This will have a domino effect, with Roberto Alagna replacing Kaufmann in Manon Lescaut....and Marco Berti replacing Alagna in Alagna's scheduled Pagliacci performances. It's best explained by the Met's press release:
Star tenor Roberto Alagna—currently at the Met giving an acclaimed performance of Canio in Pagliacci—will sing his first-ever performances of des Grieux in Manon Lescaut, replacing Kaufmann. To allow time for him learn the staging before theFebruary 12 new production premiere, Alagna must withdraw from his remaining performances as Canio as he undertakes this new challenge. The French tenor, who has sung more than 100 Met performances since 1996, learned the role of des Grieux for a 2006 series of performances that were canceled, meaning that this season’s Met performances are the first time he will ever sing the part onstage.
Marco Berti, currently starring at the Met as Calàf in Puccini’s Turandot, will replace Alagna as Canio in the remaining performances of Pagliacci. These performances will be Berti’s Met role debut as Canio.(Let's just say that at this point, I will faint if Kaufmann ever sings opera on the West Coast.)
10 comments:
When you faint from Kaufmann singing on the West Coast, your fall will be cushioned by my already-fainted body.
Ahahaha!
He did a recital a few years back. I never blogged it; he was good, but not what you'd call subtle. Best in the operatic Strauss songs.
If that recital was in Zellerbach, I was there! Unfortunately, his lieder convinced me that lieder isn't really for me. Not HIS rendition of the lieder, just that not even he was able to change my mind about the genre. I did love his voice, though. Not subtle, I agree, not that day.
Yeah, that one! His one and only local appearance so far.
I would not expect that recital to change anyone's mind. Goerne, maybe, though.
Hmmm. Good to know. Goerne does come through now and then.
His Carnegie recital on the 31st has not (yet) been cancelled. Are arms being twisted as we speak?
Kaufmann is supposed to do a West Coast recital tour in the same time frame; I have a (very expensive) ticket to hear him at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica on Feb 21. The announced program is terrific:
Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, the Britten cycle on Michelangelo poems, and for the second half 13 Strauss songs.
I was pretty thrilled by his previous recital in LA, part of the same tour as the Zellerbach performance. I know he sings songs like an opera singer, but in this case that's fine with me -- I wasn't expecting, you know, Elly Ameling. But I guess I can kiss this one goodbye. I wonder if they'll offer a refund.
That is a great program. He isn't singing anywhere near SF on this tour. I mean, if he sings....
FYI: Kaufmann's Carnegie Hall recital has now been cancelled.
With Mr. Kaufmann's recent cancellations at the Met, it's unlikely he'll be singing in the US - maybe a trip to London or Munich, which appears to be a favorite of his is in order. I would like to hear him before he retires.
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