A US soprano who walked out on the Met
RIPThe death has been communicated of Christine Weidinger who, on the advice of Marilyn Horne, quit a string of roles at the Metropolitan Opera to become a company member in Stuttgart Oper and then at Bielefeld. Here, she became a specialist in bel canto.
She returned to the Met in 1992, after an absence of 16 years, in Rossini’s Semiramide.
Christine Weidinger died of brain cancer on August 24 at the age of 78.
I had a privilege to work with Christine in several occasions. She was one of the finest Mozartian sopranos and a joy to work with.
Rest in Peace, maestra!
I feel terrible upon seeing this news. I remember Ms. Weidinger when we were both studying at California State University Northridge and her beautiful performance in Mozart’s “Cosi Fan Tutti”
Why would Horne give her such stupid advice? Christine was amazing and would have had a flourishing career at the Met. The Met audiences were deprived of her superb gift for 16 years. I was there for 1992 for her return in Semiramide. She brought class and stability to a very chaotic rehearsal period and her performances were a superb. Rest in Peace Dear Christine.
Why assume Horne gave this advice in the first place?
Perhaps on the basis of “on the advice of Marilyn Horne” in NL’s report?
Have you considered the credibility track record of those reports?
The above report doesn’t cite sources.
It is likely that Weidinger was doing secondary roles at the Met, and Horne told her that if she wanted to sing leading roles, she would have to leave for a smaller house.
Be that as it may, a great singer should always take care of the legacy being recorded. As a priority.
Recording companies are as unreliable as everything else in the business, but today they are redundant.
Today, there is no reason – or excuse – to lament the absence of a recording deal. You only need a youtube channel.
What a silly headline!
She changed her job. Possibly, she got excellent career advice from a colleague/mentor. She had choices to make and made them. Nobody forced her to stay in Europe. The Met is by no means the world’s only great opera house.
Men have been making such career decisions forever.
She is my age and I can SO relate to how different career progression for women was back then. In an entirely different field (science), I could have benefited from good career advice.
I have an imaginary ‘Wish lunch list’! I’ll definitely add her name to it.
She probably was being offered roles that Horne felt were not right for her, or maybe not enough roles at all.
The golden years of Bielefeld –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE2FsgQi5o8
good for her, the Met is too big for belcanto operas, the great james levine hated belcanto operas at the met.
Unfortunately Levine didnโt understand how to conduct bel canto operas. He should have consulted with Richard Bonynge who was an expert in that tradition. History has proven Bonynge was a great conductorโ-terribly underrated by the Met.
R.I.P Ms. Weidinger, now your singing with the angels. I wish I had the pleasure to hear your extraordinary voice and see you perform live.
News flash for those stateside: the Met is not, never has been and never will be the be all and end all in terms of opera houses. There are plenty of smaller houses around the world that require singers across the entire spectrum of repertoire. The good ones will take on quality singers, nurture them, grow their careers and let them flourish. It’s a tried and tested system as Ms Horne knew only too well. Hence, the advice duly imparted. RIP to a class act.
I was a super in her opera debut in 1972 at Central City Opera in Colorado. The opera was The Marriage of Figaro, and she was so young, vibrant, and excited to embark on her operatic journey. A beautiful voice and very nice person. Rest In Peace.
Christine was a great friendโwhich was even greater than her singing. If Horne gave her that advice, it was the right choice. She was covering extremely terrific roles at the Met, but it was time to leave; she made the right decision. It wasnโt until she went to Europe that she began adding the dramatic coloratura repertoire. Careers have many trajectories and hers was a terrific one in a varied repertoire.
Rest in peace, La Weidinger. And may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
RIP. Magnificent Voice!!!
What a Loss to the Opera world. If you ever had the privilege of hearing her live, you could share that experience as often times being a religious one. Such dedication to her art was seen in her performances. She had a sincere love for the all the repertoire she sang. And she could sing ANYTHING. She will be so missed by all who knew her. May her memory be eternal. Love you Christine.
Hear! Hear! And thank U.