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PEOPLE & ARTS Tuesday 27 augusT 2019
Cecilia Bartoli talks, again, of US return

By MIKE SILVERMAN Salzburg's 1,500-seat Haus
Associated Press fur Mozart, accompanied
SALZBURG, Austria (AP) — by Les Musiciens du Prince-
There was a time a genera- Monaco — an orchestra
tion ago when Cecilia Bar- she founded — her every
toli's many U.S. fans could utterance as Alcina came
count on seeing her regu- through with riveting clarity.
larly in opera or in concert. But she worries that might
The Italian mezzo-soprano not be the case in a big-
noted for her warm sound, ger house with a bigger or-
dramatic intensity and daz- chestra.
zling coloratura agility had "Mostly when you sing in
shot to fame in the early the opera house you have
1990s while still in her 20s on this wall of sound in front of
the strength of best-selling you and the only thing is to
recordings of Rossini and go and sing as loud as you
Mozart. Her every appear- can, and this is not mak-
ance just about guaran- ing music," she said. "It's 80
teed a sellout. against one, and you will
But that was then. She last never win."
sang at the Metropolitan Another obstacle to an ex-
Opera in 1998, hasn't been tended U.S. visit might be
seen at Carnegie Hall since finding time. Beyond keep-
2009, canceled a West This photo provided by Salzburg Festival shows Cecilia Bartoli from the 2019 Salzburg Festival's ing a full schedule of per-
Coast concert tour in 2015 production of the opera "Alcina" in Salzburg, Austria. formances and recordings
and has stayed mostly in Associated Press and nurturing an orchestra,
Europe, giving rise only to Bartoli lends her name to
occasional rumors of an im- intention of retiring anytime times, but so far to no avail. lia and Asia, and given the a foundation dedicated
minent return. soon. We would be very happy modest size of her voice, to bringing classical music
"You're right, it's time, it's Bartoli said she has had were she to return." the reason may have as to a wider audience, re-
time," Bartoli said in an in- "discussions" with both the Her motives for staying much to do with concerns searches neglected com-
terview earlier this month Met and Carnegie Hall. "It away are difficult to pin about finding the right rep- posers and singers of earlier
in Salzburg, where she was would be nice to come for down. Bartoli, who lives in ertory and venue for a re- eras, and runs Salzburg's
appearing in the title role of a longer period than just a Zurich, Switzerland, and turn. annual Whitsun Festival.
Handel's "Alcina." concert and then leave," Rome with her husband, Bartoli has specialized in That last assignment is a
"I have to come back be- she said wistfully. "So we'll cites the fact that "I don't baroque and bel canto special point of pride for
fore I go to pension." she see." like to fly" and speaks of the works from the 18th- and Bartoli. "I never thought in
added with her infectious As for the Met, general difficulty of making an At- early 19th-centuries and my life to be able to do
laugh, making clear that manager Peter Gelb said lantic crossing by ship dur- favors the use of period in- something like that," she
at age 53 and still in prime the company "has invit- ing the U.S. opera season. struments rather than the said. "To make a festival, to
vocal form that she has no ed Ms. Bartoli back many But she has flown to Austra- fuller modern orchestra. In organize, to invite artists."q

Elliott, Swift set to perform at MTV Video Music Awards

By MESFIN FEKADU kicks off at 8 p.m. Taylor Guy," Lil Nas X and Billy Ray
Associated Press Swift, who released her Cyrus' "Old Town Road," 21
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — 2019 is new album, "Lover," last Fri- Savage and J. Cole's "A
the year of Missy Elliott: The day, will also hit the stage. Lot," and Jonas Brothers'
rap icon became the first Other performers include "Sucker."
female rapper inducted Lizzo, Normani, Bad Bunny, Grande is also up for artist
into the Songwriters Hall of Shawn Mendes, Camila of the year, competing with
Fame earlier this year and Cabello, H.E.R., J Balvin, Lil Cardi B, Shawn Mendes,
she will also earn the Mi- Nas X, Rosalia, Big Sean, Halsey, Jonas Brothers and
chael Jackson Video Van- Ozuna, A$AP Ferg and Jo- Eilish, whose song "Bad
guard Award at Monday's nas Brothers. Megan Thee Guy" recently displaced
MTV Video Music Awards. Stallion, Ava Max and "Old Town Road" from the
Elliott, who has released CNCO will perform during top spot on the Billboard
colorful, eccentric and the pre-show. Hot 100 chart.
groundbreaking music vid- Swift tied with Ariana Lady Gaga and Brad-
eos throughout her career, Grande as the most nomi- ley Cooper's Oscar- and In this Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, file photo, a statue of the MTV
Moon Man appears on the red carpet at the MTV Video Music
will receive the lifetime nated act at the VMAs, Grammy-winning hit "Shal- Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
achievement honor at the including bids for video of low" is competing in two Associated Press
Prudential Center in New- the year. Swift's gay pride categories: song of the
ark, New Jersey. It's the first anthem, "You Need to year and best collabora- Hussle, who posthumously "Higher," his song and video
time MTV have held its an- Calm Down," and Grande's tion. Boy band BTS earned won best male hip-hop art- with DJ Khaled and John
nual awards show in New breezy hit about her break- four nominations, including ist and the Humanitarian Legend.
Jersey. ups, "thank u, next," are a bid in the new best K-pop Award at the BET Awards Comedian and actor Se-
Elliott will also perform live nominated for the top prize category. in June, picked up a nomi- bastian Maniscalco will
during the show, which alongside Billie Eilish's "Bad And late rapper Nipsey nation for best hip-hop for host the VMAs.q