US soprano quits Bayreuth

US soprano quits Bayreuth

News

norman lebrecht

June 25, 2023

A month before opening, singers are still dropping out.

The latest is Emily Magee, who has told the Wagner group that she is ‘not able to sing the roles of Sieglinde (Walküre) and Gutrune (Götterdämmerung) due to an infection that has not yet fully healed.’ Magee has been singing at Bayreuth since 1997.

Her replacements will be Elisabeth Teige and Aile Asszonyi.

Previous Bayreuth dropouts include John Lundgren and Dmitry Belosselskiy.

Comments

  • guest says:

    “who has told the Wagner group” haha

    • Anthony Sayer says:

      @ guest:
      The Wagner Group is only responsible for one production this year, Tristan und die Söldner.

  • ohmy says:

    .. because she is still ill ..

  • Zarathusa says:

    Bang! Bang! Bayreuth!

  • poyu says:

    I heard her Sieglinde in ROH years back, she was already struggling.

  • Rose D says:

    It was to be expected. I saw her as Sieglinde in Dresden last October and sadly the middle voice was completely wrecked, the top didn’t exist.

    I wonder how she did as Minnie in Cleveland in May?

    • Krunoslav says:

      Minnie was very experienced, sagely sung, with a good top register. Not exactly dulcet but she was effective and moving.

  • Brad M says:

    She cancelled her Verdi requiem with the RSNO recently too.

  • Anthony Sayer says:

    I think she started earlier than that but has not been around for a long time.

  • get well soon says:

    she s a wonderful singer, she s a wonderful person. so get well soon !

  • ignotumcantor says:

    There is zero chance this was an infection. Less than zero that the departure was of her own choosing.

    Likely she was horrified by what was required of her in the regie.

    Life is too damn short to put up with it and the vipers who run the festival for any sane artist.

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