The Highest Note Ever Sung at the Metropolitan Opera--and It's by an Understudy!- Page 2

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 12/30/09 at 12:58am

"They should stick to the original composers' "concepts," and we'd all be a lot better off."

Well, Offenbach died before Hoffman was completed or staged. If I remember my opera history class correctly, the Guilietta act was not even included in the premiere. "Scintille, diamant" was also added in to that act many years after Offenbach's death, as was the Sextet, I believe.

Then there is the argument over which order the acts should be presented in, most notably the placement of Antonia and Guilietta. I personally prefer that Guilietta follow Antonia, because, even though Antonia is a stronger act musically, I think it shows a better progression of Hoffman's love, from the superficial infatuation of Olympia, to the genuine love of Antonia, to the hopeless despair of the affair with Guilietta.

ETA - I did a benefit a couple seasons back at Toledo Opera with Rachele. So glad to see her give such an amazing performance. Hopefully it will be followed by many more. Updated On: 12/30/09 at 12:58 AM

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 12/30/09 at 1:34am

I think it's probably not even remotely possible that this is the highest note sung at the Met. Every coloratura of before the Golden Age of Sutherland had to have at least an A above high C or they were a lyric soprano. No one kept records of how high they sang -- because they sang in their flageolet, so it was seen as "cheating"...e.g., Mariah Carey whistle tone instead of a legit opera sound.

With that said, however, her high notes are REMARKABLE. I don't care for the shrillness of her sound down below, though -- but that sound seems to be popular at the Met for their sopranos of late. So, if she can act half as well as Dessay, she's bound to have a great career from this.

[Q]

Posted: 12/30/09 at 1:45am

The only thing this thread - and the other discussions taking place on even more esoteric sites - proves is that there really is NO queen like an opera queen.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 12/30/09 at 10:58am

Not to nitpick, but this was on Wednesday (12/23) not Christmas Eve.

I'm looking forward to seeing this tonight and thus far no cast changes have come down yet. After seeing this video I was hoping to see Rachele Gilmore, but it looks like Kathleen Kim is going to be in tonight.

ETA- First cast change just came down, Calleja (Hoffmann) is out tonight.
Updated On: 12/30/09 at 10:58 AM

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 12/30/09 at 11:27pm

That really was amazing.
I especially enjoyed watching Dr Evil play the harp.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 12/31/09 at 12:11am

Now that's what I call a coloratura!

[shira467]

Posted: 12/31/09 at 1:23am

That was just lovely.

[Urban]

Posted: 12/31/09 at 8:06pm

Wow, what a wonderful performance. I have to admit I absolutely adore a good coloratura soprano. :)

[sabrelady]

Posted: 12/31/09 at 8:09pm

SO enjoyed that! Incroyable!