Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

#1

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/9/11 at 8:30pm

I was thinking about how Paul Szot did so well in South Pacific (partly because of the the role itself). I'm wondering who else would do well on stage playing the correct part, of course. Diana Damrau comes to my mind, anyone else?

#2

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/9/11 at 8:31pm

Deborah Voigt and Rodney Gilfry are doing ANNIE GET YOUR GUN this summer...should be interesting.

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"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

#3

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/9/11 at 8:35pm

Diana Damrau was the first one who came to mind. KISS ME, KATE revival?

Natalie Dessay as anything.

#4

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/9/11 at 8:37pm

Patricia Racette

She's played Fosca...

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"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

Updated On: 6/9/11 at 08:37 PM

#5

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/9/11 at 8:42pm

I wish more would do Broadway. I love opera voices but I don't get into anything really past Cheno. Though I have seen Diana and Natalie sing Glitter and be Gay. They are phenomenal.

#6

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/9/11 at 8:54pm

Nathan Gunn.

Google him.

My reasoning will be obvious.

#7

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/9/11 at 9:52pm

Kate Aldrich

#8

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/9/11 at 11:49pm

I'll second Nathan Gunn.

Also, Byrn Terfel should play Sweeney Todd at some point.

#9

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/10/11 at 12:04am

Renee Fleming in anything please!

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http://backstagebarbie.blogspot.com

#10

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/10/11 at 12:59am

Second Byrn Terfel.

#11

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/10/11 at 1:20am

Byrn terfel has played Sweeney Todd twice. I've heard clips of it on YouTube and he's pretty good, but a better opera star in that role was Thomas Allen, who I think should be on Broadway after seeing him in that concert version of Candide. I really wish Teresa Stratas would get out of retirement and do something on Broadway or just anywhere in theatre. Third Nathan Gunn, who played Antony to Byrn Terfel's Sweeney Todd.

#12

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/10/11 at 4:01am

Anna Netrebko!!! Like that would ever happen, but what a star! Translation of this song title is My Lips, They Kiss So Hotly

Anna Netrebko sings operetta and flirts with entire audience

#13

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/10/11 at 10:38am

John Relyea. Take a look and a listen:
John Relyea

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Sarcasm is an allergic reaction to stupid people.

#14

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/10/11 at 10:46am

John Relyea - absolutely!

#15

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/10/11 at 10:58am

This is going back into the past and probably doesn't belong here, but I would have LOVED to see:

1. Zinka Milanov do Call Me Madam;
2. Monserrat Caballe do Peter Pan; and
3. Maria Callas do Daisy Mae in L'il Abner.

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BroadwayEd

#16

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/10/11 at 11:31am

I know we're supposed to be talking about opera stars now, but I always thought Teresa Stratas would have been an amazing Beggar Woman in "Sweeney."

I also used to think Kathleen Battle would have been a great Christine in "Phantom."


But I'm all for Diana Damrau in pretty much anything.

#17

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/10/11 at 1:14pm

I just need to say that this thread makes me incredibly happy!

YES YES YES to Diana Damrau in anything. She's incredible.

I'd love to see Nathan Gunn on Broadway. He's so versatile in his performing.

I would also love to see Renee Fleming on Broadway, but I'm not a fan of her "jazz" singing so Im not sure what role she would be good for.

#18

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/10/11 at 1:28pm

Danielle De Niese is someone I used to know way back when who has made a name for herself in the opera world. I heard her singing musical theater songs when I knew her and she was fabulous.

Updated On: 6/10/11 at 01:28 PM

#19

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/10/11 at 3:27pm

Diana Damrau, Natalie Dessay, Patrizia Ciofi, Alison Hagley

I think the lighter sopranos tend to be better suited for MT.

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Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!

#20

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/10/11 at 4:11pm

I have a feeling that Dolora Zajick can belt.

#21

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/10/11 at 4:25pm

I think Renee Fleming and Dwayne Croft sang "If I Loved You" really well in a concert.

Some of those classics almost seem to need operatic voices. Don't laugh, but I think the Met should do West Side Story, that music deserves it. There are many wonderful performances on youtube of opera singers singing classic musicals, although I'm not that crazy about the Nathan Gunn version of Camelot.

Renee Fleming & Dwayne Croft sing "If I Loved You"

Updated On: 6/10/11 at 04:25 PM

#22

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/10/11 at 4:32pm

Jerry Hadley sang a great version of "Maria." Just an example of why I think opera voices really are right for some of the classic songs.
Jerry Hadley sings "Maria" from "West Side Story"

#23

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/10/11 at 4:32pm

Updated On: 6/10/11 at 04:32 PM

#24

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/13/11 at 10:30am

In my opinion, Jerry Hadley was a wonderful singer of musical theater. He did a CD called "Standing Room Only" on which he did some really good renditions of Broadway tenor repertoire. Gone too soon -- RIP.

In an interesting twist and even though it's not technically Broadway, "Showboat" is going to be part of the 2011-12 series of the Lyric Opera in Chicago, starring none other than ... Nathan Gunn! You can be sure I'll be seeing that one.

Speaking of opera, I saw Danielle De Niese in "The Marriage of Figaro" last year, and agree that she has the kind of voice that could do justice to legit musical theater.

Updated On: 6/13/11 at 10:30 AM

#25

Opera Stars you want on the Broadway Stage

Posted: 6/13/11 at 2:36pm

I would die to see Nathan Gunn on broadway