Rupert Christiansen chooses his 10 favourite Divas for 2008.
Top of the list is our Yankee Diva, Joyce DiDonato for her performance of Donna Elvira at the ROH. No surprise here.
Top of the list is our Yankee Diva, Joyce DiDonato for her performance of Donna Elvira at the ROH. No surprise here.
Try Number 10. Now, that is a surprise!
1 Joyce di Donato
Spitting rage and venom as a stupendous Elvira in Don Giovanni.
1 Joyce di Donato
Spitting rage and venom as a stupendous Elvira in Don Giovanni.
2 Anja Harteros
In Simon Boccanegra, she revealed a voice as beautiful as Fleming's or Te Kanawa's, with artistry to match.
In Simon Boccanegra, she revealed a voice as beautiful as Fleming's or Te Kanawa's, with artistry to match.
3 Susan Bullock
Sterling British soprano who hit new heights in the title-role of Strauss' Elektra.
4 Anna Netrebko
Strong men wept when this glamorous Russian prima donna sang Violetta at Covent Garden.
5 Anna Christy
Eerie and touching as a tiny Victorian doll of a Lucia di Lammermoor.
Eerie and touching as a tiny Victorian doll of a Lucia di Lammermoor.
6 Claire Rutter
Few of today's sopranos can sing Verdi's Aida as well as she did at the Coliseum.
Few of today's sopranos can sing Verdi's Aida as well as she did at the Coliseum.
7 Anne Sophie Duprels
Capped her devastating Cio-Cio-San for Opera North with a heartfelt Rusalka at Grange Park.
Capped her devastating Cio-Cio-San for Opera North with a heartfelt Rusalka at Grange Park.
8 Sarah Connolly
A consummately elegant Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier, a nobly impassioned Romeo in I Capuleti e I Montecchi.
A consummately elegant Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier, a nobly impassioned Romeo in I Capuleti e I Montecchi.
9 Eva-Maria Westbroek
Made Minnie, the heroine of Puccini's cowboy opera La Fanciulla del West, into a dignified and credible figure.
Made Minnie, the heroine of Puccini's cowboy opera La Fanciulla del West, into a dignified and credible figure.
10 Juan Diego Florez
Camping it up a treat as the hissy-fitting hero of Rossini's Matilde di Shabran.
Camping it up a treat as the hissy-fitting hero of Rossini's Matilde di Shabran.
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7 comments:
The 10, the best is the 10 ! of course.
Indeed! Juan Diego is the diviest of them all!
¡Que maldad!, ja,ja,ja.
No 10 participated non-competitively, didn't he?
Dessay is not on the list! He's insane!
I think he only refers to performances that took place at the UK....
I totally agree with n°I choice though I would make ex aequo with n°IV
saw them together in Romeo and Juliet
(Bellini) both fantastic!
Very funny n°X ...indeed!!!
Yvette
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