Tuesday, December 23, 2008

New to the Blogroll

Combining two interests of mine, Medicine and Opera, written by nephrologist Dr. Neil Kurtzman. Needless to say, this Eva Turner partisan is with him on the correct pronunciation of her greatest role.

5 comments:

CruzSF said...

I'm so glad I found this post from 2008. I'm at your site looking for any essay you may have written on Turandot (the opera), and used Google as the search engine. I didn't find what I was seeking, but at last I feel more comfortable saying "Turando[t]." Thanks!

Lisa Hirsch said...

LOL! There was an essay in Opera Quarterly years ago - in the 90s - about the correct pronunciation of the opera and title character name. The author concluded that it was not until the Leinsdorf recording that the t at the end is pronounced. Both Rosa Raisa, the creator, and Turner, said "Turandoh" in interviews. That's the pronunciation on the 1937 Covent Garden excerpts.

I do NOT remember what's on the first complete recording, with Gina Cigna, which I've heard only once.

Lisa Hirsch said...

So, it is almost impossible to tell what the chorus, wise men, and Martinelli are singing on the 1937 excerpts. They might be touching the final t, hard to say even with headphones. (Yes, I am listening to an 80-year-old live performance when I should be working....)

CruzSF said...

Your devotion to investigating artistic mysteries is much appreciated!

Lisa Hirsch said...

I need to buy or dig up from somewhere the Cigna. What I remember: Olivero is fantastic and so is Merli (he is sensitive and has a very beautiful voice). I can't for the life of me remember much about Cigna.