Thursday, October 04, 2007
Spotted
...at the Metropolitan, on Tuesday, in the audience: Anna Netrebko. Again. Why do I mention this? Because in my ongoing inner deliberations about Trebs' place in my operatic affections, I just have to award her trillions of points right now based on the fact that she actually goes to the opera, apparently rather frequently. And maybe she's going because she's doinking Figaro, and maybe she's going because she likes to be seen in a fetching frock, but hey. The experience of going to the opera is many things to many of us. I like walking up the central staircase at the beginning of the evening. Don't know why, guess it makes me feel grand and elegant in my jeans and bad haircut. Anyway the fact is she goes, and stands around at intermission where anyone can approach, and I just think these are things I like in a singer. I'll always think of that interview with a defensive June Anderson saying, "this is just my day job," as if to say: oh, don't worry, I don't actually LIKE this stuff. It appears Anna Netrebko likes opera. Regardless of whether this can somehow be heard in her singing, it's certainly not a bad thing.
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13 comments:
That's not so unusual. I've seen a number of singers in the audience at the Met the past couple of seasons. If they're in town, why wouldn't they want to check out the competition.
In all fairness to Trebs, Thomas, I don't think Hong or Oropesa is going to be competing with her for roles, though it's been fun to spend a moment imagining her as Cherubino, an irrepressably bosomy Cherubino.
this is sweet. i am in love with Netrebko again.
For the moment.
What was the word on Trebs' Salzburg Susanna? All I read was a lot of moaning about the sombre production and even more sombre tempi.
No, obviously not, but I wasn't referring specifically to her attending the Figaro.
To be honest though, it's simply HARD to get to the opera a lot, even when you're a (much) lower level performer.
There are generally a ton of things that may be occupying your time, and at some point, you still have to, you know, sit down and learn music.
Not to mention, there is only so much sound a body can hear a day before your ears and brain start to rebel. After I've spent a day in rehearsals, sometimes I just want to come home (or to my room or wherever) and put earplugs in my ears.
I try to get out to performances, because I think that it broadens your bag of tricks, so to speak, to see others. But sometimes, it is just such a chore. Not because you don't enjoy it, but because truly, sometimes too much exposure makes it hard TO enjoy.
Anonanano: Fair enough. I guess I'm not picking on anyone for not going, though I'm picking on June Anderson for taking it a step further and implying why on earth would she go. I hope it's possible to say doing X is a good thing without saying not doing X is a bad thing, if that makes any sense. So I like seeing singers seeing singers (this is quickly turning into an infinite-cat-like loop) but I'm not going to harsh on anyone for staying home.
Granted, that was kind of tactless of her. If for no other reasont han hey, you're alienating your audience.
I'm thinking that was probably before the days of endless PR? Singers aren't always the most thoughtful of beasts, really.
I do love that YouTube has made it easier to see so many people doing so many things. No video is the same as seeing something live, but I'd never be able to see Callas, Pavs, etc, much less that many of my contemporaries live, even if I wanted...
Speaking of June Anderson - a friend just called during a long, drawn out day at work with a query: "What ever happened to June Anderson?" (It's like "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane"). Well? Do YOU know?
I remember that "day job" interview and it was a bummer.
Cheers.
Earl, she's got a Norma in Leipzig and an Anna Bolena in Bilbao coming up. The latter is a Jonathan Miller production conducted by Mrs. Gelb.
I too like it when singers show up in the house and I hate it when they go on and on in interviews about how they like to listen to heavy metal in their spare time. I mean, I care that Hvorostovsky listens to Lisitsian; I don't care that Jane Eaglen listens to Meat Loaf.
Earl, is that you?
Actually, Oropesa would have made a much better Norina...
;)
But Erwin insists he and Netrebs are "just friends"...
Da Netrebka can be frequently seen in the Vienna State Opera's audience too, and apparently she watches broadcasts from other houses on her teevee.
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