Netrebko withdraws from ROH Norma

[Conchis]

Is Netrebko's career over? Is she going the same way as Cheryl Studer - whose career virtually ended overnight?

Stranger things have happened....

[greenilex]

If any women singers are reading this, I am sure they sympathise. My voice is a lot lower at 71 than it was at 40, and it was pretty low then...

[Stanfordian]

I've just had an email from the ROH informing me that Anna Netrebko has decided to withdraw from the role of Norma:

“As I have begun to prepare the role, I have come to the unfortunate conclusion my voice has evolved in a different direction. This is something I could not have anticipated when Maestro Pappano and I planned this project four years ago, as we singers have to make decisions about roles and projects several years in advance. It pains me greatly to disappoint him, the Royal Opera House, and audiences in the UK. Knowing that tickets will soon go on sale and not wanting to mislead anyone, I feel I must now be honest with myself as an artist and make this very difficult decision.”

I have to say that I was surprised to see her billed in the role in the first place (as was conchis - see the ROH 2016/7 thread), so this doesn't come as a great surprise. At least she's had the honesty and decency to withdraw before tickets have gone on sale. I wonder how easy it will be for the ROH to find an adequate replacement at this short notice. Decent Normas are not exactly thick on the ground these days.

Netrebko is rehearsing for her new role of Elsa in 'Lohengrin' at Dresden openning on 19th May. Yes, I know Netrebko singing Wagner! But its Elsa not Brünnhilde.

[underthecountertenor]

I'm not sure how far back the booking was made in this case.

Looks as if it was 4 years ago, according to her ROH statement.

[underthecountertenor]

Is Netrebko's career over? Is she going the same way as Cheryl Studer - whose career virtually ended overnight?

Stranger things have happened....

Not according to her website (which is strangely silent on the subject of the Norma cancellation). As Stanfordian has said, she's got Elsa coming up, and then Manon Lescaut and Leonora (Trov). Operabase also lists another outing for her Lady Macbeth (not of Mtsensk), and Tatiana in NY and Paris from March to June next year.

It's certainly fair to say that Norma wouldn't have looked an easy fit in that line-up, with only about a month between her last Manon Lescaut in Salzburg and the opening night of Norma. On any view, that looks like over-ambitious planning when approaching such a difficult role debut.

[Flosshilde]

So far Cecilia Bartoli hasn't withdrawn from Norma in Edinburgh

(not that I have any expectations of her doing so)

[underthecountertenor]

Taking things at face value: I wouldn't be so indelicate as to mention a woman's age, but is it the case that changes to the voice are more likely to occur as early as, say, 40 in a soprano? Maybe someone with expertise could comment? It seems to me that there is considerable potential for occupational stress if one is frequently booking one's engagements 3 or 4 years ahead. I'm not sure how far back the booking was made in this case.

Well, Mariella Devia (now 68) is apparently still singing Norma to great acclaim (the ROH website comments section has a number of pleas for her to be booked as Netrebko's replacement), and Edita Gruberová (69) only added the role to her repertoire at the age of 56 - she is still performing it regularly. So it's dangerous to generalise, I think. It's more likely to be all about good vocal management - and Pappano has I think gone on the record in the past to suggest that that is where the younger singers today are in danger of going wrong.

[Lento]

It's more likely to be all about good vocal management - and Pappano has I think gone on the record in the past to suggest that that is where the younger singers today are in danger of going wrong.

Do you mean something technical, or overworking the voice?

[David-G]

So far Cecilia Bartoli hasn't withdrawn from Norma in Edinburgh

Don't give her ideas! I have booked my ticket...

[Beef Oven!]

Do you mean something technical, or overworking the voice?

I'm afraid it appears to be something much worse...........







































.

[Prommer]

Well, Mariella Devia (now 68) is apparently still singing Norma to great acclaim (the ROH website comments section has a number of pleas for her to be booked as Netrebko's replacement)

Seconded! Now that would get me there - and I wasn't necessarily going to book for Netrebko.

A quick look tells me that she has not sung at Covent Garden since 2000 as Desdemona in Otello.

But the annoying thing is she is due to sing Norma at La Fenice until 18th September (after the ROH Norma opens) and then has another Norma in Madrid, but not until a fortnight after the end of the run...

If they double cast it, she could do the second half of the performances!

[underthecountertenor]

But the annoying thing is she is due to sing Norma at La Fenice until 18th September (after the ROH Norma opens) and then has another Norma in Madrid, but not until a fortnight after the end of the run...

If they double cast it, she could do the second half of the performances!

Well, the Fenice Normas are on 14 and 18 September, whereas the ROH's are on 12, 16 and 20. So she could shuttle tirelessly....

[underthecountertenor]

Alternatively, she's doing a Rosenblatt recital in London on 14 June. Kasper could kidnap her and burn her passport.

[Prommer]

Alternatively, she's doing a Rosenblatt recital in London on 14 June. Kasper could kidnap her and burn her passport.

I love it when a plan comes together.

[underthecountertenor]

The ROH has now announced that Netrebko's replacement is to be Sonya Yoncheva (whom the Met have agreed to release from her contract to sing Boheme for the purpose).