Comments on: Jumping Off A Cliff http://theomniscientmussel.com/2008/02/jumping-off-a-cliff/ Classical Music & Culture Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:37:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Miss Mussel http://theomniscientmussel.com/2008/02/jumping-off-a-cliff/#comment-416 Miss Mussel Sun, 10 Feb 2008 04:20:03 +0000 http://theomniscientmussel.com/?p=320#comment-416 So Tales of Hoffman is to soprano as the decathalon is to track athletes. Good to know. Thanks for delurking and contributing to Miss Mussel's opera education. Every little bit helps! So Tales of Hoffman is to soprano as the decathalon is to track athletes. Good to know. Thanks for delurking and contributing to Miss Mussel’s opera education. Every little bit helps!

]]> By: Sanford http://theomniscientmussel.com/2008/02/jumping-off-a-cliff/#comment-408 Sanford Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:55:28 +0000 http://theomniscientmussel.com/?p=320#comment-408 Tales of Hoffmann is one of those operas where double casting isn't required but is considered something of a test for the soprano. It is traditional for the bass-baritone singing the 4 villains. The difficulty for a soprano is that all 4 roles are quite different in terms of their ranges and styles. Olympia is pure coloratura soprano, with a lot of fioratura and very high notes. Antonia is quite lyrical but also very high. Giulietta, on the other hand, lies lower in the voice and has even been sung by mezzos (Agnes Baltsa recorded it). Stella is a relatively small role. other sopranos who have sung all 4 roles include Beverly Sills, Anna Moffo, and Edita Gruberova. Anna Netrebko (as Miss Mussel can attest is either worshiped or vilified on Parterre Box) is adding the 4 heroines to her repertoire. Tales of Hoffmann is one of those operas where double casting isn’t required but is considered something of a test for the soprano. It is traditional for the bass-baritone singing the 4 villains. The difficulty for a soprano is that all 4 roles are quite different in terms of their ranges and styles. Olympia is pure coloratura soprano, with a lot of fioratura and very high notes. Antonia is quite lyrical but also very high. Giulietta, on the other hand, lies lower in the voice and has even been sung by mezzos (Agnes Baltsa recorded it). Stella is a relatively small role. other sopranos who have sung all 4 roles include Beverly Sills, Anna Moffo, and Edita Gruberova. Anna Netrebko (as Miss Mussel can attest is either worshiped or vilified on Parterre Box) is adding the 4 heroines to her repertoire.

]]> By: Miss Mussel http://theomniscientmussel.com/2008/02/jumping-off-a-cliff/#comment-406 Miss Mussel Fri, 08 Feb 2008 03:08:48 +0000 http://theomniscientmussel.com/?p=320#comment-406 Re Countes: holy double casting Batman! I don't know the plot, so maybe that is necessary/common. At any rate, the Met sure got their money's worth....unless of course singers charge doubling fees as well. Re Countes: holy double casting Batman!
I don’t know the plot, so maybe that is necessary/common. At any rate, the Met sure got their money’s worth….unless of course singers charge doubling fees as well.

]]> By: Giorgia http://theomniscientmussel.com/2008/02/jumping-off-a-cliff/#comment-404 Giorgia Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:42:32 +0000 http://theomniscientmussel.com/?p=320#comment-404 On the day I was born there was a matinée of a Rigoletto production: Metropolitan Opera House December 22, 1973 Matinee Broadcast RIGOLETTO {523} Giuseppe Verdi--Francesco Maria Piave Rigoletto...............Matteo Manuguerra Gilda...................Colette Boky Duke of Mantua..........Enrico Di Giuseppe Maddalena...............Joann Grillo Sparafucile.............Ezio Flagello Monterone...............James Morris Borsa...................Douglas Ahlstedt Marullo.................Clifford Harvuot Count Ceprano...........Richard Best Countess Ceprano........Betsy Norden Giovanna................Carlotta Ordassy Page....................Shinja Kwak Guard...................Domenico Simeone Conductor...............Serge Baudo ...but, above all, Les contes d'Hoffmann, the one with Dame Joan Sutherland! Metropolitan Opera House December 22, 1973 LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN {127} Hoffmann................John Alexander Olympia.................Joan Sutherland Giulietta...............Joan Sutherland Antonia.................Joan Sutherland Stella..................Joan Sutherland Lindorf.................Thomas Stewart Coppélius...............Thomas Stewart Dappertutto.............Thomas Stewart Dr. Miracle.............Thomas Stewart Nicklausse..............Huguette Tourangeau Muse....................Huguette Tourangeau Andrès..................Andrea Velis Cochenille..............Andrea Velis Pitichinaccio...........Andrea Velis Frantz..................Andrea Velis Luther..................Edmond Karlsrud Nathanael...............Charles Anthony Hermann.................Russell Christopher Spalanzani..............Nico Castel Schlemil................Clifford Harvuot Crespel.................James Morris Mother's Voice..........Cynthia Munzer Conductor...............Richard Bonynge On the day I was born there was a matinée of a Rigoletto production:

Metropolitan Opera House
December 22, 1973 Matinee Broadcast

RIGOLETTO {523}
Giuseppe Verdi–Francesco Maria Piave

Rigoletto……………Matteo Manuguerra
Gilda……………….Colette Boky
Duke of Mantua……….Enrico Di Giuseppe
Maddalena……………Joann Grillo
Sparafucile………….Ezio Flagello
Monterone……………James Morris
Borsa……………….Douglas Ahlstedt
Marullo……………..Clifford Harvuot
Count Ceprano………..Richard Best
Countess Ceprano……..Betsy Norden
Giovanna…………….Carlotta Ordassy
Page………………..Shinja Kwak
Guard……………….Domenico Simeone

Conductor……………Serge Baudo

…but, above all, Les contes d’Hoffmann, the one with Dame Joan Sutherland!

Metropolitan Opera House
December 22, 1973

LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN {127}

Hoffmann…………….John Alexander
Olympia……………..Joan Sutherland
Giulietta……………Joan Sutherland
Antonia……………..Joan Sutherland
Stella………………Joan Sutherland
Lindorf……………..Thomas Stewart
Coppélius……………Thomas Stewart
Dappertutto………….Thomas Stewart
Dr. Miracle………….Thomas Stewart
Nicklausse…………..Huguette Tourangeau
Muse………………..Huguette Tourangeau
Andrès………………Andrea Velis
Cochenille…………..Andrea Velis
Pitichinaccio………..Andrea Velis
Frantz………………Andrea Velis
Luther………………Edmond Karlsrud
Nathanael……………Charles Anthony
Hermann……………..Russell Christopher
Spalanzani…………..Nico Castel
Schlemil…………….Clifford Harvuot
Crespel……………..James Morris
Mother’s Voice……….Cynthia Munzer

Conductor……………Richard Bonynge

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