This has nothing to do with books, but I am posting about it anyway as it is very much on my mind.
My favourite singer – an opera singer – is the Romanian born Nelly Miricioiu. She suffered terrible things in Romania before escaping to Britain, and through the Barefoot Book of Stories from the Opera, we have become great friends. Indeed for the revised edition, Nelly added an endorsement, along with Placido Domingo. In fact Nelly has sung very few of the light-hearted parts in the collection, being a dramatic-coloratura soprano. She did once sing the Queen of Night from the Magic Flute though. Indeed it was her debut role.
One of Nelly Miricioiu’s finest roles – one she has sung over 350 times – is that of the Lady of the Camellias, or Violetta Valery in Verdi’s immortal opera La Traviata.
It’s not a story you will find in the book – it’s too much of a romantic tragedy for young children. It is a role I have always longed to hear her sing since I first heard her (as Musetta in La Boheme) in 1985. Alas Covent Garden ignored her throughout the 1980s when she sang it with glory all over Europe and America. Her only London performances of the role were with the English National Opera in 1984. She made her British debut in the role in 1981 with Scottish Opera in Glasgow and her last performances were in 1994 for the Bath opera, as a (luxurious) guest singer.
Her stage partners around the world have included Jose Carreras, Alfredo Kraus and Roberto Alagna. Her glamour and integrity as well as her brilliant technique make her unusually well equipped for the role. And yet Covent Garden’s elderly Visconti production, though often revived, ususally starred her compatriot Ileana Cotrubas. When it was finally replaced the new staging was given to Angela Gheorghiu – another Romanian! Nelly somehow got overlooked between these two singers, and it was most definitely Covent Garden’s loss. I find it a great mystery that she never achieved the fame that was her due. But then she never sought publicity or played that game. She simply got on with giving superb performances in the theatre, and studying ever more deeply the bel canto techniques of singing.
Many times I dreamed of travelling abroad to hear her sing the role: in Verona, Monte Carlo, Washington, San Franciso, Paris, Frankfurt…but I could never afford to do so. Latterly I have been overjoyed to find recordings of some live performances. They confirm what I imagined: she is a superb Violetta. All the reviews in all the music journals of the time said the same.
And now – suddenly, unexpectedly – she has decided to return to the role one last time, for a concert performance with her beloved Chelsea Opera Group at London’s Southbank. It is a brave thing to do for Nelly is now in her 50s. And yet her well preserved voice and her life-time of knowledge will I am sure reap huge rewards with a role easily dismissed as over-popular. Sutherland recorded her second Traviata at 55, and many singers have approached the role in their maturity. Last summer Renee Fleming had a big success at Covent Garden in the role at 51.
And so – my ticket is booked – and at long last my dream is set to come true. I will finally hear Nelly in the role that she was born to sing.
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