The Well-Tempered Ear

Opera news: Placido wins big prize; famed opera couple to go solo

By Jacob Stockinger

This week saw two news item sure to interest opera fans – should I say opera fanatics – who are known for s following the personal lives of singers as much as they follow their careers and roles.

First: Legendary Spanish tenor Placido Domingo (below right)  won the biggest prize in classical music this week: a $1 million prize endowed by the legendary Swedish soprano Birgit Nilsson.

Here’s a link to a news story:

http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=345622&CategoryId=13003

Second, the once-upon-a-time dream opera couple of Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna (below, singing at the Nobel Prize ceremony) are headed for Splitsville with a stop, before or after, in Divorce Court:

Here’s a link to the story:

http://blog.taragana.com/e/2009/10/13/opera-low-note-soprano-angela-gheorghiu-files-for-divorce-from-tenor-roberto-alagna-41765/

Funny how so many opera singers live opera lives where everything seems grand and larger-than-life and deeply dramatic.

Anything you care to comment about concerning either item?

The Ear wants to hear.