So how was the Met’s substitute Otello?

So how was the Met’s substitute Otello?

main

norman lebrecht

December 15, 2018

The US tenor Carl Tanner stepped in last night at the Metropolitan Opera to sing the season premiere performance of Verdi’s Otello, in place of Stuart Skelton.

Tanner, 56, made his Met debut eight years ago after coming late to singing from a varied career.

No reviews have yet appeared.

Were you there?

Carl’s only comment so far: ‘A great night had by all! And yes, I’ve lost weight;)’

FIRST REVIEW: It was tepid

Comments

  • Cynical Bystander says:

    You could look through the 500+ comments on Parterre 🙂

  • Alastair says:

    Good revival. Carl was a great substitute vocally but was very reserved and left all the torment to the imagination. I hope that Carl can relax and fall into the acting role more – then he wOuld he a great Otello

  • nimitta says:

    Here’s Eric Simpson’s take from New York Classical Review:

    “Friday’s Otello, Carl Tanner, was announced earlier in the day as a replacement for Stuart Skelton, who was ill. That he was able to perform so well in so difficult a role under the circumstances was impressive. At his best, he achieved a firm, full ring, and he showed more and more of this side of his voice as the night wore on and the role called for more passionate singing at full blast. In more tender lyrical music, such as the ravishing duet with Desdemona at the end of Act I, Tanner had to squeeze for tone. His stale acting left a lot to be desired, though he can be forgiven for not having had time to rehearse with the rest of the cast.”

  • MOST READ TODAY: