mine about such a complex character. This article is a good one, giving a fair account of her achievement. I appreciate the Russian side of her musical education. She is a hard worker type and not at all the sort of Opera sex symbol described too often at the beginning of her fame. I also was a bit resentful. Then I understood from my young friends in Paris who saw her in all her roles that she was a true real artist, nothing like Mrs Alagna for instance, and as I am fond of what they feel in opera singers appreciation I gradually listened more and 'better'... But I need to see her more to make up my mind definitely. I still think Anja Harteros deserved more "hype" on obvious grand vocal qualities and 'class' ... well it is a difficult game isn't it ...No, I do not know her channel and will jump to it! she has a kind of simplicity and warmth which seem natural. She blossomed with her baby birth and I like this side of her too! My friend Anne -Laure who is a true fan of hers thinks she is a bit 'foolish' and even loves her more for that crazzy side ! I should not compare and yet it is hard not to... You have been writing a lot and I loved it as usual! Big Hugs dear Smorgy!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit I do not know too much about this artist but really enjoy reading articles by those who do. I believe she is singing Juliet to Kasarova's Romeo in Munich, May 2012. ....... I wish !!
ReplyDeleteDear eyesometric, I have reserved for the 26th of may 12. Will I be lucky enough to actually get the tickets? Answer 3 months before the opening night...it is a bit like a lottery isn'it...! This is my last go at such competition with time and money... I will go to the cine-opera!But the prospect of two great voices... temptation is too strong to resist!
ReplyDeleteI hope you are lucky with the tickets!
ReplyDeleteah, Yvette, i've also just entered the lottery, for all 5 performances, who knows if i get any ticket at all! what strange system they have over there.
ReplyDeleteFrom all accounts i've heard, she is the one to see because of her commitment to the arts. The craziness that comes with her does make it very difficult for one to handle. I saw her (barely) once in Vienna as Michaela in Carmen. Her voice is indeed on the warm side, very pleasant for the ears. It's hard for me to tell much more given the commotion everytime she was about to sing. the audience in the standing room was on their toes, pretty much blocking my entire view :-). the zoo before, during, and after the performance were truly a turn off though! claps were exclusively for her only, flowers for Anna, TV, radio, cameras, bright lights (I saw Frau K just the night before in Werther and there was no cameras in sight :-) ). But I hope she will have a very good collaboration with Frau K given how dedicated (and good) both of them are to bringing out the characters. In fact, since she's singing (let's hope not canceling), we might have a chance for TV taping / DVD release too! let's keep our fingers crossed for winning lottery! would be lovely to see you in Munich :-).
Great! But I have entered the lottery just for one date... I did not know you could do that, enlarging the chances!!! what a system... You see as I said previously I'm dating(true being Grandma twice...) and I want to catch up with what is my "passion". Working days(teaching) are over and only my passion leads me... on some foreign paths where I can visit places of interests unknown so far! I was a child when Callas was performing in Paris, in those post war days (53...onwards) the French radio was following the Paris events quite well and I remember spending evenings with the family around the radio set, listening to operas because this passion was a family one. Maria's voice is very familliar to me. So, now I plan some trips to listen to the singers I like best... for Anna I agree it is as well to see this big thing happening...the Hype ... but the voice is tremendous. I heard it live at Bastille in this Rossini's opera, she was great and Romeo was Joyce Didonato. I have the feeling VK is much more involved dramatically and broader in terms of resounding and harmonics. So let's hope...(I had to scan through my email to find the reservatons it is for the 27th -Capuletti and 29th for Cenerentola. see what will come out of that...thaks a lot for sharing with me! Have a nice day!
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