Antoinette Halloran Appreciation Society

Le dirò con due parole:

Antoinette Matters.

Perhaps a few more words. I didn't mean to be a sappy cliché, I just wanted to see Antoinette's Mimi as soon as possible, so I booked for the next performance, which happened to be Valentine's Day. Even worse, I cried. But that wasn't the opera. It was Antoinette. She sang her first note through the door and — this is not artistic license — my jaw actually dropped. And I was a tearstained mess. I had crazily high expectations for her but evidently they weren't high enough. I don't know what else to say. She was incredible. How anyone could tear their eyes or ears from her I don't know, I certainly couldn't. Her "Si, mi chiamano Mimi" had me totally entranced. Early on, I thought — I want to get in as quick as I can with the rapturous applause once she's done. But by the time she finished I was hanging on her every note, oblivious to the world around, and it took somebody else's in-quick applause to bring me back to reality. That aria does not do that to me. I've seen three casts in this production and she's one of the few singers who have remembered that it's a contemporary setting and thus moved and behaved accordingly. No out of place nineteenth century gestures. And the woman can sing. She was sublime. This voice was as much a physical experience as an aural one, it enveloped me, saturated me. I'll remember this. Halfway through her aria, I had the terrifying thought that I might actually have to see it a third time. Were it cheaper, I probably would. I might anyway.

Except for a couple of drawbacks. One, it's Bohème, and I still don't like it. Two, Creepiest Rodolfo Ever. The most beautiful thing about his "Che gelida manina" was the back of Antoinette's head as he sang it to her. Otherwise it just looked like some kind of maniacal raving (Your tiny hand is frozen...in a jar in my underground laboratory). He seemed to have no concept of Rodolfo as a person; or if he did, a physical inability to express that personality. He was stiff, leering and totally charmless; his singing likewise, really. I found myself suddenly reconceiving the relationship — Mimi as the victim of a controlling, manipulative, nasty Rodolfo, who steals her key and has her trapped by the time she sings "Obbedisco, signor". It was more Bluebeard than Bohème. I wanted to stage an intervention to get her away from that man. It is to Antoinette's infinite credit that she responded so convincingly, with such gorgeousness and sincerity. She transcended him, and was believable enough for the both of them.

To my knowledge she's singing nothing else in Sydney this year. The sound you hear is my heart breaking.

Comments

[leonora]

I am just astounded by your ravings about Antoinette. I saw her as Butterfly and she left me cold, the acting was a mess, the voice was sreamy - that was about 2 years ago. I listened to her new Puccini CD with the expectation that she must have improved but no, to my astonishment, she has not - at least not in the vocal department. The voice becomes unsupported ever so often, the Italian is still not up to standard, the legato is missing, the top is spread., the middle is not placed well enough......
She may be a better than usual operatic actress but if she is one of the great new sopranos Australia has to offer,.....there is little hop of a new golden age.

[Sarah]

Well that's the nature of the operatic beast, isn't it. Two people listen to the same singing and hear wildly different things. De gustibus etc. I think she's fabulous.

[Rodney pearce]

Antoinette Halloran was incredible as Mimi, quite frankly there wasn't a dry in the house when she performed her final death scene. She owned the stage all night and was so involved in every moment, taking us on a journey that transcends theater, and draws you into the drama, a rare experience for and Opera audience. She sang like a Goddess!
I have recently downloaded the Puccini Romance CD from Itunes and can I say ....That's was the reason I bought tickets to see Boheme. The singing was beautiful. Antoinette is colorful and expressive as Mimi and Butterfly, Passionate as Tosca.Continued in next post.........

[Sarah]

Hear hear!

[Rodney Pearce]

Antoinette Halloran embodies all the great traits of the new generation of Opera Singer.To have someone Post up comments referring to Halloran's Singing as not having legato, Unsupported, and the Top being Spread...I find astonishing. Can I just say Ms Noble, you Join the League of "Professional Amatuers" that comment on Opera singers, but don't actually know! I'm Sure Miss Noble has a copy of the Groves Dictionary of Music terminology which she refers to for her musical Jargon! But thats as far as her experience goes!
To say Antoinette voice is spread at the top
is completely incorrect! She has a bright and focussed top register. Any professional who knows anything about singing would know that. And these people (MS NOBLE) that parade as "people in the Know" who actually don't know, do damage! As for the rest of the Crit made by Ms Noble....I can't be bothered writing an essay for a philistine! Needless to say, she is not correct.
I am not saying Antoinette Halloran is perfect by any means, no one in the real world of opera is!But she is one of the best up-and-coming Sopranos we have. This is simply not fair! As a general request to these sort of commentators ...If you don't like what someone does, just say "not my taste" but don't talk about technical things you know nothing about. If you for example like opera, you listen to opera CDs on weekends (maybe you had lessons for 6mth and had aspirations of being a singer) these do not qualify you to make commentaries on vocal technique. The critics are never asked what formal training they had! And yet they write with the conviction of scholars and seasoned professoinals! I have read too many crits that are written by people with no idea, who are not qualified to make such comments! If you don't like it! just keep it simple and honest! Don't try and sound adept in a discpline that takes years to master! Because people like you, who like opera,but don't know! Read it and believe it!
I believe Antoinette is very gifted, this talent needs support! As does all talent does! Brava Antoinette! I will be watching your career closely!

[james]

Bravo Rodney!
Brava Antoinette. can't wait to see Boheme!

[Sarah]

I'm not sure anyone quite deserved that outburst, Mr Pearce, however you've every right to make it. But just to keep everything clear, the criticism which caused your anger came from a comment left by somebody else on my original post. What I wrote about Antoinette was nothing but praise, and the words about her top, middle, legato etc. were not mine.

Sarah Noble.

[marg]

I have to say I am with Sarah and Rodney on this.
Leonora sounds like a fat failed soprano who lives alone with a fridge full of lean cuisine and ten cats.
Ooooh. Sorry. That was a bit personal....think twice before bagging artists like you do Leonora. They are trying to please you and don't deserve such vehement disdain.

[Rodney Pearce]

I formally appologise to Sarah Noble, as I
completely agreed with her point of view regarding Antoinette Halloran. A simple error! Actually the email was aimed at Leonora...I will be happy to repost the whole thing with Leonora's name in the appropriate sections. If that would make you happy Sarah. I may no nothing about websites and computers! But I know about music and stand by my point of view regarding my objection to Leonora's Blog.However, the so called outburst's I have made paled in comparison to Marg's feisty comments!
That sort of blog - I think is going to far.....However! I laughed for about 10 min after reading it!

[Anonymous]

I loved the Opera. Thanks Antoinette and cast!
I don't normally go and I'm not a specialist by any means. But my Partner and I thought you were terrific. We thought All the voices were amazing, but Antoinette was my favorite, because I believed her. To scared to put my name up. As for the CD, we will have a look on Itunes.

[Anonymous]

I loved the Opera. Thanks Antoinette and cast!
I don't normally go and I'm not a specialist by any means. But my Partner and I thought you were terrific. We thought All the voices were amazing, but Antoinette was my favorite, because I believed her. To scared to put my name up. As for the CD, we will have a look on Itunes.

[Rodney Pearce]

Why has someone posted under my name?
My Final post was an Apology to Sarah! Its strange.... there is my name1 then Anonymous with the same Blog!

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry,
I thought I had to respond to one of the blogs already posted, so I put your name in Mr Pearce. Then I realized that it appeared as though it had come from you.So I reposted! My apologies no harm intended. This site is confusing... I'm not the only one who has made a mistake today am I Mr Pearce!

[Rodney Pearce]

Touche Anonymous! HA HA

[David]

I have just finished listening to the new Puccini Romance CD and found it to be a mixture of likes and dislikes for me.

I thought La Spina was a far better prospect in Tosca than in Boheme. I found his tone and colour far more expressive and wide-ranging in Tosca then in Boheme were it struck me as rather bland and lacking in dramatic expression.

As for MS Halloran she is delightful of this there is no doubt. I had some reservations though with her Butterfly which I found just marginally lacking in being able to ride above the heavy orchestration. Does her voice have enough heft to do this role justice on stage over a very, very long sing? I'm just not sure. In comparison say to Cheryl Barker I just do not think she cuts it for this role.

Her Tosca was fabulous and I would love to see her do this on stage over Butterfly. For this role she is as good as Ms Barker and of all the excerpts on this disc, this is where she really shines!!!

[sally]

Ah! You will get a chance to find out re her ability to cut over the orchestra in Butterfly. I have heard a rumor that she is going to be singing it in the Sydney summer season at the Opera House next year! I am sure she will cut the mustard - or wasabi!

[Big Angus]

La Hallo, as we we like to call her, has been an underutilised force for years and I am thrilled that her firm, sexy excitement is finally getting the attention it deserves. She is the complete package and keeps everyone happy. Afficianodo's can enjoy the beauty and heft of her voice and her stylish musicianship. Newcomers will learn how exciting that is after being drawn in by beauty and consistently convincing acting. Hopefully much more to come.