From the Met: 10.02.14 - Dvorak's Rusalka

[Richard Tarleton]

Regarding Renee Fleming, I feel that she has wasted her voice on unsuitable roles. She could have been the outstanding Isolde of our time, but I believe that bad reviews of performances as Eva Pogner turned her off Wagner and she has concentrated on roles too light for her voice.

Greetings, Paul! She has made a few Strauss roles her own, no? (not to mention songs). In interviews she has also cited work-life balance issues for some of the choices she has made - divorce, bringing up daughters etc... A foray into bel canto was savaged by Hugh Canning, I seem to remember.

PS Whatever happened to Ben Heppner? I would have thought he'd have a good few years at the top yet!

He seems to have had some health issues - some of us, me included, had the misfortune to witness his Tristan at the ROH, where he packed up altogether in Act 3. A shame, a glorious voice - Aeneas, Walter.....