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Number five: Ghena “I eat tenors for breakfast” Dimitrova.
Dimitrova was a ferocious singer. She was born in Bulgaria and started singing in choir as a youngster but her voice smashed its way to the attention of those at the conservatory where she studied until she was 23.
When two sopranos backed out of a production of Verdi’s Nabucco due to fatigue, Dimitrova stepped in making her debut in what would become a signature role. Abagaille, the queen of Babylon is a role that has ended the careers of more than one soprano. Dimitrova handled it as if it were no more than an invigorating vocal exercise.
While Turandot was not her favorite role, it is the role for which she is best known. There are some that trumpet her as the greatest Turandot of all time. I’ll join them.
There were two productions of Turandot that have become legendary and both were from 1983. One was at La Scalla with Placido Domingo as Calaf. The other was at Verona with Nicola Martinucci.
The Arena di Verona is a special venue. It is the ruins of a Roman amphitheater that still seats 20,000. Every summer they hold a massive opera festival that sports some of the grandest sets an opera lover could ever imagine.
They don’t use microphones. 20,000 seats in the house, no microphones? As a singer, you better bring it.
Martinucci was a big-boy tenor who would’ve been better known in the U.S. if the three tenors hadn’t gobbled up every recording contract known to humanity in the ’80’s and ‘90’s. During that run of Turandot in Verona, he appeared to be a choir boy.
As Turnadot’s initial aria end’s, she and the tenor sing unison high “c’s” together. Martinucci is about 100 feet down stage of Dimitrova but she swallows him whole along with the orchestra and chorus.
Dimitrova cuts her note off, turns, and walks back up the stairs. Her body language seems to be saying, “I’ve got chunks of guys tougher than you in my stool.”
Credit goes to Phil Hartman on SNL for that one.
At La Scala, Domingo gets crushed even harder. God bless Dimitrova, may she rest in peace.
Verona http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CefvAxb61-8&feature=related
La Scala http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBxIbJ1Ju84&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLC7A355FC1F1C9A78
Number five: Ghena “I eat tenors for breakfast” Dimitrova.
Dimitrova was a ferocious singer. She was born in Bulgaria and started singing in choir as a youngster but her voice smashed its way to the attention of those at the conservatory where she studied until she was 23.
When two sopranos backed out of a production of Verdi’s Nabucco due to fatigue, Dimitrova stepped in making her debut in what would become a signature role. Abagaille, the queen of Babylon is a role that has ended the careers of more than one soprano. Dimitrova handled it as if it were no more than an invigorating vocal exercise.
While Turandot was not her favorite role, it is the role for which she is best known. There are some that trumpet her as the greatest Turandot of all time. I’ll join them.
There were two productions of Turandot that have become legendary and both were from 1983. One was at La Scalla with Placido Domingo as Calaf. The other was at Verona with Nicola Martinucci.
The Arena di Verona is a special venue. It is the ruins of a Roman amphitheater that still seats 20,000. Every summer they hold a massive opera festival that sports some of the grandest sets an opera lover could ever imagine.
They don’t use microphones. 20,000 seats in the house, no microphones? As a singer, you better bring it.
Martinucci was a big-boy tenor who would’ve been better known in the U.S. if the three tenors hadn’t gobbled up every recording contract known to humanity in the ’80’s and ‘90’s. During that run of Turandot in Verona, he appeared to be a choir boy.
As Turnadot’s initial aria end’s, she and the tenor sing unison high “c’s” together. Martinucci is about 100 feet down stage of Dimitrova but she swallows him whole along with the orchestra and chorus.
Dimitrova cuts her note off, turns, and walks back up the stairs. Her body language seems to be saying, “I’ve got chunks of guys tougher than you in my stool.”
Credit goes to Phil Hartman on SNL for that one.
At La Scala, Domingo gets crushed even harder. God bless Dimitrova, may she rest in peace.
Verona http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CefvAxb61-8&feature=related
La Scala http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBxIbJ1Ju84&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLC7A355FC1F1C9A78