What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Yes, you are most likely right. I guess I'm just in denial and trying to believe against the facts that it isn't La Bellissima who is endorsing this photoshopping. I keep seeing pictures of her with her current real looks and keep thinking that she looks very hot and beautiful in spite of the extra kilos (e.g. the Opera News cover you've just posted), and then we keep seeing these photoshopped images. Go figure... I guess it's part of female psychology. They hate anything that gets close to the word "fat" so even though she says the opposite in interviews, I guess she gets tempted by the thinning that Photoshop provides. But this backfires on her image. The detractors have been active in the Internet, mocking her for the photoshopping; there are spoofs of this cover. I think she should proudly acknowledge her kilos and say - "so what? You, detractor, would be lucky if your wife or girlfriend looked like me."

You know Alma, I don't know how many times you have talked about Anna's weight since she had her son, but I would guess at least twenty posts where you call her chubby, curvy, rounded and talk about how she is *still* beautiful *despite* the extra kilos. And she is actually in no way fat, well within normal range for a woman of her age who has had a child. And then you say women don't like to be called fat. Well I say, don't keep talking about their weight then.

[tyroneslothrop]

You know Alma, I don't know how many times you have talked about Anna's weight since she had her son, but I would guess at least twenty posts where you call her chubby, curvy, rounded and talk about how she is *still* beautiful *despite* the extra kilos. And she is actually in no way fat, well within normal range for a woman of her age who has had a child. And then you say women don't like to be called fat. Well I say, don't keep talking about their weight then.

LOL. I know what would happen to me if I went to my wife and told her: "Sweetheart, I don't mind your weight at all--you carry your fat well!" It doesn't matter if she is 80lbs or 180, that would not go over well.

[Dark_Angel]

Netrebko gala perfermance at my house tonight (free admission)





The new deluxe digibook two disc Verdi collection is very nice, CD selection cover some of the greatest works ever for soprano voice, we need DVD Verdi opera performances before Netrebko looses her magic. The DVD disc combines existing previous opera highlights along with a couple staged videos from "Souvenir" deluxe set, many pages of color photos.

I thought there would be a behind the scences featurette of recording sessions, but it is not to be found

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

You know Alma, I don't know how many times you have talked about Anna's weight since she had her son, but I would guess at least twenty posts where you call her chubby, curvy, rounded and talk about how she is *still* beautiful *despite* the extra kilos. And she is actually in no way fat, well within normal range for a woman of her age who has had a child. And then you say women don't like to be called fat. Well I say, don't keep talking about their weight then.

Right. But you have to understand that I say so to defend her, because everywhere else in the Internet you get those nasty detractors calling her fat. Me, I do think she looks great. You see here my reaction to what is said out there, since I actually don't post anywhere else than here. So you see only half of the story. I do follow news, blog posts, tweets, etc., about Anna, who is, as you know, one of my very favorite artists (just a bit ago, the very favorite; lately I've been impressed with other just-as-good artists). So when people attack her out there, I defend her in here. Do you realize that there is a crazy person who keeps tweeting extremely aggressive things about her, calling her a fat slut and stuff like that, and got a Twitter account going, with the sole purpose of badmouthing her and making up stories about affairs and infidelities and the such? Anna's artistry and beauty generate a lot of jealousy and anger in those poor souls who aren't as gifted. So if I defend her so often regarding her weight and looks, it's because these are frequent matter for attacks, out there. This is quite incredible. Such a fabulous artist, what is wrong with these people? You don't see the same negativity about other singers such as Renée Fleming, Joyce DiDonato, etc. Only Anna gets these aggressive extremes. So, Parterre Box has a cache of reshopped Netrebko Verdi covers! Amazing. People should listen to the music which is of extreme high quality, and stop the personal attacks.

[tyroneslothrop]

So, Parterre Box has a cache of reshopped Netrebko Verdi covers! Amazing. People should listen to the music which is of extreme high quality, and stop the personal attacks.

Actually, they love her there on Parterre Box. Anna is a something of a 'gay icon'. So I guess you could call the photoshopping a form of homage, sardonic of course, but a homage nonetheless.

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

Actually, they love her there on Parterre Box. Anna is a something of a 'gay icon'. So I guess you could call the photoshopping a form of homage, sardonic of course, but a homage nonetheless.

Hm... at the very least, very ambivalent homage. I don't like it. That's why I said she should have just picked a regular photo of hers, instead of that cover. There are numerous gorgeous current pictures of her. Then, she wouldn't be giving these people the opportunity to criticize her, even if it's disguised as some sort of sardonic homage. I don't know, I think people experience some twisted pleasure in putting her down. Her extreme success bothers some people.

Me, I've been listening to her Verdi CD in all my commutes for the last couple of days, at full volume in my car's relatively high end 8-speaker sound system, and wow! This thing is extraordinary. I'm telling you, her move into this dramatic soprano sound is of such an intensity, it's so penetrating and thick, it's uncanny. This CD is incredible. If you've only heard it on the Internet - which is already a very impressive experience - wait until you listen to it full blast on a proper sound system! Wow!

I think blogs everywhere, instead of mocking her cover, should just be in awe of the sound she is making, and acknowledge that she is moving into legendary status. The CD is just fantastic. All 14 tracks are of a beauty that hits you like a brick. Once this woman starts performing these full roles on stage, we'll be in for a treat. I don't even want to see her Tatyana, now. I want the meatier dramatic Verdi roles! I think the Tatyana may be anticlimactic, given the great things that are in the works for her.

We get a spectacular album like this, and what people want to say, is stuff about the cover? Lame. You know, all the banter is fine and is part of the fun of being an opera lover, but when a singer produces this level of quality, shouldn't real opera lovers focus on what is important? If they aren't in this for the music, then they should go to E! network and People magazine to talk about Hollywood celebrities, and leave opera singers alone. Down with the Parterre Box cache of of reshopped Anna Verdi covers! Listen, people! Listen to the music, dammit!

[tyroneslothrop]

I don't even want to see her Tatyana, now. I want the meatier dramatic Verdi roles! I think the Tatyana may be anticlimactic, given the great things that are in the works for her.

What?!?! What?!?! Speak for yourself! I am awaiting her Tatyana with great anticipation and will have to see if I can see it more than the three times I'm going to see it! (1 live, 1 simulcast, and 1 encore)

[Davor]

You, detractor, would be lucky if your wife or girlfriend looked like me."

With a little tinkering, you might have a hit song there.

Aria, even. Drama is built right into it.

[Hoffmann]

Netrebko gala perfermance at my house tonight (free admission)





The new deluxe digibook two disc Verdi collection is very nice, CD selection cover some of the greatest works ever for soprano voice, we need DVD Verdi opera performances before Netrebko looses her magic. The DVD disc combines existing previous opera highlights along with a couple staged videos from "Souvenir" deluxe set, many pages of color photos.

I thought there would be a behind the scences featurette of recording sessions, but it is not to be found

Did you have to veil poor Maria?

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

Homework



Someone remind me why I'm going to see this?

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

Homework



Someone remind me why I'm going to see this?

Yep, not easy. But after you listen to it a few times you may start liking it.

[Amfortas]

What?!?! What?!?! Speak for yourself! I am awaiting her Tatyana with great anticipation and will have to see if I can see it more than the three times I'm going to see it! (1 live, 1 simulcast, and 1 encore)

Here here! Any noteworthy production of Onegin is cause for rejoicing!

[tyroneslothrop]

Yep, not easy. But after you listen to it a few times you may start liking it.

You can start with one of the best "Wiegenlied" by one of the best Maries--Hildegard Behrens:

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

You can start with one of the best "Wiegenlied" by one of the best Maries--Hildegard Behrens:

Thanks. I'm only really going for the eye candy

*shallow*

[MAuer]

Thanks. I'm only really going for the eye candy

*shallow*

Nothing wrong with some operatic eye candy, and if it can help you through Wozzeck . . .