Anna vs. Angela
Netrebko
As Interchanging Idioms reported last week, Gramophone’s March 2009 issue will feature Anna Netrebko and Angela Gheorghiu, arguably opera’s two hottest arias at the moment, and ask which of the two is today’s true prima donna. (Why they can’t say both are ruling the streets is beyond me, but as editor James Inverne explains, it’s a throwback to the mid-20th Century era of dueling divas). New recordings by both Angie and Netrebs will be reviewed, and critic gurus will take turns defending both sopranos in a verbal celebrity deathmatch kind of way.
Naturally, since it’s the Gramophone, it’ll probably end up being very restrained, respectful, and ultimately a love letter of sorts to both gals. But it touches on a point that Hollywood caught wise to decades ago: star power sells.
It’s not that every boutique opera company needs to sign on a diva
Gheorghiu
(or divo) for next season, but opera in general benefits with a few key ambassadors. And it helps if those ambassadors have fantastic gams, a shayna punim, or abs you can grate cheese on. The fat lady stereotype still exists in millions of minds (especially minds in the gen-x and gen-y set), and will be the first image called up when the word “opera” is heard. But give the people something that is visually stimulating to compliment the aural stimulation, and that stereotype will melt away faster than Deborah Voigt’s extra pounds.
Peter Gelb came under some scrutiny last year when he began putting a focus on singers who were compelling actors and who visually “made sense” in their respective roles (no more 250-lb starving bohemians). However, as the US’s–if not the world’s–most-recognized opera company, the oness is on them to put their best face forward (as it were). The Met probably has more patrons and donors than any other opera company in America. It’s following is there. For now. Now it’s simply leading the way for new audiences and using methods that speak to those demographics.
(And anywhere Roberto Alagna goes, I’m going.)
Filed under: culture and communications, hot aria, organizational change | 1 Comment
Tags: angela gheorghiu, anna netrebko, deborah voigt, gramophone, james inverne, javier bardem, metropolitan opera, peter gelb, roberto alagna, ruth ann swenson
I saw the article a liitle late but would like to reply.
Angela is a wonderful singer and a fantastic actress – a combination very seldom found. She’s a real DIVA!!
Anna sings well but does not have a lot of feeling.
Both are very beautiful woman.