Thread: So if you could play any role ...

... but only one role, which would it be?

I hate to admit it, but Norma is very attractive to me, as a role. *L* I ... just don't look the part, unfortunately. The baldness, among other things. But if I could play only one role, I think it would be Gustav, from Ballo in Maschera. That's a juicy role.

Odabella in Attila.

She's a warrior woman. She finds out that Attila had murdered her father & she cons him into marrying her (which isn't consummated). She prevents Attila being killed by someone else & gets to kill him herself to avenge her father's death. And she lives to marry her true love. OK he's a wimpish tenor but that's her choice.

Well, Leonore, of course -- as long as Jonas Kaufmann is my Florestan.

Aside from my incurable obsession, I suppose the role I'd like the best would be Minnie in La Fanciulla del West. She's not the "victim" so many of Puccini's heroines seem to be (aside from Dragon Lady Turandot); she's spunky, quick-witted, romantic, and she gets her guy.

Or maybe I just have a thing for gun-toting women . . .

Originally Posted by sospiro

Odabella in Attila.

She's a warrior woman. She finds out that Attila had murdered her father & she cons him into marrying her (which isn't consummated). She prevents Attila being killed by someone else & gets to kill him herself to avenge her father's death. And she lives to marry her true love. OK he's a wimpish tenor but that's her choice.

Gosh that never would have occurred to me! I've only ever seen one production of Attila and hated it. Well, it wasn't clear from the performance just WHY Odabella was saving Attila's life. Apart from other difficulties ... have to give the opera another shot I guess lol

Originally Posted by MAuer

Well, Leonore, of course -- as long as Jonas Kaufmann is my Florestan.

Aside from my incurable obsession, I suppose the role I'd like the best would be Minnie in La Fanciulla del West. She's not the "victim" so many of Puccini's heroines seem to be (aside from Dragon Lady Turandot); she's spunky, quick-witted, romantic, and she gets her guy.

Or maybe I just have a thing for gun-toting women . . .

Yeah Minnie is great. If the MUSIC was better I'd love the opera. Hard to imagine Jonas Kauffmann starving to death in a cellar ... surely he'd have charmed some lovely lady into bringing him a key!!

Fun fantasy! Staying with my gender (I am used to it :-) I wouldn't mind being a stellar lyric Baritone and having a go at Winterriesse, or Das Lied von der Erde. If I were a tenor, Stravinsky's In memoriam Dylan Thomas, and Tom from 'A Rake's Progress.' - those the first 'off the top of my (balding:-) head.'

Cross-gender, Berg's "Lulu" is one helluva fantastic and incredibly demanding role.

Originally Posted by PetrB

Fun fantasy! Staying with my gender (I am used to it :-) I wouldn't mind being a stellar lyric Baritone and having a go at Winterriesse, or Das Lied von der Erde. If I were a tenor, Stravinsky's In memoriam Dylan Thomas, and Tom from 'A Rake's Progress.' - those the first 'off the top of my (balding:-) head.'

Cross-gender, Berg's "Lulu" is one helluva fantastic and incredibly demanding role.

Really! Who's done Lulu best, do you think?

Mauer has already taken my greatest desire - to play Minnie. I love the way she uses cunning and sleight of hand (or should one say sleight of stocking) to win the poker game and save Johnson's life.

Well if I can't be Minnie I'll be Giulio Cesare. Then I get to sing Va Tacito e nacosto while staring down Tolomeo.

Originally Posted by guythegreg

Yeah Minnie is great. If the MUSIC was better I'd love the opera.

Have to say I think the music is absolutely fantastic. It's my favourite Puccini opera.

Hard to imagine Jonas Kauffmann starving to death in a cellar ... surely he'd have charmed some lovely lady into bringing him a key!!

Easier to imagine him than Ben Heppner in the Met production. After all the singing about how starved and emaciated he is, Karita Mattila hilariously tries to give him a hug and can't even get her arms to meet round his neck.

Attila

Martin

Jupiter in Offenbach's Orphee aux enfers - he gets some great lines, turns into a fly and goes "Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz...' and also makes a play for the heroine, so what's not to like? Laurent Naouri was a very lucky man when he played Jupiter to Natalie Dessay's Eurydice - the cover of my recording shows him in fly mode having a great time grappling with her on a sofa.

Originally Posted by mamascarlatti

Have to say I think the music is absolutely fantastic. It's my favourite Puccini opera.



Easier to imagine him than Ben Heppner in the Met production. After all the singing about how starved and emaciated he is, Karita Mattila hilariously tries to give him a hug and can't even get her arms to meet round his neck.

*L* too funny ... good point, tho!

Originally Posted by elgars ghost

Jupiter in Offenbach's Orphee aux enfers - he gets some great lines, turns into a fly and goes "Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz...' and also makes a play for the heroine, so what's not to like? Laurent Naouri was a very lucky man when he played Jupiter to Natalie Dessay's Eurydice - the cover of my recording shows him in fly mode having a great time grappling with her on a sofa.

Good thought - I think someone posted a video of that recently in this forum. They both looked like they were having an AWFUL lot of fun!!

Originally Posted by mamascarlatti

Have to say I think the music is absolutely fantastic. It's my favourite Puccini opera.



Easier to imagine him than Ben Heppner in the Met production. After all the singing about how starved and emaciated he is, Karita Mattila hilariously tries to give him a hug and can't even get her arms to meet round his neck.

I agree, I love La Fanciulla... Io sono una povera fanciulla. ....lalala
And for once, happy ending!!!!

Martin

Originally Posted by guythegreg

Gosh that never would have occurred to me! I've only ever seen one production of Attila and hated it. Well, it wasn't clear from the performance just WHY Odabella was saving Attila's life. Apart from other difficulties ... have to give the opera another shot I guess lol

It might be worth giving it another try! I just saw Attila in San Francisco. Wonderful performance. We had the good fortune to be seated near some enthusiastic people. At the end of the first act, one woman turned to me and asked "Can we go again?!" It was like we had been on a rollercoaster ride and were ready for another go!

Papageno would be a fun one. Now if I only had the voice...