Lala Rants About Opera, post #1
I have been told that I should become an opera critic. And although it is very certain that I am no M in the department of harsh criticism and sheer ability to tear one a new asshole, I was thinking I’d bring music back to my inherently soprano-owned blog and rock the opera critic title once in a while. So here’s to my new series of posts: Lala Rants About Opera!
So for my first endeavor, let’s just talk about Rene Fleming.
Okay, I get it. She’s pretty. She sings high, her voice is agile, and she can errm… *sort of* act. But seriously, where the hell is opera going? Rene was the first MODERN (not Callas, people) opera singer to start this craze of supermodel opera singers (followed by De Niese, Garanca, and of course, Netrebko). Her appearance has followed the precise pattern of what is beautiful at the time. She used to be a bit filled out, and now she’s become another stick-figure cookie cut out soprano. And the worst part of all is, she’s the height of mediocrity. Her vibrato is nothing but a tiny tremolo, she’s got absolutely no power behind her voice, and she sings things like STRAUSS. I mean, come on. I hate when sopranos become delusional about what they can sing just because they’ve been told they’re good. It would be like me pretending I could sing Puccini. Desirable, but not really possible. If you want to show off your voice, stick to things that flatter you! You wouldn’t want to hear Domingo singing Monteverdi, so why are we subjected to a soprano who wants what she can’t have? And WHY in God’s name is she famous!? I’ve heard way better sopranos than her not only at the Met singing far inferior roles with far less reknown, but in the Bard College Music Department! I am sick of hearing singers who have pleasing voices rather than good voices. It makes me wonder if opera is going in the way of broadway - sacrificing the slightly better (or infinitely better) voice for the prettier face. All I can say about that is, God I hope not.
-E
