Zmirzlina t1_j6xeviz wrote
"Stephanie Blythe will sing the role of the Principessa in Suor Angelica, and will also take on the title role of Gianni Schicchi, a role traditionally sung by a baritone, for an opera first."
Love Stephanie but wut? How does this work? Is she singing it as a mezzo or as an actual baritone at pitch? What does it add or detract to the piece? Wish I could see this out of curiosity.
Royal_Ad6640 t1_j6xff5z wrote
Good question! She is singing the part as a baritone, not up the octave. Amazingly, for years now, she has been crafting that part of her voice and developing resonance down in those lower ranges. Opera is theater, so anyone can play anyone if they have the voice for it!
audible_narrator t1_j6xqm0n wrote
This is the smart move. So many female singers get that surprise wakeup call when the big M shows up and basically gives a big middle finger to your vocal cords. And they don't plan for it. I've heard some folks sing far too past their sell by date with huge wobbles you can drive a truck through.
Blythe has sung Handel for ages, which really opens that lower register.
a_ham_sandvich t1_j6z4s0o wrote
The big M being the discovery you're now a mezzo and no longer a soprano, right? :P
audible_narrator t1_j6z7nm0 wrote
ding ding ding. And those of us who were mezzo are now ready to sing Figaro or Germont. ;)
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