This.
Posted on 07/21/2022 11:22:47 PM PDT by Zhang Fei
African American soprano Angel Blue has said she will not perform in an opera in Italy this month because another production held at the theater earlier this year featured performers in blackface.
The 38-year-old Grammy Award-winner announced she is bowing out of La Traviata at Verona Arena, in Verona, Italy, later this month.
She blasted the theater as 'archaic' for mounting another Giuseppe Verdi opera, Aida, that featured performers in blackface.
They include Anna Netrebko, a white Russian soprano, has been cast in the titular role of Aida in Verdi’s opera - despite the character being an Ethiopian princess.
In promotional material, Netrebko appears with dark makeup over her face and body, and wearing a wig with long black braids.
Angel Blue called the practice 'offensive, humiliating, and outright racist'.
Angel Blue, however, was still listed on Saturday on the arena's website as singing the role of Violetta in La Traviata on July 22 and 30.
The theatre said it was hoping that Blue, who is black, would accept an invitation to meet with Arena officials for 'dialogue' over the issue.
The arena said it had 'no reason nor intent whatsoever to offend and disturb anyone's sensibility'.
For decades, US civil rights organizations have publicly condemned blackface – in which white performers blacken their faces – as dehumanizing black people by introducing and reinforcing racial stereotypes.
This summer, the arena has mounted performances of Aida based on a 2002 staging of the opera classic by Italian director Franco Zeffirelli, who died in 2019. That staging uses blackface.
'Dear Friends, Family, and Opera Lovers,' began the soprano's Instagram post. 'I have come to the unfortunate conclusion that I will not be singing La Traviata at Arena di Verona this summer as planned.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Weird, huh?
There are only so many people in the world who have the God-given, talent, training and discipline to play those kinds of roles. Most of them are going to be white Europeans and North Americans.
You play a part, you look the part. I don’t hear Germans complaining about the obvious stereotype of the fat lady wearing Viking horns and a braided wig.
I am assuming that the blackface is simply dark makeup, and not a caricature that tries to fatten the lips, etc. If anyone has a problem with that in the context of serious opera, they are either ignorant, or they actually think there is something wrong with having a dark complexion.
The only "dialog" should be: "You're fired!"
Regards,
I think they should replace her with one of those black-faced gals from the other show.
OH
SO
WHAT
They said titular. In my best Beavis and Butthead voice
She should wear white face to make it even.
Blue, who is black? Maybe she should change her name. It’s an affront to blue people, with pink hair. 😀🤗🤪👍
It seems racial substitution is very much one way in acting. David Oyelowo is a fine actor, but I don’t see him as an early 19th century French policeman when he played Inspector Javert in Les Miserables I was watching recently.
This is opera and in Italy. So I fail to see the issue here. Not every country is stuck with baggage like the Americans have over slavery.
This.
“. . .because another production held at the theater earlier this year featured performers in blackface.” Angel Blue objected to the blackface, not to a white singer in the part. I’ve been going to the opera for years, and for years they’ve simply ignored appearance in casting. Thus you see “Madame Butterfly” or “The Barber of Seville” with multi-racial casts in costume, but not made up to imitate someone of a different race. The pool of talent is not large enough to limit the director to choosing only singers who look like the role. It’s like sports. You get used to it quickly. By the way, there are many superb black, Hispanic, and Asian opera singers
Same goes for her. Like she hasn’t ever sang a part of a white European character. Triggered nonsense.
Ms Blue better watch it. She’s what? 38 y/o?
Her best singing days may already be behind her.
She will most likely always be impressive, compared to non-opera trained entertainers, but I’ve been told singing opera (correctly and repeatedly) can be rough on the body.
A mezzo soprano like Angel would be one of the first to feel the effects of age. This as opposed to the even higher vocal range of Coloratura Soprano, as with actress Julie Andrews.
Ms. Blue must really lack a sense of irony because she failed to object to being cast as Violetta which is a racial affront to white French courtesans everywhere.
Well, bye.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.