Netrebko, Kaufmann, Garanca in Vienna: almost like (bad) old times
OperaThree stars appeared last night at the Vienna State Opera in a revival of an Aida production by Nicola Joel that creaks back to April 1984.
Pavarotti was the original Radames, Maria Chiara sang the title role. Maazel conducted.
The present, patched-up revival will be broadcast on ORF on January 29.
I was there for the “patched up” revival. Three people were – and probably still are – revolving in their graves: Giuseppe Verdi, Lorin Maazel and Luciano Pavarotti. I am not yet in my grave, but nevertheless I was rotating most of the evening, that due, inter alia, to the fact that I was present at the premiere and all performances under Lorin Maazel in 1984. Some may still refer to Jonas Kaufmann as a tenor, but he is NOT a Radames. “Celeste Aida” is NOT a Schubert-Lied and shouting has nothing to do with singing. Anna N. was surprisingly good, especially after the Nil-Aria. Garanca has no business trying to sing Amneris. While Barton was too much – in every sense of the word – in Madrid, Garanca is simply to little vocally, attempting to sing beyond her vocal possibilities. If she continues on this path, she will eventually pay the price. Luisotti did his best, but with the rehearsal time at his disposal, miracles were just not in the cards. And, yes, the production is old-fashioned, but at least one KNOWS what is being staged and is NOT confronted with scenary/costumes/etc. that have nothing to do with the opera. The production may be out of date, but it certainly was refreshing!! Now the bets are being made at to WHO will cancel before the next performance on 18 January. We shall see whom we eventually will not see …
AIDA is an opera for voices of great power, size, beauty and intrinsic drama. Kaufmann is a “tenor” but only in the heavily miked arena sense. His throaty technique is horrific in truly dramatic roles and his fake passion is oppressive. Garanca is a lovely singer but not suited for heroic nor intensely dramatic roles. Her evenness of technique as beautiful as it often is created and monotonous sense of nothingness. Even in Carmen her sound lacked and variation. In the production the required range of vocal coloration and sounds are currently beyond her. Anna N as Aida is dramatically and vocally a unique artistic possibility. Rising to the demands are within her abilities. At her current age why not sing Aida. Her voice is clearly becoming less florid and flexible. Traviata’s are less and less viable. Going the Price direction may give her a whole second career especially once she totally sheds the Putin controversy. She’s a masterful artist but if she’s going to be doing Aida give the woman a production worthy of he gifts
It shows you how principled Kaufmann and Garanca are, that they’ll sing alongside a Putin cheerleader. No surprise that the Vienna State Opera would host her.
Wasn’t she alwsys a cheerleader? Where were the principals before Feb 2022? So enough already with this bulshit.
Would have to be better than Carsens awful new version for ROH.
Did Netrebko do it in blackface this time?
No, if anything Radames (at least in Act 1) looked to me rather darker than Aida.
She didn’t wear dark make-up or very subtle one. But for some reason Kaufmann’s skin gets darker and darker. He looks like this in the winter as well, so it’s probably not a natural tan (?).
In the summer when he was actually tanned he was downright ebony-skinned.
I remember someone accusing him of being darkened on the cover of “Othello,” but he really looks like that in recent years, darkening makeup is unnecessary for him.
Kaufmann’s skin seemed darker because he was not clean shaven. I cannot remember ever having seen in historical documentation or on stage an Egyptian with a beard other than the ceremonial beard or goatee. Strange …
Have you ever seen Pavarotti’s Radames, caro? https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=luciano+pavarotti+as+radames&docid=608031859178876175&mid=E8FE4E217537E777E038E8FE4E217537E777E038&view=detail&FORM=VIRE
You are right, I stand corrected.
It’s a bit surprising when I can read the review before the performance…
You can’t. The performance was Saturday and the review was written after it.
Why only 3 stars? Is Luca Salsi is less a star?
Apparenyly these days Kaufmann is a hit or miss, yesterday he was on form but it’s not the Kaufmann of 4-5 years ago. The confrontation with Amneris was his best moments of the evening.
Netrebko reigned the scene with arresting pianos and a very hunan and vulnerable figure. But at the end of the evening it was a Garanca Soireé. Her voice is unbelievably huge and loud, the kind of voice that shatters the chandelier. After the judgment scene she brought the house down. A spectacular role debut.
No, Luca Salsi is not a star, just a serviceable baritone. Sorry.
What was bad in old times, and how is our time bad in that way?
Pavarotti had little, if any, form of credibility in the theatre, and I only hope times could be so bad that one could still hear such a voice, and such singing. That was beauty.
Theatrical opera has no credibility as an art form, especially, if the singers think they could, and should act. Add a director, a drug-addicted visionary, who seldom has a shower, and there you go.
This has clearly been a money raising event and a most shameful one. Tickets were sold out from the very first moment, yet you could get them from “agencies” until two days ago. If you were ready to pay, of course. Three divos and four performances only. All the effort to present such a complicated stage which takes place only four times. The Vienna Opera Theater should be ashamed of its policy selling tickets . With respect to the divos, they are making a show of themselves once they are over fifty and new talents are pushing. We´ll see more of this, I´m afraid.
Most of these comments have been made by pathetic critics who couldn’t do half of what’s asked of these singers on stage. ‘Those who can’t, teach” OR take time to hate on websites…. I enjoyed hearing all the principles…this combination is so rare. No performance is perfect, but this was a fun ride. Wish I could get this combo more often
Personally I thought the two ladies were magnificent and only Kaufman appeared a bit underpowered but Salsi sang very well IMO.I love to watch Netrebko and Garanca singing together and just wish that a dvd was made… we may not get such a wonderful cast together again.