|
|
|
|
|
The Times, London, 7 September
2007 |
Neil Fisher |
And the new Pavarotti?
|
|
JUAN DIEGO FLÓREZ
Strengths The 34-year-old Peruvian pings out high Cs with effortless
brilliance – and excels in the same bel-canto repertoire in which Pavarotti
first made his name. Earlier this year he made history by repeating an aria
from Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment (a famous Pav calling card) at La
Scala – breaking a 70-year embargo on encores at the legendary Milanese
opera house.
Weaknesses Unlike Pavarotti he shows no signs of moving into the
red-meat roles of Puccini and Verdi. No chance of him thrilling 80,000
people with Nessun Dorma any time soon.
ROLANDO VILLAZÓN Strengths
Immensely charismatic on stage, bouncy and likeable off it, the
frizzy-haired Mexican has a rich and darkly distinctive voice. At 35 he has
struck up a fruitful partnership with the glamorous Russian soprano Anna
Netrebko, both on stage and in the recording studio.
Weaknesses More likely to be the new Domingo than the new Pavarotti. Prefers
to concentrate on honing his acting skills than marketing himself on stadium
tours.
JONAS KAUFMANN
Strengths He may have Latin-lover looks, but the 38-year-old is
German to the core: serious, earnest and hard-working. Daringly he sings
anything from light Mozart to Wagner and drew unanimous praise after singing
a thrilling Don José in Carmen at the Royal Opera House last December.
Weaknesses With no big record label to champion him, his profile
remains limited outside Germany.
SALVATORE LICITRA
Strengths The 39-year-old trained with the great Carlo Bergonzi and
is still Italy’s best hope for a native tenor star. Jumped in for Pav
himself when he pulled out of Tosca in New York and earned huge ovations
from the crowd.
Weaknesses In recent years his voice has wavered alarmingly as he has
taken on the more demanding Verdi roles. A recent run of Tosca at Covent
Garden was no return to form – critics accused him of coarse, “can belto”
singing. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|