Met loses a star soprano

Met loses a star soprano

News

norman lebrecht

August 30, 2022

The Dutch star Eva Maria Westbroek has pulled out of the title role in the upcoming Shostakovich Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, which opens on September 29.

She is replaced by the Russian soprano Svetlana Sozdatelev, a Met debutant.

Comments

  • Paul Mauffray says:

    I was fortunate to attend a performance of her singing Lady Macbeth at the Vienna State Opera, and she was incredible!

  • rentayenta says:

    Didn’t we see Catherine Malfitano in that role?

    • Tiredofitall says:

      Miss Malfitano did the first revival (after 1994) at the Met in 2000. Wonderful portrayal.

      Miss Westbroek was fantastic in 2014 in the same production.

  • Tony R. says:

    Not a shock, really. Her performances of late have been atrocious from a vocal standpoint. High notes are screams and she seems to constantly need to scoop upwards to reach them. She’s a terrific performer, but her voice, I’m sorry to say is in tatters. I really hope she can rebuild her voice, because at its prime, was a thing of true beauty.

  • Sybren says:

    This is a worrying title. Glad to hear Ms Westbroek has not joined rhe Angel choir!

  • Eric Weber says:

    Why was Svetlana Sozdatelev removed from the roster ? Has the Met become part of the cancel culture crowd ?

    • Imbrod says:

      What are you talking about? She’s on the cast list, and the description of the opera leads off with “Soprano Svetlana Sozdateleva makes an exciting Met debut…”

  • Manuel Castillo says:

    When it is convenient, Russian ppl are good, when it is not, “they are the worse people”, hypocrites!

  • Pat young says:

    Do we know why? I don’t see a note as to why she withdrew or didn’t read on the Met site.

  • David G says:

    The substitutions at the Met are constant. I’m glad I waited till I saw this news before purchasing tickets. I specifically wanted to see Westbroek. Lady Macbeth doesn’t require the same vocal resources as Norma, so this role would’ve been fine with her current resources.

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