Geraldine_Farrar

Help! So many Carmen’s! Which one is a real must have?

Poster of the première in 1875

In prehistoric times, when ratings alone were not everything and cultural-loving audiences were still taken into account, television-watching opera lovers also came into their own.

Illustration of Bizet’s opera Carmen, published in Journal Amusant, 1875. The image, held by the Bibliothèque nationale de France, is marked “domaine public”

I never used to like opera. I loved violin concerts and piano solo works, very early on I learned to appreciate chamber music and when I got a bit older, songs also came my way. But opera? The mere idea that an old, fat lady would try to portray a young girl dying of TB, gave me the giggles. Talk about prejudice!

DVD’S

Until one memorable evening in 1982, when I turned on the TV to watch Carmen. I only did it to please my then boyfriend and then it happened! From that night on, the world was forever changed and my life gained a great love.

For years I cherished this Carmen, although I only had a badly copied but very expensive mc (does anyone remember what it was?). It was later released on various ‘pirate labels’ and finally on DVD (Arthaus Musik 109096).

ANNA CATERINA ANTONACCI, KAUFMANN AND PAPPANO

Something similar happened to me in 2011, when the BBC brightened up a dull Christmas afternoon with an opera transmission from London’s Covent Garden. Orchestrally, this Carmen is slightly less spectacular than Kleiber’s. Antonio Pappano is an impassioned conductor and whips up the Royal Opera House orchestra to unprecedented heights, but this time my knocked-out feeling was caused by the unusually exciting direction and the phenomenal lead performers.

Francesca Zambello does not shy away from a lot of sentiment and provides a blatantly realistic spectacle, without updates and concepts. The action actually takes place in Seville and the eye is treated to a beautiful choreography and stunning costumes.

Anna Caterina Antonacci is a very spunky and sexy Carmen, very defiant but also confident and proud. Her gorgeous black eyes spit fire, and her beautiful appearance and great acting talent do not hide the fact that she can also sing: her powerful voice has a range of emotions. All in all: a real tragédienne. A real Carmen.

Ildebrando D’Arcangelo is a fantastic, virile Escamillo. His entrance on the big black horse is truly spectacular.

Jonas Kaufmann is easily the best José I have ever experienced in my life. His spinto tenor sounds phenomenal in all registers, nowhere exaggerated and lyrical and whispery where necessary. He cannot be outdone as an actor either, and his more-than-attractive looks we’ll take as a bonus. You surely know by now: you must have this Carmen! (Decca 0743312)

AND WITH RICHARDS AND GARDINER

Carmen by Bizet, conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner Gardiner… who would have thought it possible? And yet it makes more sense than you think. Because with the 2009 performance, Gardiner brought the opera back to the site of its world premiere and the orchestra played the work with the instruments of that time.

Adrian Noble’s (brilliant!) direction is mainly focused on the characters, the staging is highly illustrative and the libretto is closely followed. It is realistic, beautiful and exciting. The unified décor is adapted to each scene, making you feel like you are actually present in all these different locations.

The voices are on the small side, but I don’t think that was a problem at the time at the Opéra Comique in Paris, let alone on DVD.

Andrew Richards is not the best José ever, but his interpretation of the role is phenomenal. He begins as a nice and very cuddly stranger and ends up as a kind of Jesus, with delusion in his eyes.

Unfortunately, Nicolas Cavallier (Escamillo) does not have enough sex appeal for a macho toreador, but he compensates a lot with his beautiful singing.

Anna Caterina Antonacci is one of the best Carmens these days. Beautiful, sexy, challenging and nowhere vulgar. Her deep, warm voice has all the colours of the rainbow.Gardiner clearly feels inspired. His tempi are dizzying at times.

ANNE SOFIE VON OTTER

The 2003 production in Glyndebourne, directed by David McVickar, also looks superb. The stage- set in the first two acts is very industrious. The third act begins foggy, with sparse lighting (the lighting is very ingenious), very cinematic, and very moving. In act IV, you have everything needed to populate Seville: the toreros, the matadors, the beautifully dressed Spanish Doñas and Dons. Breathtaking.

Carmen’s death (her throat is cut in a very bloody way) is thriller-like exciting. Unfortunately, the lead role is played by Anne Sofie von Otter. Because, let’s face it: Carmen is not her thing. In her valiant attempts to still convey something of the Spanish temperament, she degenerates into a vulgar slut. Sin. (OPUS ARTE OA 0867)

GERALDINE FARRAR IN BLACK AND WHITE

Just like today’s movies, opera used to be public entertainment number one. And that for a long time. No wonder, then, that from the very beginning of cinema, much attention was paid to this already well known art form. Carmen, one of the most popular

operas of the time, appealed particularly to the imagination and was filmed as early as 1912 with the prima ballerina of the Opéra Comique, Régina Badet, in the leading role.

In 1915, Cecil B. DeMille filmed the opera again, this time with Geraldine Farrar as the man-eating gypsy. Now, Farrar was not only one of the greatest sopranos and MET legends of the early 20th century, her beautiful appearance and excessive acting talent also enabled her to build a career as a Hollywood actress.

The story was substantially amended, making Carmen a thoroughly bad woman, possessing hardly any subtleties. Everything is black and white, just like the (silent) film itself, but that should not spoil the fun, because there is a lot to enjoy.

The film has been fully restored from DeMille’s personal copy, and the original score by Hugo Riesenfeld has been recreated by Gilian B. Anderson, who also conducts the London Symphonic Orchestra in the recorded soundtrack. As a bonus a few arias, sung by Farrar, have been edited in between scenes. For film and opera lovers alike, this is a veritable monument and not to be missed (VAI 4362).

CD’S

The most beautiful CD recording, at least to me, is the one with Teresa Berganza under Claudio Abbado (DG 4196362). It was recorded in the studio in 1978, but only after a series of live performances, and it is all the better for that! Ileana Cotrubas (Micaela) and Sherrill Milnes (Escamillo) complete the excellent cast.

Two years earlier, Domingo also recorded the opera in the studio (Decca 4144892), but I am less enthusiastic about it.

Solti conducts superbly and Tatiana Troyanos as Carmen is one in a thousand, perhaps she is even better than Berganza, but José van Dam is no Escamillo and the whole lacks the atmosphere of the theater.

Without a doubt interesting are the performances of the lead role by Victoria de los Angeles and, of course, Maria Callas. And for lovers (and collectors) of historical recordings: Urania (URN 22.378) not long ago released the 1959 performance recorded live in Paris, featuring a seductive Carmen by Consuelo Rubio and an elegant Don José by Leopold Simoneau.

Another one you cannot ignore is the legendary Conchita Supervia’s rendition of the role (various labels).

In 1943, Oscar Hammerstein II adapted the opera into a Broadway musical, Carmen Jones. He moved the action to the present (we are talking about the early years of World War II) in Southern America. The premiere, on 2 December 1943 was a great success, and to think that the entire (black!) cast was making its debut on stage!

A few years ago, Naxos (81208750) released the highlights (recorded in 1944) of the musical, with the bonus of four songs from Otto Preminger’s 1954 film of the same name. The role of Carmen there was played by Dorothy Daindridge, but sung by the very young (20!) Marilyn Horne, then a soprano. Breathtaking

By the way: did you know that the opera’s most famous hit, the Habanera, was not by Bizet at all? It was called El Arreglito and was composed by Sebastián Yradier). Bizet was convinced that it was a folk song and when he found out that it had been written by a composer who had died only ten years earlier, he added a footnote to the score, citing the source.

A literal black and white Carmen from 1915

Just like today’s movies, opera used to be public entertainment number one. And that for a long time. No wonder, then, that from the very beginning of cinema, much attention was paid to this already well known art form. Carmen, one of the most popular operas of the time, appealed particularly to the imagination and was filmed as early as 1912 with the prima ballerina of the Opéra Comique, Régina Badet, in the leading role.

In 1915, Cecil B. DeMille filmed the opera again, this time with Geraldine Farrar as the man-eating gypsy. Now, Farrar was not only one of the greatest sopranos and MET legends of the early 20th century, her beautiful appearance and excessive acting talent also enabled her to build a career as a Hollywood actress.

The story was substantially amended, making Carmen a thoroughly bad woman, possessing hardly any subtleties. Everything is black and white, just like the (silent) film itself, but that should not spoil the fun, because there is a lot to enjoy.

The film has been fully restored from DeMille’s personal copy, and the original score by Hugo Riesenfeld has been recreated by Gilian B. Anderson, who also conducts the London Symphonic Orchestra in the recorded soundtrack. As a bonus a few arias, sung by Farrar, have been edited in between scenes. For film and opera lovers alike, this is a veritable monum

Een letterlijk zwart-witte Carmen uit 1915

Zoals de films tegenwoordig, zo was de opera vroeger een lange tijd publieksvermaak nummero uno. Geen wonder dus dat al vanaf het prilste begin van de cinema veel aandacht werd besteed aan deze kunstvorm. Carmen, één van de meest populaire opera’s in die tijd, sprak bijzonder tot de verbeelding en werd reeds in 1912 verfilmd met in de hoofdrol de prima ballerina van de Opéra Comique, Régina Badet.

In 1915 verfilmde Cecil B. DeMille de opera opnieuw, ditmaal met Geraldine Farrar als de mannen verslindende zigeunerin. Nu was Farrar niet alleen één van de grootste sopranen en MET-legendes uit het begin van de 20e eeuw, haar prachtige verschijning en een bovenmatig acteertalent maakten het voor haar mogelijk om ook een carrière als Hollywood-actrice op te bouwen.

Het verhaal werd behoorlijk aangepast, waardoor Carmen een door en door slechte vrouw was geworden en subtiliteiten zijn ver te zoeken. Alles is zwart-wit, net als de (stomme) film zelf, maar het mag de pret niet drukken, want er valt waanzinnig veel in te genieten.

De film is vanuit de DeMille’s persoonlijke kopie volledig gerestaureerd, en de oorspronkelijke score van Hugo Riesenfeld is door Gilian B. Anderson, die ook het London Symphonic Orchestra in de opgenomen soundtrack dirigeert, herschapen. Als bonus zijn er enkele door Farrar gezongen aria’s tussen de scènes in gemonteerd. Voor de zowel film- als operaliefhebbers een niet te missen monument (VAI 4362).

Welke Carmen moet ik hebben? HELP!

In de prehistorische tijden, toen de kijkcijfers alleen niet zaligmakend waren en er rekening werd gehouden met het cultuurminnende publiek, kwamen ook televisiekijkende operaliefhebbers aan hun trekken. Op een avond in 1982 werd er op de Nederlandse televisie Carmen uitgezonden.

Waarom ik toen ben gaan kijken? Geen idee, ik hield immers niet van de opera. Of het moest vanwege een toenmalig vriendje zijn geweest die een groot liefhebber was van alles wat met Spanje te maken had. Nou, ik heb het geweten. Vanaf die avond was de wereld dezelfde niet meer, en mijn leven een grote liefde rijker.

U begrijpt natuurlijk wel dat deze Carmen (opname uit 1978 van de Wiener Staatsoper) voor mij de ultieme is geworden. En al moet ik toegeven dat Escamillo (een povere Yuri Mazurok) in niets lijkt op een toreador, en dat Carmen (Elena Obraztsova) een zwaar Russisch accent heeft – het is allemaal onbelangrijk. Al bij de eerste maat van de ouverture slaat je hart over. Je gaat op het puntje van je stoel zitten tot de laatste noot is uitgeklonken en je erachter komt dat het al heel laat is geworden, en je kat gevoerd moet worden.

Het is voornamelijk de schuld van Carlos Kleiber. Hij komt op, een jonge Rutger Hauer-achtige verschijning, heft de armen op, en… beng! Zijn armen zwieren door de lucht als lichtvoetige danseressen en worden één met het orkest. Nooit eerder hoorde ik de melodische lijnen zo in elkaar overvloeien, nooit eerder maakte ik een duizelingwekkender begin van de tweede acte mee, zo in contrast met de overgang naar III.

De enscenering is superrealistisch, met bijzonder veel oog voor de kleinste details. Het lijkt meer een film dan een opera in het theater, maar ja, de regisseur heet dan ook Franco Zefirelli.

Deze Carmen betekende voor mij ook de eerste kennismaking met het fenomeen Plácido Domingo: een tenor met een gouden keel en een stem van fluweel. Dat hij ook nog eens een aantrekkelijke man was en goed kon acteren, maakte dat ik tot over mijn oren verliefd werd. Dat ik niet alleen was, dat werd me meteen duidelijk: na ‘La fleur que tu m’avais jetée’ kreeg hij een eeuwigdurend applaus. (Arthaus Musik 10909)

Afbeeldingsresultaat voor Carmen Kaufmann

Iets vergelijkbaars gebeurde mij in 2011, toen de BBC een saaie Kerstmiddag opvrolijkte met een operatransmissie uit de Londense Covent Garden. Orkestraal is deze Carmen iets minder spectaculair dan bij Kleiber. Antonio Pappano is een gepassioneerde dirigent en zweept het orkest van het Royal Opera House tot ongekende hoogtes, maar mijn gevoel van knock-out werd deze keer veroorzaakt door de ongemeen spannende regie en fenomenale hoofdrolvertolkers.

Francesca Zambello schuwt sentimenten niet en zorgt voor een schaamteloos, realistisch spektakel, zonder updaten en concepten. De actie speelt zich daadwerkelijk in Sevilla af en het oog wordt getrakteerd op prachtige choreografieën en schitterende kostuums. Anna Caterina Antonacci is een zeer pittige en sexy Carmen, zeer uitdagend maar ook zelfbewust en trots. Haar prachtige zwarte ogen spuwen vuur, en haar mooie verschijning en een groot acteertalent verbloemen niet dat ze ook zingen kan: haar krachtige stem kent een scala aan emoties. Al met al: een echte tragédienne. Een echte Carmen.

Ildebrando D’Arcangelo is een fantastische, viriele Escamillo. Zijn opkomst op het grote zwarte paard is werkelijk spectaculair. Jonas Kaufmann is zonder meer de beste José die ik ooit in mijn leven heb meegemaakt. Zijn spinto tenor klinkt fenomenaal in alle registers, nergens gechargeerd en waar nodig lyrisch en fluisterzacht. Ook als acteur is hij niet te overtreffen, en zijn meer dan aantrekkelijk uiterlijk nemen we als bonus mee. U begreep het al: deze Carmen moet u hebben! (Decca 0743312)

Ook de in 2003 in Glyndebourne opgenomen voorstelling in de regie van David McVickar ziet er schitterend uit. Het toneelbeeld in de eerste twee aktes is zeer bedrijvig. De derde acte begint mistig, met spaarzame belichting (de belichting is überhaupt zeer vernuftig), zeer filmisch, en zeer ontroerend. In IV heb je alles wat nodig is om Sevilla te bevolken: de torero’s, de matadoren, de prachtig geklede Spaanse Doña’s en Donnen. Adembenemend.

De dood van Carmen (haar keel wordt zeer bloedig doorgesneden) is thrillerachtig spannend. Jammer genoeg wordt de hoofdrol vertolkt door Anne Sofie von Otter. Want laten we eerlijk zijn: Carmen is haar ding niet. In haar dappere pogingen om nog iets van het Spaanse temperament over te laten komen, verwordt ze tot een ordinaire del. Zonde. (OPUS ARTE OA 0867)

CD’S

Domingo Camen berganza

Wat de cd’s betreft is de keuze zo verschrikkelijk groot dat het bijna onmogelijk is om er één (of twee) uit te pikken. Vooropgesteld dat u nog helemaal geen één opname thuis hebt, zou ik voor de Deutsche Grammophon-registratie (4196362) uit 1978 gaan. Claudio Abbado dirigeert meesterlijk en spannend, zeer lyrisch ook. De hoofdrollen mogen er ook allemaal wezen: Berganza, Domingo, Milnes en Cotrubas.

Ook goed is de twee jaar oudere Solti (4144892), voornamelijk vanwege beide zangeressen: een onvergetelijke Tatiana Troyanos en een jonge Kiri te Kanawa. Domingo is hier minder goed op dreef dan bij Abbado, en Van Dam vind ik geen spannende Escamillo.

Zonder meer interessant zijn de vertolkingen van de hoofdrol door Victoria de los Angeles en natuurlijk Maria Callas. En voor de liefhebbers (en verzamelaars) van historische opnamen: Urania (URN 22.378) heeft niet zo lang geleden de live in Parijs in 1959 opgenomen voorstelling uitgebracht, met een verleidelijke Carmen van Consuelo Rubio en een elegante Don José van Leopold Simoneau.

Waar u ook niet omheen kunt is de vertolking van de rol door de legendarische Conchita Supervia (verschillende labels).

In 1943 heeft Oscar Hammerstein II de opera tot een Broadway-musical bewerkt, Carmen Jones. Hij verplaatste de actie naar het heden (we hebben het over de beginjaren van de Tweede Wereldoorlog) in het zuiden van Amerika. De première, op 2 december 1943 was een groot succes, en dan te bedenken dat de hele (zwarte!) cast zijn debuut maakte op de planken.

Een paar jaar geleden heeft Naxos (81208750) de highlights (opgenomen in 1944) van de musical uitgebracht, met als bonus een viertal nummers uit de gelijknamige film van Otto Preminger, uit 1954. De rol van Carmen werd daar gespeeld door Dorothy Daindridge, maar ingezongen door de piepjonge (20!) Marilyn Horne, toen nog sopraan. Adembenemend

Overigens: wist u dat de beroemdste hit van de opera helemaal niet van Bizet was? Het heet El Arreglito en werd gecomponeerd dor Sebastián Yradier. Bizet was er van overtuigd dat het een volkslied was en toen hij er achter kwam dat het geschreven was door een componist die pas tien jaar eerder was overleden, heeft hij een voetnoot aan de partituur toegevoegd, met de bronvermelding

The stepsisters of Maria Callas

Traviata Callas

Would we still love Callas so much if she had been an ‘ordinary’ happy person, like most of her colleagues? If she had been happily married and had had children, what she so longed for? If she didn’t suffer from bulimia and was not constantly fighting with her weight and body? If she had not fallen in love with Aristoteles Onassis, the super-rich Greek shipowner who left her to marry an even more famous lady? And if she had not lost her voice prematurely? Speculations, of course, but since even the most honest opera lover has something of a tabloid reader it keeps buzzing. People simply love gossip.

Rumour, success, being in the spotlight, are the most important ingredients in the lives of people who find their lives boring and everyday and lose themselves in the stories of the ‘rich and beautiful’. It should be noted that they feast most on the dark sides of the stories, because there is no greater happiness than sorrow.

Maria Callas was a diva with a true cult status. She owed this not only to her singing, but also to her unmistakable acting talent, her attractive appearance and her, unfortunately, more than tragic personal life.

However great, famous, loved and adored, Maria Callas was, she did not invent opera, nor was she the greatest actress amongst singers. Not all singers were equally gifted actors, but the image of a fat lady standing motionless on stage fluttering only her hands is not at all accurate.

Just think of Conchita Supervia, Geraldine Farrar, Marjorie Lawrence or Grace Moore, but there were more.

Conchita Supervia as Carmen

Geraldine Farrar as Carmen in a film from 1915:

What Callas truly was, was a pioneer in (dramatic) belcanto, and that happened more or less by accident (consult the DVD The Callas Conversations vol. II). It was a genre that at the time was a little neglected. It was she who gave us back the forgotten operas of Bellini, Donizetti and Spontini, but was she really the first?

There are many more sopranos from the time of Callas who sang at the highest level and deserve to be discussed. The sopranos I am going to talk about were all more or less Callas’ contemporaries and all sang almost the same repertoire (not counting spinto sopranos that sang mainly verist roles, such as Magda Olivero, Carla Gavazzi or Clara Petrella).

These divas missed the chance to be in the right place at the right time. Or: to meet someone who was important enough not only to boost your career, but also to give you a record deal.

Maria Callas as La Gioconda in 1952

Cynical?

It has always been like this and nowadays it is no different, although we are dealing with another aspect: the ideal of beauty. If you don’t meet it, you can say goodbye to your career in advance – fat people are not even allowed to audit in many theatres anymore and a starting Callas would have absolutely no chance at all now.

ANITA CERQUETTI

Her career, like that of Callas, didn’t last long. She was born in 1931 and made her opera debut as Aida in Spoleto as early as 1951 (!). She became – typically enough – the most famous by stepping in for a sick Callas in 1958. While she was still in a production of Norma in Naples, she sang some performances of the same opera by Bellini at the opera house of Rome, instead of La Divina.

Anita Cerquetti sings ‘O re dei cieli’ from Agnese di Hohenstauffen by Spontini:

On the label Bongiovanni (GB 1206-2, unfortunately not on You Tube) you can hear her in the famous ‘Casta diva’ from Norma. For me this is one of the most beautiful performances of this aria ever. Goosebumps.

Cerquetti sings Norma. Recording from 1956:

LEYLA GENCER

Born in 1928 in a small town close to Istanbul, Gencer, just like Callas, has a cult status, even today, but on a smaller scale. She had a Turkish father and a Polish mother, which made her proficient in that language. There is even a pirate recording of her with songs by Chopin in Polish:

Gencer’s real speciality was belcanto. She sang her first Anna Bolena only a year after Callas:

And unlike Callas, she also included the other Tudor Queen operas by Donizetti in her repertoire: Roberto Devereux and Maria Stuarda.

Gencer as all three Tudor Queens

Besides all her Bellini’s, Donizetti’s and Verdi’s, and between Saffo by Paccini and Francesca da Rimini by Zandonai, she also sang some of Mozart’s songs. Fortunately, her Contessa (Le nozze di Figaro) in Glyndebourne was recorded and released on CD some time ago. For the rest, you have to settle for the pirates.

Her round and clear voice – with the famous pianissimi, which only Montserrat Caballé could match – is so beautiful that it hurts. If you have never heard of her before, listen below to ‘La vergine degli angeli’ from La forza del Destino, recorded in 1957. Bet you’re going to gasp for breath?

VIRGINIA ZEANI

zeani

Have you noticed how many great singers come from Romania? Virginia Zeani is one of them, born in Solovăstru in 1925.

Zeani made her debut when she was 23 as Violetta in Bologna (indented for Margherita Carossio). That role would become her trademark. There is a costly anecdote about her debut in Covent Garden: it was in 1960 and she was a last minute replacement for Joan Sutherland, who became ill. She arrived late in the afternoon and there was hardly time to try on the costume. Before she went on stage, she asked very quickly: ‘Which of the gentlemen is my Alfredo?

The soprano sang no less than 69 roles, including many world premieres. In 1957 she created the role of Blanche in Dialogues des carmélites by Poulenc. Her repertoire ranged from Handel (Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare), via Bellini, Donizetti, Massenet and Gounod to Wagner (Elsa and Senta). With of course the necessary Verdis and Puccinis and as one of her greatest star roles Magda in The Consul by Menotti:

I myself am completely obsessed with her Tosca, but also her Violetta should not be missed by anyone. Her coloratures in the first act are more than perfect. And then her ‘morbidezza’… Do it for her!

Below her ‘Vissi d’arte’ (Tosca), recorded in 1975, when she was over fifty:

CATERINA MANCINI

mancini

Never heard of her? Then it’s time to make up for the damage, because I promise you a voice out of thousands, with a beautiful height, pure coloratures (all ‘al punto’) and a drama that could make even La Divina jealous.

Mancini sings “Santo di patria… Da te questo m’è concesso” from Attila by Verdi:

Mancini’s career also lasted only a short time. People talked about health problems, but what really happened? The fact is that the soprano, born in 1924, stopped working as early as 1960. Although her name can still be found in 1963, as contralto (!) at the concert in memory of Kennedy.

Mancini made her debut in 1948, as Giselda in I Lombardi. At the Scala she already sang Lucrezia Borgia in 1951. Donizetti, Rossini and Bellini are not lacking in her repertoire.

The Italian label Cetra has recorded a lot with her; difficult to obtain, but so very worthwhile to look for!

At her best I find her as Lida in La Battaglia di Legnano by Verdi. Below a fragment of it:

MARCELLA POBBE

pobbe

Marcella Pobbe may be a bit of an outsider in this list, as she had fewer belcanto roles in her repertoire (Gluck and Rossini, but no Bellini). But the Verdi and Puccini heroines she more or less had in common with La Divina.

Pobbe sings ‘D’amor sull’ali rosee’ from Il Trovatore:

She also sang a lot of Mozart and Wagner. But what made her really famous is Adriana Lecouvreur from Cilea

Pobbe was exceptionally beautiful. Elegant, elegant, almost royal. And her voice was exactly the same: her singing flowed like a kind of lava, in which you could lose yourself completely. Nobody then thought it necessary to record her. We already had La Divina, didn’t we?

	basiaconfuoco op De Nationale Opera presenteert…
	basiaconfuoco op De Nationale Opera presenteert…
	Hans van Verseveld op De Nationale Opera presenteert…
	Rudolph Duppen op De Nationale Opera presenteert…
	G.A.C.H. Blenderman op De Nationale Opera presenteert…

DVD’S

ANNA CATERINA ANTONACCI, KAUFMANN AND PAPPANO

AND WITH RICHARDS AND GARDINER

ANNE SOFIE VON OTTER

GERALDINE FARRAR IN BLACK AND WHITE

CD’S

Dit delen:

Vind ik leuk:

Dit delen:

Vind ik leuk:

Het verhaal werd behoorlijk aangepast, waardoor Carmen een door en door slechte vrouw was geworden en subtiliteiten zijn ver te zoeken. Alles is zwart-wit, net als de (stomme) film zelf, maar het mag de pret niet drukken, want er valt waanzinnig veel in te genieten.

Dit delen:

Vind ik leuk:

In de prehistorische tijden, toen de kijkcijfers alleen niet zaligmakend waren en er rekening werd gehouden met het cultuurminnende publiek, kwamen ook televisiekijkende operaliefhebbers aan hun trekken. Op een avond in 1982 werd er op de Nederlandse televisie Carmen uitgezonden.

De enscenering is superrealistisch, met bijzonder veel oog voor de kleinste details. Het lijkt meer een film dan een opera in het theater, maar ja, de regisseur heet dan ook Franco Zefirelli.

CD’S

Ook goed is de twee jaar oudere Solti (4144892), voornamelijk vanwege beide zangeressen: een onvergetelijke Tatiana Troyanos en een jonge Kiri te Kanawa. Domingo is hier minder goed op dreef dan bij Abbado, en Van Dam vind ik geen spannende Escamillo.

Waar u ook niet omheen kunt is de vertolking van de rol door de legendarische Conchita Supervia (verschillende labels).

Dit delen:

Vind ik leuk:

Maria Callas was a diva with a true cult status. She owed this not only to her singing, but also to her unmistakable acting talent, her attractive appearance and her, unfortunately, more than tragic personal life.

However great, famous, loved and adored, Maria Callas was, she did not invent opera, nor was she the greatest actress amongst singers. Not all singers were equally gifted actors, but the image of a fat lady standing motionless on stage fluttering only her hands is not at all accurate.

Just think of Conchita Supervia, Geraldine Farrar, Marjorie Lawrence or Grace Moore, but there were more.

Geraldine Farrar as Carmen in a film from 1915:

These divas missed the chance to be in the right place at the right time. Or: to meet someone who was important enough not only to boost your career, but also to give you a record deal.

Cynical?

ANITA CERQUETTI

Anita Cerquetti sings ‘O re dei cieli’ from Agnese di Hohenstauffen by Spontini:

On the label Bongiovanni (GB 1206-2, unfortunately not on You Tube) you can hear her in the famous ‘Casta diva’ from Norma. For me this is one of the most beautiful performances of this aria ever. Goosebumps.

Cerquetti sings Norma. Recording from 1956:

LEYLA GENCER

Born in 1928 in a small town close to Istanbul, Gencer, just like Callas, has a cult status, even today, but on a smaller scale. She had a Turkish father and a Polish mother, which made her proficient in that language. There is even a pirate recording of her with songs by Chopin in Polish:

Gencer’s real speciality was belcanto. She sang her first Anna Bolena only a year after Callas:

And unlike Callas, she also included the other Tudor Queen operas by Donizetti in her repertoire: Roberto Devereux and Maria Stuarda.

VIRGINIA ZEANI

Have you noticed how many great singers come from Romania? Virginia Zeani is one of them, born in Solovăstru in 1925.

I myself am completely obsessed with her Tosca, but also her Violetta should not be missed by anyone. Her coloratures in the first act are more than perfect. And then her ‘morbidezza’… Do it for her!

Below her ‘Vissi d’arte’ (Tosca), recorded in 1975, when she was over fifty:

CATERINA MANCINI

Never heard of her? Then it’s time to make up for the damage, because I promise you a voice out of thousands, with a beautiful height, pure coloratures (all ‘al punto’) and a drama that could make even La Divina jealous.

Mancini sings “Santo di patria… Da te questo m’è concesso” from Attila by Verdi:

Mancini’s career also lasted only a short time. People talked about health problems, but what really happened? The fact is that the soprano, born in 1924, stopped working as early as 1960. Although her name can still be found in 1963, as contralto (!) at the concert in memory of Kennedy.

Mancini made her debut in 1948, as Giselda in I Lombardi. At the Scala she already sang Lucrezia Borgia in 1951. Donizetti, Rossini and Bellini are not lacking in her repertoire.

The Italian label Cetra has recorded a lot with her; difficult to obtain, but so very worthwhile to look for!

At her best I find her as Lida in La Battaglia di Legnano by Verdi. Below a fragment of it:

MARCELLA POBBE

Marcella Pobbe may be a bit of an outsider in this list, as she had fewer belcanto roles in her repertoire (Gluck and Rossini, but no Bellini). But the Verdi and Puccini heroines she more or less had in common with La Divina.

Pobbe sings ‘D’amor sull’ali rosee’ from Il Trovatore:

She also sang a lot of Mozart and Wagner. But what made her really famous is Adriana Lecouvreur from Cilea

Pobbe was exceptionally beautiful. Elegant, elegant, almost royal. And her voice was exactly the same: her singing flowed like a kind of lava, in which you could lose yourself completely. Nobody then thought it necessary to record her. We already had La Divina, didn’t we?

Pobbe sings ‘Ave Maria’ from Otello by Verdi: