Breaking news

Opera Australia has just announced that Lisa Gasteen has withdrawn from their upcoming production of Fidelio due to an ongoing neck injury. She'll be replaced as Leonora by Nicole Youl.

From the OA press release:

“It is indeed disappointing that Miss Gasteen has had to withdraw from the role of Leonore in Fidelio, as we were very much looking forward to welcoming her back to the Sydney Opera House stage,” said Opera Australia’s Chief Executive, Adrian Collette.

“We are however thrilled that Nicole Youl has accepted our invitation to perform this role at such short notice. Miss Youl has enjoyed great success in several major roles in recent years, including Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly, Mimì in La bohème, Lenora in Il trovatore and earlier this year Santuzza in Cavalleria rusticana,” he said.

Comments

[Robert]

How many people know that – Conjugal Love or Lenora was the original libretto with a French subject adapted by Sonnleithner and was the original source of the 1805 version, but Beethoven changed the work after only three representations in 1806

[jim]

No Lisa Gasteen? Fairly disappointed, I must admit I was so excited to hear her sing it. Cant imagine Nicole Youl singing it as well as Lisa - your thoughts Sarah?

I wonder who the new understudy is? Honestly noone springs to mind as to who could sing it! I can imagine Amelia singing Marzelline but not Leonore.. your thoughts anyone?

[Sarah]

I had assumed Nicole would be Lisa's cover for this role, so in that sense I'm not surprised that she's the replacement. I do think she's a bit on the light side for it, though. But who else do they have? Not many dramatic sopranos among the ensemble and associate artists. There is, however, Anke Hoeppner, who is singing it in Queensland this year. Personally I think I'd rather hear her than Nicole. But that OQ Fidelio conflicts directly with OA's (there's even one night when both companies will be performing it simultaneously) so she's out of the question.

As to who Nicole's cover might be, though, that's anybody's guess.

[david]

and yet Christa Ludwig's famed and wonderful assumption of the role of Leonore does show that a non-dramatic soprano can do the role full and total justice (see link below)!! I have a sneaky feeling that Nicole Youl may be a surprise in this role!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEdHa4AemLI

[Sarah]

This is very true. And there's the gorgeous Gundula Janowitz, who sang both Marzelline and Leonore.
I would love for Nicole to be a surprise as Leonore. I've yet to be blown away by her, but it would be great if that changed.

[michael]

Elizabeth Soderstrom (a Lyric soprano) surprised everybody in the 1980s when she sang the Beethoven Leonore. Nicole sang the Trovatore Leonore quite early in her her career and covered the Forza Leonore (and sang it at least once as well). If she can manage roles that Fidelio should be OK for her.

[Sarah]

She sang the Trovatore Leonora back in 2007 too, and lately we've seen her here as Amelia in Ballo and Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana. And of course there was Butterfly in Melbourne. All of which, I agree, is repertoire not out of keeping with the Beethoven Leonore - but in those roles, nevertheless (though I can't speak to the Butterfly), she has seemed to me a bit on the light side, hence my concern re: Fidelio.

[Ian Mackenzie]

I am a BIG fan of Nicole Youl. Her Tosca and Amelia in Un Ballo en maschera were spine tingling to me. I think she is the best lyrico spinto OA has had since Elizabeth Fretwell.

I do wish they would schedul more big verdi for her (a new Forza del Destino would be a kick !)

Ian mackenzie