At Glyndebourne, de Niese Greeted by Critical Backlash
by Zoe Strimpel
Thu, 22 May 2008 at 5:13 PM
Danielle de Niese, the Australian-born, Los Angeles-raised opera star, was unheard of in Britain until her 2005 turn as Cleopatra in David McVicar's spellbinding production of Handel's "Giulio Cesare" at Glyndebourne. Who on earth was this absolutely gorgeous, Eva Longoria look-alike who could sing and dance and seduce in equal measure? Had classical music ever known her like before? Perhaps not. Ms. de Niese then did what we all love best: She became a gossip sensation when it transpired she'd begun an affair — now a relationship — with Gus Christie, the chairman of the festival.
Then off she went, whirling around the world with her super soprano. Finally, three years on, she was back at Glyndebourne, and the suspense was palpable. Would she enrapture us again? Has she improved? Of course, many see "Guilio Cesare" as superior to Monteverdi's "L'incoronazione di Poppea," the show this year (staged by Robert Carsen) in which she holds the title role.
Opening night sold out long ago (what credit crunch?), but Ms. de Niese's first week has just drawn to an ambivalent close. Indeed, the reaction has been muted in comparison to the press buildup; one would be forgiven for thinking that our favorite part of Danielle de Niese operas is the excuse for ogling a striking woman on our news pages. It was color spreads all the way in the weeks before Glyndebourne opened. Now, critics — who maintain a lofty distance from editorial sexy-woman-mongering — have their say, and for some, Ms. de Niese does not stack up.
Rupert Christiansen writes in the Telegraph: "Glamourpuss Danielle de Niese looks a million dollars as Poppea, but sings like, hmmm, ten thousand. It's a grimly compelling production, which leaves a disturbingly sour taste the morning after." The Times of London's Geoff Brown talks about "the thumping boots of Carsen's production" which "also trample the characterisations." And what of the magical Danielle? "It's the Carsen overkill that helps to slay the Poppea of Danielle de Niese," Brown writes.
Oh, dear. One feels for Ms. de Niese: The expectations heaped upon her because she's beautiful were more than anybody could live up to. Probably.
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