News & Blog
October 30, 1984: Linda Ronstadt’s (grand) opera debut
Date: 10/30/2010 By Diane Rhodes Bergman, APR
According to NoiseAddicts.com, October 30, 1984 will mark the 26th anniversary of 80's pop-singer Linda Ronstadt's operatic debut – although, like many facts, that is debatable. Late October did mark her debut performance as Mimi in the New York Shakespeare Festival's production of ''La Boh eme," but Ronstadt had previously performed in operettas.
From what we can tell, this Mimi was Ronstadt's only foray into the world of the undebatable "real" opera world. We weren't there and so don't want to offer an opinion about her performance, but she did fail to impress Frank Rich of The New York Times (read the review here).
Regardless of whether her performance was a hit or not, we think she deserves credit for being a diverse performer and willing to take risks. We can't think of another singer who has professionally explored rock, country, folk-rock, pop, punk-rock, standard big-band ballads, operetta and opera. (Source: Saturday Review, December 1984)
Here's a clip of her as Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, where she co-stared with Kevin Kline.
Date: 10/30/2010 By Diane Rhodes Bergman, APR
According to NoiseAddicts.com, October 30, 1984 will mark the 26th anniversary of 80's pop-singer Linda Ronstadt's operatic debut – although, like many facts, that is debatable. Late October did mark her debut performance as Mimi in the New York Shakespeare Festival's production of ''La Boh eme," but Ronstadt had previously performed in operettas.
From what we can tell, this Mimi was Ronstadt's only foray into the world of the undebatable "real" opera world. We weren't there and so don't want to offer an opinion about her performance, but she did fail to impress Frank Rich of The New York Times (read the review here).
Regardless of whether her performance was a hit or not, we think she deserves credit for being a diverse performer and willing to take risks. We can't think of another singer who has professionally explored rock, country, folk-rock, pop, punk-rock, standard big-band ballads, operetta and opera. (Source: Saturday Review, December 1984)
Here's a clip of her as Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, where she co-stared with Kevin Kline.
