From: thomas mark montgomery
To: VOCALIST <vocalist>
Subject: Re: Lyric soprano female singers?
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>


> Are you sure about Bonney singing Strauss? I know Kiri Te Kanawa has
> started specialising in the more lyrical Strauss roles, but the main
> reason Bonney gave for retiring from opera permanently to concentrate on
> lieder singing is that she was sick of being typecast in Mozart and Bel
> Canto soubrette roles, which were her specialty.

Bonney has always sung the Strauss soubrette roles (Sophie, Zdenka,
Naiad), and has even recorded a Strauss song album, including the Four
Last Songs (albeit with piano). She told me last year that the reason she
has chosen to retire from opera is that she feels that she is no longer
dramatically and physically viable in the soubrette roles upon which she
has built her career. With the exception of a Vienna Merry Widow last
year, she feels that her voice will not blossom into a full lyric, as some
other soprano voices do as they mature. In addition, lieder and song have
always been her first love, and will also enable to spend more time with
her London-based husband. Just the facts, ma'am.

Mark Montgomery