[marlow]

Such as this one?

I have this one - and 'Don Pasquale'. She is absolutely brilliant in both. Light lyric soprano at the time. In addition to her voice she has an electrifying stage presence. Has she moved into heavier roles they have taken a toll on the voice I think and you really need to see her act as well as hear her. Of course at the moment she is persona non grata. But of course she only did what other light Sopranos like Scotto and Freni have done

 

[marlow]

I have heard a lot about Netrebko's superior acting skills, but I'm not sure I'd agree. Admittedly I've only seen her on video, but in much of what I've seen, I find her a tad vulgar. She moves well, to be sure, and in opera that goes a long way, but I don't always think what she does is right for the character she is playing. Her Anna in Anna Bolena has no royal bearing, her Violetta no vulnerability. I once read a review about how she tried to make her Violetta more modern and assertive, which just reveals to me a lack of real understanding of the music and the character Verdi created with his music.

Interesting as to me she created a very real character in the Violetta. Of course the 'clock' production was not to traditional tastes and certainly not without faults but the character she created moved me more than any other Violetta I've seen. Of course she was vulgar but then she was playing a prostitute, albeit a highclass one.

 

[marlow]

I never heard Sills live, so I don't know how audible she was.

What do you mean by "heaviness"?

Yes, Netrebko is now a wobbling foghorn.

I must confess I was amazed and dismayed at Anna's decision to go for Turandot and Isolde. Her Lady Macbeth came off on stage due to the stage presence but the Isolde is frankly embarrassing. I dunno what drives singers (Ricciarrelli, Caballi, etc) to attempt these killer roles.
Sills of course wrecked her voice by the end. Sad!