In 2008, Arthaus Musik released an extraordinary, outstanding documentary: Opera Fanatic. The eccentric Stefan Zucker travelled through Italy to visit divas of yesteryear. Quite rightly, the film won awards.
“We live in an age of Barbie doll opera singers, who look good, move nicely, but lack charisma. What we need are singers with hair under the armpits!”
It is just one of the quirky sayings of Stefan Zucker, an opera fanatic of the first hour, and, by his own admission, the “highest tenor voice ever”. Whether it is true? I wouldn’t know, but his whispered voice sounds downright laughable. Could he possibly be eunuch, too?
He is also a very irritating little man in search of gossip and thrills, but thanks to him we get to visit the great divas of bygone times: Anita Cerquetti, Fedora Barbieri, Giulietta Simionato, Magda Olivero, Leyla Gencer, Marcella Pobbe …
Marcella Pobbe
Fedora Barbieri
Not all ladies are keen on talking to him or answering his impertinent questions (fair’s fair: I can really enjoy those anyway), but with a few grappas in them, they suddenly go wild. He seduces them into the most remarkable statements and we are treated to footage and sound clips of their performances.
The film was made by Jan Schmidt-Garre in 1999 and has since won quite a few awards at various film festivals. Rightly so. It has become a bit of a road movie, but with opera stars in the leading roles.
To my great shame and embarrassment, I must confess that it was the first time I had heard of Carla Gavazzi, but by now I have more than made up for this shortcoming.
Carla Gavazzi
What a voice, what a singer! And for me definitely the best Santuzza (Cavalleria Rusticana) ever.
Highly, highly recommended!!!!!!!!!!!
Basia con fuoco 
Lijkt me een heerlijke DVD. Ik ben nooit verder gekomen dan een bezoek aan Contrubas in haar villa aan de Franse Riviera. Ook onvergetelijk. Ze woont nu al jaren met haar man in Wenen.
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