Deborah Voigt and Natalie Dessay, currently co-starring in the Met’s Ariadne auf Naxos, are the greatest French-American joint venture since The Battle of Yorktown. Add Susanne Mentzer, the mezzo who has owned the Composer since the Met’s current production was unveiled in 1993, and you’ve got one hot ticket with three hot ladies.
The NYC Opera Fanatic recently sat down with these three divas to ask them if they had any advice for up-and-coming opera singers:
ND:You can sing your little heart out, ’til they call the cops out
SM: Sing all the notes ’til you’re panned
DV: But you gotta get a gimmick if you wanna get a hand.
ND: You can sacrifice your voicebox, workin’ in those nice frocks
SM: Singin ‘ recitals ’til you’re dead
DV: Kids you gotta get a gimmick if you wanna get ahead.
ND: You can AH, you can AH, you can AH AH AH, still they won’t reply. So I AH, and I AH, and I AH AH AH, but I do it way up high. Once all I heard was nyet-ah, now I’m Zerbinetta -with my Dessay-lution in song. You gotta have a gimmick, if you wanna sing along.
SM: She can AH, she can AH, she can AH AH AH. But she ain’t Susanne. Me I AH and I AH and I AH AH AH , but I do it as a man! I am gender-bending, yes, my star’s ascending– plus I’m wearin’ trousers all day. Cause if you got a gimmick, Fanatic boy you make it pay!
DV: All them AH, and them AH, and them AH AH AH. Ain’t gonna buy a house. Me I AH, and I AH, and I AH AH AH, but I do it all in Strauss. Empress Debbie Voigt is so much more adroit then all them other divas because –You gotta get a gimmick if you wanna get applause.
ND/SM/DV: Sing something special, anything that’s fresh’ll make you a big opera star. You’re more than just a mimic when you got a gimmick — Take a look how different we are.
ND: If you sing the high notes, cash comes out of your throat
SM: If you’re gender neutral, then the Met will suit ya
DV: If you sing auf Naxos, then you’ll be your own boss
ND/SM/DV: Get yourself a gimmick and you, too, Can be a star!
Well put, ladies….