In response to Ron Baltimore's message--
Cecilia Bartoli is a mezzo. It is the quality--not the range-
that make a mezzo a mezzo and a soprano a soprano. The
dark quality of Ms. Bartoli's voice is typical of a mezzo.
She does have some good higher notes but she sings these
notes as a mezzo would--not as a soprano would. If you ask
me, I think she should stick to the mezzo repertoire. I did
not particularly like her latest recording (her Mozart album)
She sang pieces that were written for soprano and I felt that
her voice was not quite right in that material. Just because
a singer can hit the notes, doesn't mean she should sing it.
As for her Met debut, yes, Despina is a secondary SOPRANO
role. It is a fun role and a good sized part, though. I
hope that this is a rumor. I would think that for the Met
debut of someone as famous as Ms. Bartoli, they would have
given her a starring role that she has had previous
success with (for example La Cenerentola) and which is more
suited to her mezzo voice. The role of Despina would not
show off Ms. Bartoli's best vocal qualities at all!
Eagerly awaiting your responses,
Priya
|
RE:Ms. Bartoli's Met Debut... 
Ms. Bartoli's Met Debut or De Butt
(ron baltimore)
How to save face and look good at the same time!
by rbaltimo@dubois.fisk.edu, 1995, Jul 13
Cecialia Bartoli: Fach NOW?
by ochinwah@sdcc15.ucsd.edu, 1996, Mar 14
