Fabulous Friday: "Giusto ciel!"

I've been fixated on Adriana Lecouvreur lately. It's a campy opera from 1902 by Francesco Cilea, a fictional story about an actual French actress from the 18th century named Adrienne Lecouvreur. It's adapted from a play written for Sarah Bernhardt. Lots of Bernhardt vehicles were ready-made for operas: all of the drama and diva posturing is built in, just add music and stir.

I'll give you two performances of the high point of the opera. Adriana has been invited to a party hosted by her rival, the Princess de Bouillon. The Principessa asks Adriana if she would perform a monologue from Ariana Abandoned - - oh, that girl throws shade. Adriana says, "I'd prefer to do a monologue from Phaedra." The monologue starts with Phaedra talking about her husband, her stepson, etc but then you realize why she chose this piece because it ends with Phaedra saying, "I am not like those shameless women who delight in betrayal, whose icy features will never blush." And with that she actually POINTS at the Principessa! Whoa. Don't pick a fight with that lady.

Here's Anna Netrebko having a diva trip in the recent Met production:

Here's my favorite performance of this scena, by the amazing Turkish soprano Leyla Gencer, sometimes referred to as "the poor man's Callas." She was to Maria Callas as Dietrich was to Garbo. That old routine. Netrebko definitely delivers the drama, knows how to work her gown, and spins about with great relish, but I have the feeling that she was carefully coached in all of this, especially in her declamation. Gencer was born playing Adriana. I bet she came out of the womb saying, "Giusto ciel..."