Do they make them “like that” any more? July 27, 2006
Posted by Jeff in Italian, Netrebko and Villazón, Opera, Theater.trackback
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Judging from this clip of Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón from the first act of Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, I would have to say yes.
Netrebko reminds me of Kathleen Battle at that age, hopefully minus the insane off-stage behavior that derailed Battle’s career. (My favorite Batshit Battle story: she calls her agent on her cellphone from the back of a chauffeured limousine, to order then to call the chauffeur and tell him to turn down the A/C.)
Villazón, if anything, shows even more potential. We haven’t had a really good comic tenor since Nicolai Gedda, and Villazón may fit the bill. One of the comments on YouTube said he looks like Mr. Bean, which is true; and in fact I can’t think of a better standard for Nemorino.
And just to have a standard of comparison, a tenor whose comic acting was underrated …
… from 1981, Luciano Pavarotti sings “Una furtiva lagrima” from Act II.
Comments»
No comments yet — be the first.