Both DiDonato and Aldrich are a continuation of the rich tradition of American mezzos who knew their way around a cadenza which began with Marilynn Horne and continued on with my own particular darling Frederica von Stade. For a while there I was a Von Stade groupie running off to Houston to see her and Horne in La Donna del Largo, over to England for her Ritorno di Ulisse at Glyndebourne and Cendrillon right home in Ottawa.
Sadly I missed her Cenerentola at the Paris Opera - I had a choice between her and Teresa Berganza and went for Berganaza. I met Flicka, as she was known to her friends and fans, on several occasions and on one she asked me to come to the filming of La Cenerentola in Munich. Sadly though in those days it would have been easy to do with my airline staff tickets I couldn't get off work for the filming dates. But here she is showing us why her Cinderella - both Rossini's and Massenet's - were loved.
Cenerentola forgives her step-sisters and step-father (the great Paolo Montarsolo mugging outrageously) and celebrates her new found happiness as the bride of the Prince.
She has announced her retirement and is currently doing a series of concerts around the USA to say farewell which will end in 2011. Ever the gracious lady she is bowing out while still in great vocal shape.
I can only wish her all happiness in her retirement as she gave me so much happiness in her 40 year career. Auguri Flicka and mille grazie!
09 giugno - Sant'Efrem il Siro
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1 comment:
We've just had Armida at Garsington - not quite up to the recording from Pesaro with Renee in her prime and Gatti conducting, but rather impressive all the same. Jessica Pratt, the young English soprano - can't you see Parterre arming already - will be coming your way at La Scala, and she's definitely one to watch.
DiDonato and Florez simply can't disappoint. How could you not enjoy?
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