Anna Nicole Smith's opera at the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden scheduled for 2010 should be a highlight of the year around the world, so what's the status? I just googled and as one may imagine casting has been a hot issue. Greer Grimsley and I had agreed on Met quality mezzo MaryAnn McCormick, who has played not only a Norn but also Magdalena in Rigoletto. MaryAnn sang Magdalena so smouldering back in Seattle in 2004 that critics demanded she play Carmen and she did indeed. Greer just knocked the socks off of San Francisco Opera in Oscar Wilde's Salome but as Kip Kranna said, SFO enjoyed luxurious casting when Greer graced the stage as Count Monterone in Rigoletto.
Here's what I got off of the internet and I put in an inquiry to the opera house: Anna Nicole casting.
Intermezzo blog with Anna going green, thumbs up. (green thumb, get it?)
Here are some nominees including Anna Netrebko and Placido Domingo from Parterre Box.
Anna Nicole and why her opera may still sound bafflin' on some remote island
Anna Nicole fights back from the grave and how opera takes on the bourgeoisie
Tone deaf diva touches and eviscerates
Tales of Hoffman sells out in a good not bourgeois way
Anna Nicole and subject of celebrity a worthy one
Anna Nicole Smith weapon of mass distraction
The bourgeoisie and thwarting love
Vagina Monologues benefits womens' shelters: ACT Feb 9 and 10, 2010
Francesca Zambello to direct Die Walkure
Wotan shares his dressing room
Greer Grimsley Impressions, Passions, Stand by Me, Dreams
Music therapy for children in the hospital: AIDAAN gives iPods
Teatro ZinZanni's "Hearts on Fire" stars disco diva Thelma Houston and the Mexican Elvis "El Vez"
PBO conquers "Handel's Wicked Queen, Athalia"
ACT's Phedre a class act but sexuality corseted
For more information on JDV Hotels, http://www.jdvhotels.com/
For more information on A.C.T. and Phedre: ACT
Salome a tribute to women artists who go against traditional expectations
Breaking news in opera: Diva Frederica von Stade's heirlooms stolen from Alameda and auctioned
Carmen at the Met: Why does loving a gypsy heart bring all to their knees?
Comments
This is in very bad taste.
Examined, in all fairness there were quite a few who declared Richard Strauss' Salome opera to be the epitome of bad taste. There are probably even some who still hold to that position today! San Francisco Symphony regulars know about Turnage and know that he is not afraid to take on outrageous material in very broad (not to mention noisy) strokes. The Royal Opera is playing a very risky card here, but I think we should give them the benefit of the doubt.
Cindy,
Never a dull moment. Your columns are always fascinating.
Keep up the great research.
Page Larkin
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