no more Tosca for Karita Mattila - ever

Intermezzo learns that Karita Mattila has abandoned the role of Tosca permanently for artistic reasons.

Recent performances in New York and Munich suggested the part wasn't a great match for her talents, so this sounds to me like a courageous and sensible decision, the sort that more singers should have the guts to make.

The news means that she's dropping out of the Royal Opera House's production next June, to be replaced by Martina Serafin (who was scheduled to sing two performances anyway).

Ms Mattila stated, “I very much regret cancelling performances with The Royal Opera and Maestro Pappano, and disappointing audiences at Covent Garden, but this is an artistic decision that is right for me. I look forward to performing with The Royal Opera in the future.” 

She will of course be back in London next month to sing Strauss's Vier letzte Lieder with the Berlin Philharmonic at the Proms, followed by a rare Wigmore Hall recital.

Here she is singing Tosca in Munich last month:

Comments

[Lhirsch]

The only diva she should be singing is Emilia Marty, which she is about to do in San Francisco!

[manou]

This is absolutely the right decision - judging by the Tosca HD transmission from New York (recently seen again on Sky Arts), this is simply NOT a role for her. She also made a hash of another Puccini heroine in her Manon Lescaut, also seen transmitted live from the Met. I am sure her considerable talents will be put to better use elsewhere, and I applaud her intelligence and her lucidity in making this choice. Others please copy.

[Drbarbarabaker]

Patricia Racette should abandon Marguerite forever as well.

[Peter Wycliffe-Jones]

Disappointing performance of the Strauss Four Last Songs at Promenade Concert on 4.9.10. Virtually inaudible where I was sitting and not much better on the BBC TV recording. Adoration of audience and Sir Simon Rattle suspiciously over the top.