As Covent Garden have so far managed to conjure up a different Hélène for each performance of Les vêpres siciliennes, it's anyone's guess who'll be lacing up their bodice on 4 November, the date of the live HD broadcast.
You are therefore invited to estimate the candidates' chances by the time-honoured means of a poll. Remember, the question is who do you think will show up, not who would you like to see:
The ROH website says it's Poplavskaya for the rest of the run, but Stanisci singing and Popsy acting might be the best of the lot, of all possible options.
Posted by: PetetheCheat | 25 October 2013 at 11:18 PM
I voted for Hartounian......as Katherine Jenkins wasn't one of your options
Posted by: Faye | 25 October 2013 at 11:24 PM
It will probably be Popsy, singing and acting,for the HD, as long as she shows improvement in the two performances before then. She is considered the most telegenic of the three and she looks good in costume.
Posted by: PetetheCheat | 25 October 2013 at 11:39 PM
I booked expecting Popsy for the 7th (not by choice - but there are worse). I Expect she may make the 4th for the cameras. However, by the end of the run, Angela Meade should be added to the list.
Posted by: Mark Baker | 26 October 2013 at 01:21 AM
That's a hilarious picture.Parterre Box had better look to its laurels.
Posted by: grimoaldo | 26 October 2013 at 03:49 AM
I suspect it will be Popsy whatever the state of her voice. I can't really imagine any sort of double act for cinema though - you can get away with that in-house but not really on the big screen.
Posted by: Siggy | 26 October 2013 at 11:39 AM
I completely agree with you. I’ll be in ROH the 7th, and I also vote for Angela Meade to sing that day.
Posted by: AlberTTQT | 26 October 2013 at 12:21 PM
I thought the original picture was of Haroutounian cradling Domingo.
Posted by: manou | 26 October 2013 at 12:35 PM
Lina Lamont as Helene with Kathy Selden singing from behind a curtain.
Posted by: operagooner | 26 October 2013 at 01:02 PM
Well, they could dub her voice afterwards, when she has recovered somewhat and is in better voice.
Posted by: PetetheCheat | 26 October 2013 at 02:44 PM
For DVD yes but not for a live cinema broadcast
Posted by: Siggy | 26 October 2013 at 08:17 PM
Alex Penda it is: http://parterre.com/2013/10/27/courage-du-courage/
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Intermezzo replies - Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Even if she has been brought in as a sub, as her tweet hints -
https://twitter.com/alexpenda/status/394440159573602304 - she may be another short-term replacement like Stanisci.The live broadcast is a week away, by which time Haroutounian (or even Poplavskaya) may be up to it.
Posted by: Michael | 27 October 2013 at 02:16 PM
Alex Penda has tweeted to say she's going to London. ("what I agreed to do is nothing else but crazy!")
She's previously sung Hélène in Naples. Is this our fourth soprano in four performances?
Posted by: Guy Craft | 27 October 2013 at 02:56 PM
OK, so that was more than a bit of wishful thinking... I love her, and I would LOVE to see her in the broadcast. So my fingers, at least, are firmly crossed.
Posted by: Michael | 27 October 2013 at 03:03 PM
Cameras are supposed to be in the house on 29th And 4th although they could always change that to 1st and 4th if they're holding out for Popsy or Lianna.
So will Penda be singing from the side or be on stage? "Nothing else but crazy" could be either!
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Intermezzo replies - Leaping ahead a bit there. She could have been brought in as an understudy only.
Posted by: Siggy | 27 October 2013 at 05:47 PM
Changing filming nights would depend on being able to reseat people who have already bought camera position seats ?
(Quality photoshopping as ever, IM !)
Posted by: manxmaid | 27 October 2013 at 07:42 PM
Well, we're getting Ms Penda in Santa Fe as Leonora in "Fidelio" next summer, so I'd be happy to have her sing on 4th when I have a ticket!
Posted by: John from Santa Fe, New Mexico | 28 October 2013 at 08:53 AM
A PS:
I think that Penda should be added to the voting list by name, so she can come out of "TBA" group!
With everything up for grabs, as they say, why not?
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Intermezzo replies - She is a cover for the other three, so the likelihood of her singing is minimal.
Posted by: John from Santa Fe, New Mexico | 28 October 2013 at 08:55 AM
It's Haroutounian for the rest of the run, apparently. If she doesn't get sick again. I won't be surprised if she is struck down by polonium poisoning with an umbrella injector-gun! :)
Posted by: Nikolaus Vogel | 28 October 2013 at 06:21 PM
Poplavskaya is out.
Posted by: PetetheCheat | 28 October 2013 at 06:24 PM