Netrebko
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 ...
So? Ask me if I care.
“Angel Blue”?
Never heard of her.
“Anna Netrebko”?
Brilliant Artist.
Violetta, the character in La Traviata, was a Courtesan. That is a fancy word for a Prostitute.
I submit that, in order for Angel Blue to effectively play that role without insulting women of the evening, that she provide proof that she is presently moonlighting in the world’s oldest profession.
In fact, I demand it.
I have always heard that the opposite is true. As we age, our vocal chords stretch, and we lose our higher notes while gaining deeper notes. Mezzos and basses can usually last longer in opera than sopranos and tenors. This even happens with pop singers. Sinatra lost a lot of his high notes around 1959 (he was in his mid-40's). That's why I consider 1958 his vocal peak. On all albums after 1958, his high end was not as smooth as it was before. He still sounded good, but not as food as he did before then.
That’s Netrebko in her younger days. She really started packing on the pounds in the 2010’s. In her younger days she could have been a beautiful model. She got really fat when she first got pregnant and never regained her svelte form. Too bad. Some singers like Renee Fleming have had children and still managed to get back in shape.
Maybe I’m saying it wrong, but I think we agree on some concepts.
What you described as Sinatra’s aging experience also happened to Joni Mitchell. As she aged, she apparently lost use of the very high range as heard on early albums such as Ladies of The Canyon or Court & Spark. Joni gained in her lower tones, allowing her to sing Jazzy songs with greater ease and criedibility. Of course her heavy smoking most likely sped up any deterioration process.
Did she ‘mis-appropriate’ that hair?
Just asking the question.
Netrebko
Renee Fleming
It’s been pretty obvious especially after the Floyd fiasco
We record just about everything as I’m flipping through the commercials 30 seconds at a time it’s just one after the other after the other and mostly non-speaking appearances
I love Isabel Leonard. She could be a pin-up girl with her looks.
No the point is that when they cast a black woman as Violetta, which is not infrequent, they don’t put her in whiteface. Nowadays as a rule, white performers in opera don’t do blackface either.
Yes, she sure could!
Isabel is also one of the most in-demand opera singers in the world. Amazingly talented. A mezzo soprano.
Opera, now in HD can be had at home with amazing production values.
So because of the close ups, more attention is paid to the facial presentation and body shapes of the singers.
they are getting more attractive.
Hamilton, the Founding Fathers in Blackface.
Leftist extremist wet dream.
I’ve been watching her on the Met streaming channel. Great mezzo, great acting ability, great comic timing and stunning to look at. Even my wife is impressed.
Yes. All of that. Not only is she a great singer with excellent acting and comedy skills, she’s gorgeous. As I said, she’s my opera crush.
Get go broke. Goodbye woke person.
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