oberon Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 We simply called Scotto "Little" to distinguish her from Tebaldi, who was the more senior diva, had the larger voice, and was much taller than Scotto. Fans from that era still refer to these two sopranos as "Big Renata" and "Little Renata". Yes, Scotto was a great bel cantiste but ended up wrecking her voice when she strayed from her natural fach. Wanting to sing "everything" does not benefit the voice. Look what it did to Callas. Many opera fans would question if Netrebko is rising or already falling. Listen to Act I of her recent TRAVIATA recording. This is not a healthy instrument. Link to comment
dirac Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 oberon is correct – the “Little Renata” was in no sense intended as derogatory to Scotto. Scotto was wonderful in bel canto, although she did not have quite enough voice for Norma, IMO. But let’s stay close to our topic. Link to comment
carbro Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 But let’s stay close to our topic. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yes! This is like ABT's two Cynthias -- Big Cynthia (Gregory) and Little Cynthia (Harvey), who shared a number of qualities, including technical brilliance and dark hair. Link to comment
oberon Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 Now you're gettin' me all ABT-nostalgic, carbro! Just watched those two Cynthias the other night in that ABT mixed-bill video. If we're namin' names, let's say: Leslie, Martine, Amanda & Mariana too!! Link to comment
sandik Posted January 13, 2006 Share Posted January 13, 2006 Opera fans love to refer to the great singers by their first names: everyone knows who Luciano, Placi, Leonie, Leontyne, Christa, Franco and Jessye are. Although there have been many Marias, whenever anyone says "Maria", assume Callas. On the other hand, we always differentiate between "Big Renata" (Tebaldi) and "Little Renata" (Scotto). Most fans call Horne "Jackie" and von Stade "Flicka". I would guess that singers (and dancers) love it when they are recognized by their first names. Nobody I know ever calls Fleming anything but "Renee". Once I watched her doing a signing...hundreds of people showed up. No one said: "Ms. Fleming"; she took it as a matter of course that she is: Renee. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Well, privately I always call Placido Domingo "Mr. January," in honor of an especially hunky picture of him in an old Opera News calendar. But that's just me. Link to comment
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