Guess what? Covent Garden has called in a British tenor
OperaIn a rare departure from its offshore c asting, the Royal Opera made a local call after Daniel Behle cancelled as tonight’s Ferrando in Cosi fan tutte.
Making his debut with be a British tenor, Anthony Gregory, presently rehearsing at Opera Holland Park.
Gregory, a former Harewood Artist, has been heard often at ENO, Glyndebourne, Scottish Opera but never at the London snoot-box. He has sang Ferrando earlier this season with Opera North.
Snoot box??
I know lots of people who sing and play at Covet Garden – the least snooty people I know. I don’t know Antonio Pappano but he doesn’t strike me as snooty. I love going there and don’t think I’m snooty, certainly the friends I go with aren’t.
So where the snootiness? Maybe in the head of the writer?
I’m afraid that Covent Garden does seem to favour singers from abroad! Pappano had no say in who sings but the casting director does! Please give a platform to more British singers as there’s a lot of talent out there!
“London snoot-box”? Charming.
Being nice really is anathema to you, isn’t it.
Covent Garden has never had an anti British casting policy. They make their judgements based on the best available artists. It is a world class opera house. Many artists learn their craft outside of London and on the continent before getting to Covent Garden.
So rather than celebrate this tenor’s appearance you make a snooty comment?
.It’s only Ferrando ,not Calaf or Otello -name me a British tenor who could sing the heavy stuff
David Butt Philip has sung Lohengrin, Stolzing, Florestan, Bacchus…
Nicky Spence has sung Siegmund and Parsifal and would have made a fine Samson if he hadn’t dropped out due to injury. I don’t see why he couldn’t sing Calaf or Otello as his voice has plenty of steel and heft.
Freddie de Tommaso. Allan Clayton.
Both British tenors.
David Butt Philip, Toby Spence, Nicky Spence, Rupert Charlesworth, Mark Padmore, Ed Lyon. All seen at ROH in recent years. Apologies to those I’ve missed.
Freddie de Tommaso was the first Brit to sing the role of Cavaradossi at Covent Garden since 1963!
Genuine question. Who are the British tenors that should have been hired and weren’t, in your opinion?
And bloody brilliant he is too! First act just finished. Could hear a pin drop in his ‘Un’aura amorosa’ – stunning control and beauty.
But it’s not his debut – ROH email gave the following: “Gregory made his debut with The Royal Opera at The Roundhouse as Shepherd in L’Orfeo in 2015”.
Imagine that. Like other times, they considered the role they needed and found someone who had performed it. And this time, one was close by. It’s not like the UK is hurting for lyric tenors.
Snoot box? Is it possible to be more pathetic or wrong?
By the way I’m still waiting for a suggestion for a British soprano to do the Turandot?
No that won’t do, sorry. Norman insists on a *young* British soprano. As we all know there is an endless list of young British sopranos who are suitable for Turandot in a large house such as… er…
Toi toi !
As a non-musician but sincere music lover I DO enjoy this site.
May I suggest a Bex , a nice cup of tea & a lie down to the esteemed site author. He seems under added stress today. Not being British I’ve never personally tried it. BUT I’m told by my British friends it works wonders.
I prefer a ‘hot toddy’!
Eda, you’ve got your countries muddled. Bex was an Australian product, whose slogan was also used as the name of a popular review first produced in Sydney in 1965. It was withdrawn from sale in 1977 on medical grounds, so if your British friends are still using it, they must have imported vast quantities of the stuff, and are very lucky to have avoided kidney failure.
I have often been to ‘Cosi’ before,
But I’ve never even heard of Tony G before,
I just hope he’ll fly
Several octaves high,
So I’ll hear in The Gods where I sit.
There are lilac trees in my part of town,
And a lovely potted palm inside the Rose and Crown,
There’s a silver birch; even Charlotte Church
Can be seen from The Gods where I sit.
More Lerner & Loewe spoofs, please. I’m sure you know this one:
I have often walked down this street before
But my legs were never severed at the knee before.
All at once am I
Only four foot high
Kneeling down in the street where you live.
Writing snootbox is childish and does not help the cause of British top Arts companies encouraging British artists.
Which tours Japan without a single UK artist…
At least two in Turandot: Aled Hall and Michael Gibson. There may also be the odd Brit in the orchestra and chorus, in addition to Antonio Pappano. Obviously stage directors don’t count as artists.
And yet you still haven’t suggested the name of that British soprano you thought should be singing the Turandot.
Anthony Gregory was terrific, I was there. Not a snooty lot, as others have written, ROH find the best singers they can find and afford, for the appropriate role.
Well, he’s a former Hereford Cathedral chorister so he’s bound to be good …
Has sung not has sang !!
He was in Handel’s Alcina in Aix Festival a few years ago… 🙂
Freddie De Tomaso is a young, British, brilliant baritone who appeared at Covent Garden, to great acclaim.
Is he already doing a Domingo?
He’s not claiming to be a conductor just yet.