ODivaTina@a... wrote:
> << All I hear is her steely tone and lack of any warmth and I must > turn it off immediately.>> > > Hear hear! She is one of those singers whose rise to fame baffles me > completely. > TinaO
Here's why I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Roberta Peters. The very first opera I ever heard was a recording my parents had of Marriage of Figaro - a Metropolitan Opera Recording, with Lisa della Casa as the Countess, Roberta Peters as Susanna, Rosalind Elias as Cherubino, Giorgio Tozzi as Figaro, George London as the Count, Fernando Corena as Bartolo. I loved the opera from the first moment I heard the music, and would play the record all the time. And it's still my very favorite opera.
On the cover of this album was a great picture of the principals in what to my nine-year-old eyes were the most beautiful costumes I'd ever seen. I had a hard time understand why a grown woman would playing a man. The two other women seemed so beautiful to me - Lisa della Casa was so elegant! But I loved Roberta Peters' picture as Susanna the best. It expressed so much joy and personality.
I haven't listened to the record in years, because I don't know if my turntable even works, so I don't know if I would still like the singing. I suspect that Roberta Peters was a performer who had a terrific personality on stage, whom audiences loved to be in the presence of. And this very important aspect of a performance doesnt' come across on a recording. Some very nice things have been written about her over on the Opera-list over the years, by those who heard her in person on many occasions.
I've never heard her in person - however, she did appear in a movie I saw a few years ago - in a non-singing role - I think it was called City Hall, and she played the NY City Mayor's ex-Broadway-star wife.
Peggy
-- Margaret Harrison, Alexandria, Virginia, USA "Music for a While Shall All Your Cares Beguile" mailto:peggyh@i...
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