USA: "New Pavarotti', Roberto Alagna, makes his American debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York

Record ID: 172197

  • Title: USA: "New Pavarotti', Roberto Alagna, makes his American debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York
  • Date: 8th April 1996
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (APRIL 8, 1996) (REUTERS) ALAGNA SAYING IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME, I HAVE TENSION AND PRESSURE, I DON'T NEED THIS. I HAVE A HARD JOB AND IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO HAVE THIS PRESSURE. (ENGLISH)
  • Embargoed: 23rd April 1996 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEW YORK, UNITED STATES AND FILE
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA2ZHPU1UZ11UEQ9SU93JQU40IR
  • Story Text: Roberto Alagna, the young French opera tenor being hailed by some critics as "the next Pavarotti," made his American debut on Wednesday (April 10) at the Metropolitan (Met) Opera in New York, in Puccini's "La Boheme." The excitement about Alagna's debut at the Met is extraordinary, even by the emotional standards of opera.
    The renowned "Three Tenors" -- Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, and Jose Carreras -- are all middle aged and entering the final stages of their careers.
    Pavarotti, perhaps the world's most popular lyric tenor, is now 60 years old and that raises an inevitable question: who will sing his roles -- and Domingo's roles and Carreras's -- after the "Three Tenors" retire ? For many fans, the answer is Alagna. Alagna is only 32, and -- unlike the venerable "Three Tenors"
    -- Hollywood handsome and slim.
    Critics say his voice has a lush beauty like Pavarotti's and they glory in the fact that it is, indeed, a young voice.
    Alagna's personal life only burnishes his image. He is planning to marry an acclaimed young soprano -- Angela Gheorgiu of Rumania.
    They perform together frequently and they are co-starring as the young lovers Rodolfo and Mimi in the Met's production of "La Boheme." Alagna was widowed in 1994.
    Alagna said the excitement and publicity attending his New York debut -- and his career, overall -- is creating unnecessary tension and pressure. He dislikes being called Pavarotti's successor.
    Alagna points out Pavarotti is still very much a star and he is grateful for the tenor's encouragement.
    Alagna's career was launched in the late 1980's after winning the Pavarotti international vocal competition. From there, Alagna, who said he taught himself to sing simply by listening to recordings, was on his way to stardom. Despite his enormous success, Alagna said that, compared to the "Three Tenors," he is, still, just "a little tenor." Alagna and Gheorgiu say being a couple in no way hinders their work. Alagna said it's a "privilege" to work with his fiance and Gheorgiu said, "it's ideal." Alagna said that working with Gheorgiu is utterly natural, comparing their relationship, laughingly, to a bicycle -- saying it's not possible to ride a bicycle with just one wheel.
    "When you have two (wheels) it's better, the same for us," he laughed.
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