There is an article (not surprisingly) in the Washington Post
WNO's A-Listers: Fleming, Bocelli, 'Siegfried'
Yup, that does say Bocelli whom the reviewer describes as
a pop star whose vocal technique is more adapted to the microphone than to concert performanceWill it be the first amplified performance of Petite Messe Solennelle (which, apparently is anything but Petite - remember, I don't do Rossini) or will it be with piano accompaniment in an ante-room?
Nothing on that programme to entice me to jump on a plane, although I know a Raimondi fan already planning to attend Lucrezia Borgia. The Pearlfishers also looks attractive (we all know the duet, of course).
There is no news conference to mark today's announcement...the schedule of Plácido Domingo, the company's general director, does not easily admit of extraneous appointments."I hope the public will share with me the excitement I feel when I think of the potential of what we planned," he said in a statement that was dictated to his European secretary in the middle of the night somewhere between engagements in England, Madrid and Milan
I know what he's doing in Madrid and Milan, but England? When, where, why? I ask (opening another restaurant says Jimmy, who's suddenly an expert on Plácido). Inquiring obsessed minds need to know...
I'm not sure whether the following paragraph is laudatory, a back-handed compliment, damning with faint praise or downright critical...
Domingo has managed to transcend criticisms about his myriad ventures by emerging -- in a career twilight that bears the earmarks of a zenith -- as not merely an artist, but a phenomenon of nature. On the cusp of 67, he is still singing (respectably), conducting (gamely) and running two of the country's largest opera houses, in Washington and Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, in a vaguely interesting interview, Fight Director Rick Sordelet, when asked to name a favourite show says
Cyrano, the opera with Francesca Zambello, is just a blast. And were working with Plácido Domingo again. This guy is as lovely as they come. I mean you live up to your name when your name is placid Sunday. This is a world superstar who will show up at an understudy rehearsal to be of assistance. You look at a person like that, and you realize, Wow, I am in the presence of a true master who is all about the passion of the work.
Update: La Cieca announces that Plácido has added the NY Met to his Simon Boccanegra venues, but significantly, a season later than Berlin, Milan and London. That's the first I've read of commitments in 2010/11. Cool! Well, I say 'commitments' but he has said that all his contracts contain a clause to allow him to walk away if he chooses.
