Anna Netrebko

[Michel]

Still, it's a glorious voice, and the climax is stunning.

I did not touch myself like you clearly have, so cannot say for sure if the climax would be stunning also.

[Michel]

OTOH, how many men you guys think Netrebko's been with? THe over/under I think is like 500.

What is wrong with you? That is such a strange thing to say, you weirdo.

[PerfectWagnerite]

Why? She is clearly a tramp, there is no "ifs", "ands" or "buts" about it.

[uffeviking]

Is this a statement by a gentleman, PerfectWagnerite? Please, don't disappoint me, apologise to the lady!

[PerfectWagnerite]

Is this a statement by a gentleman, PerfectWagnerite? Please, don't disappoint me, apologise to the lady!

Okay okay, I am sorry. I don't know what came over me.

[longears]

Saw her on the tube last night singing O mio babbino caro to Martin Scorsese at the Kennedy Center Honors show.  Now I'm more puzzled by her popularity than ever.  Her performance was not very good (face it, she murdered the song!), and she's rather chunky and coarse to be considered a babe.  What gives?

[PerfectWagnerite]

Saw her on the tube last night singing O mio babbino caro to Martin Scorsese at the Kennedy Center Honors show.  Now I'm more puzzled by her popularity than ever.  Her performance was not very good (face it, she murdered the song!), and she's rather chunky and coarse to be considered a babe.  What gives?

Well, clearly they touched her up in her pictures and videos. She was on TV the other day and frankly she is more than chunky, she is pretty fat.

[Grazioso]

Well, clearly they touched her up in her pictures and videos. She was on TV the other day and frankly she is more than chunky, she is pretty fat.

In the videos I've seen of her, she's hardly fat, just healthy and hot Physical beauty is its own virtue, so my hat's off to her.

[knight66]

Physical beauty is its own virtue, so my hat's off to her.

Yet more evidence that the good looking have the best of it in so many ways. If she looked like Rita Hunter; your hat would remain firmly planted.

I heard some actor or other explain years ago that the best actresses are those who could convince you they were beautiful, even when they were not. He sited one Dame who played Cleopatra and had the cast and audience eating out of her hand. Now that's acting and theatre....not happening to be pretty and being marketed with a decent voice to be the next Callas wannabe.

Mike

[Grazioso]

Yet more evidence that the good looking have the best of it in so many ways. If she looked like Rita Hunter; your hat would remain firmly planted.

Of course the good looking have it generally better than the ugly ducklings. People are naturally drawn to physical beauty (essentially a sign of genetic superiority) in others.

Of course, I don't conflate physical appearance with the presence or absence of vocal talent.

[knight66]

Well, I wrote with a light touch, though that may not have come through. But it is clear that those who happen to be good looking get a lot of mileage out of it; that is no form of virtue by either side in the transactions.

The bottom line with the singer under discussion is that, for me, there is too much hype, a lot of it pushes her looks in order to trail her vocal talent. I am growing in my opinion that her vocal talent, though well above average; is not the kind that gives us a legacy of treasured performances. I cannot recall one phrase as individual to her singing or that lodges with me once the music stops.

Mike

[Tsaraslondon]

Well, I wrote with a light touch, though that may not have come through. But it is clear that those who happen to be good looking get a lot of mileage out of it; that is no form of virtue by either side in the transactions.

The bottom line with the singer under discussion is that, for me, there is too much hype, a lot of it pushes her looks in order to trail her vocal talent. I am growing in my opinion that her vocal talent, though well above average; is not the kind that gives us a legacy of treasured performances. I cannot recall one phrase as individual to her singing or that lodges with me once the music stops.

Mike

I'm beginning to agree with you, Mike. At first I thought that she might be a victim of her own beauty. After all, Gielgud once said of Vivien Leigh, that she was the greatest Lady Macbeth he had ever seen, but that the critics couldn't see it, blinded as they were by her beauty. However, when I saw Netrebko at the Last Night of the Proms this year, I thought her performance really rather vulgar. What on earth all that cavorting about during the Lehar aria was for, I have no idea, and as for her singing of Strauss's sublime Morgen, it had absolutely no poise or innigkeit whatsoever. I know the last night is traditionally a time for the performers to have fun and let their hair down, so to speak, but, by contrast, Gheorghiu's performance at the same event a couple of years ago was a model of restraint, and yet she managed to enter into the spirit of the event as well.

[knight66]

"I have no idea, and as for her singing of Strauss's sublime Morgen, it had absolutely no poise or innigkeit whatsoever."

Yes, exactly, I waited for that piece and it could have been a sublime moment of peace in an otherwise rumbustious concert. A moment of reflection and something memorable; but she simply did not have it in her and the piece was let down.

I have been thinking about her in comparison to Gheorghiu, who may be as mad as a bag of ferrets and as demanding as a three year old; but she is the genuine article in terms of delivering music. Though, she fares best when she has a good strong conductor rather than a podium poodle.

Mike

[matti]

Gheorghiu, who may be as mad as a bag of ferrets and as demanding as a three year old

OT big time, but what do you guys think about Battle in terms of craftsmanship/diva/delivery/worth it?

[knight66]

Battle is largely a spent force I gather. What I read of recent recitals has been negative. In her hayday, I thought she was terrific, lots of personality. She has made some splendid discs. In the diva behaviour stakes, I have read that she acted like a spoilt despot and the Met washed its hands of her because of her behaviour.

I listen to her discs with a lot of pleasure because she conveys the sheer pleasure of singing very well. It is tempting to suggest her personality shines through, but then her personality is not one you would necessarily want to spend time with. However, she is capable of projecting considerable charm and she excelled in lively parts in Handel,  Zerbinetta in Ariadne and in Mozart.

Mike

[Tsaraslondon]

I did not touch myself like you clearly have, so cannot say for sure if the climax would be stunning also.

I couldn't understand your reply at all, until I realised I had missed out the link to the Fleming version I was refering to. Duly amended.

[head-case]

I couldn't understand your reply at all, until I realised I had missed out the link to the Fleming version I was refering to. Duly amended.

Are you really that dense, or is this a joke?

[Tsaraslondon]

Are you really that dense, or is this a joke?

No. But you are clearly very rude!

[Tsaraslondon]

I thought I'd revive this thread, as today I've been reading (in The Times, The Guardian and The Independent) the reviews of Netrebko's Violetta at Covent Garden (in a revival of the production that made Gheorghiu into a star). They have been uniformly ecstatic, not just for her, but also for her colleagues (Jonas Kaufman and Dimitri Hvorostovsky), and, though I have not so far been impressed by what I have heard and seen (on DVD only), these reviews have made me want to go and see for myself. Can she really be that good? Both her singing and acting have come in for nothing but praise. Unfortunately, I doubt I'll be able to see the production, as it is completely sold out throughout its run. Now I wish I'd booked early!

[Morigan]

I thought I'd revive this thread, as today I've been reading (in The Times, The Guardian and The Independent) the reviews of Netrebko's Violetta at Covent Garden (in a revival of the production that made Gheorghiu into a star). They have been uniformly ecstatic, not just for her, but also for her colleagues (Jonas Kaufman and Dimitri Hvorostovsky), and, though I have not so far been impressed by what I have heard and seen (on DVD only), these reviews have made me want to go and see for myself. Can she really be that good? Both her singing and acting have come in for nothing but praise. Unfortunately, I doubt I'll be able to see the production, as it is completely sold out throughout its run. Now I wish I'd booked early!

The production that made Gheorghiu into a star was a good one. A much better staging than Netrebko's recent DVD with Rolando Villazon...