Tuesday, November 1, 2011

The Singing City (updated)

You remember the superb production of Parsifal directed by Calixto Bieito?

No, I have no news about the potential DVD release, but the documentary filmed during the production creating process has been actually released on DVD.
I purchased a copy today at the Dussmann store in Berlin (German equivalent to the FNAC, Virgin, Feltrinelli...) It's also available on amazon. It's in German with English subtitles.




Tonight at 7 p.m. Edita Gruberova will briefly sing at Dussmann and then will meet her fans.  I hope I'll be able to pop in for a few minutes at least. That's always fun to see!

Next Thursday belcanto fans will be heading to the Staatsoper for Grubie's Norma, with Johan Botha as Pollione, and Sonia Ganassi as Adalgisa.
You already know that this is not my cup of tea but it is always hugely fun to see the Gruberova fan-base ecstatic: people that you would not expect in your wildest dreams to behave anything like they do during the Gruberova encores. ;)


...



Since the meeting with Gruberova was on my way to the Komische Oper I stopped by and spent about 15-20 minutes.

The guy who was introducing La Grubie was quite annoying with the excessive palette of compliments, topping it all by a statement that I hate the most: he said that she is the last great voice and that after her there is essentially nobody capable to sing bel-canto...
I was clearing my throat to say that "it was a curious statement on several levels...", when Gruberova herself interrupted the man saying that this was not true, that there are very many extremely talented and accomplished young singers, and that "we" should listen to them more often!

Way to go Mme Gruberova!


 Very often these divas who had/have huge careers --after crossing the line of 60 years of age-- start making unnecessary comments about young singers, tackling their poor technique, their good looks, their... and go on along the line "everything was better when I was young" (Obviously, you were young! - is the right answer)

But not Edita Gruberova! 
RESPECT

1 comment:

  1. It would be awesome to watch or to listen to her interview as well. So, link it if it exists somewhere.
    Thank you and love your blog ;)

    ReplyDelete