Una voce fra un po’… (Mezzo in Moscow. Muscle included.)
[Photo Credit: Nöjes Bladet]
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Swedish mezzo Malena Ernman blazed through the semifinals of the Eurovision Song Contest (no kidding, with those scales!) and will be showing off her vocal abilities, energizing performance skills and shapely deltoids in the big finale on Saturday.
That said: thank you, Swedish costume department, for the sleeveless costume choice. And for the dancers in the black suits.
The first start numbers have been drawn meanwhile, and it looks like a strong start of the internationally more widely acknowledged singers – the vocally strong trio of Noa (Israel), Patricia Kaas (France) and Malena Ernman (Sweden) are starting as numbers two, three and four.
I expect Ernman to land somewhere in the solid middle when it comes to the final votes (this year, there is a 50% jury voting being taken into account again) – I hope for a spot in the top third, and while I would love to see her win, I don’t know whether the general European ESC audience understands the irresistibility of mezzo sopranos.
And those arms, of course, which is an opinion many of the visitors of this website seem to share:
Meanwhile, in between preparing for “Dido and Aeneas” in Vienna, “La Voix” in Moscow and trying to spend time with her family, Malena Ernman still finds the time to blog about her experience both for the Swedish press and on her revamped bilingual website, which is upfront and personal, with lots of photo and video material. She’s even twittering (in both Swedish and English) in addition – nice pinstripes there to go with the muscle, eh, voice! – and you can join her on facebook.
Despite the strain (she did look understandibly exhausted backstage, but happy enough after making the finale – full photo coverage by Indrek Galetin (EBU) here and here – and can anyone tell me for which country the Queen of the Night is starting?), Ernman continues to come across as down-to-earth, hardworking and approachable, and charming to boot.
I hope that she can take some of the ESC viewers along to follow her into the world of opera, where Ernman has been on the international rise for over a decade, earning rave reviews especially for her portrayal of Baroque repertory.
Good news on that front of all the opera lovers, since (as Ernman blogged on May 6th) the “Dido and Aeneas” production (probably the 2006 premiere) will be out on DVD shortly.
The next thing that has me swooning (except for those arms), however, are her plans for March/April 2010 in Brussels.
One word: Idamante.
(that’s the cute Greek prince falling for a Trojan princess in Mozart’s “Idomeneo”. Lots of mezzo goodness. Happy end. Hot soprano stuff on the side, too, if they don’t cut the third Elettra aria)
*insert delighted fangirly squealing* What can I say? Non ho colpa!
Now I just need to find a conference in Brussels to go to in spring of 2010. That, or apply for a job in the EU administration. I’ll think about that while watching entries 5 through 22 on Saturday night.
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In all that happy lesbian lounging and voting (how often is it that you get a mezzo soprano on regular TV on Saturday night? And sleeveless to boot?), let’s not forget that the situation of the Russian LGBTQ community is anything but idyllic. My thoughts are going out to those brave enough to walk in the continuously prohibited Slavic Pride on Saturday. Let’s hope that the international attention during the ESC will prevent or at least lessen violent outbursts of homophobia and that the Russian LGBTQ community will be accepted as a normal (and visible) part of society one day.
“can anyone tell me for which country the Queen of the Night is starting?”
Two sisters from Armenia, Inga and Anush
@kartaljuzin: thanks! Awesome f3 inspired look!
That’s because I’m from Moscow
Surely will vote for Malena. It’ll be great, if she wins. There’re some strange gossips about a girl singer from UK. As if her first place has already been bought or smth…
@kartaljuzin: the rumors seem to be about the fact that the UK song is by musical-mega-module Lloyd Webber, who would have the means to buy radio airtime anywhere, which is being purported as one of the reasons for the UK entry apparently topping the Russian charts at the moment.
Either way, I’m with Ernman!
Hi Anik & company,
Let me tell you that the interest of opera has dramatically increased here in Sweden since Malena entered this competition. Not a big shock since she sings as a godess and has a really great personality (not to mention beautiful and well built)
I’m specially pleased with the change of the dancers/singers – now all ladies! I think it’s a flirt with us!
I’ll have my hopes up for a decent result for Sweden/Malena on Saturday – unfortunatly I can not really do anything about it since you are not allowed to vote for your own country – so I guess it will be with your help.
Anik any new stories that are aching for release?
@jeannis: great news from Sweden! I hope to see many new opera fans travelling throughout Europe…
I like the dancing ladies, too, even though it killed the final lifting figure (if they had all arms like Ms. E. herself, that wouldn’t be an issue…). And I’ll be voting for Sweden and try to convince everyone else to do the same thing. I mean, which self-respecting opera dyke would NOT would Sweden???
Unfortunately, there are no stories aching for release at the moment, just stories aching to be written!! But since that Ph.D. still isn’t finished they have to wait a little longer
After I file, there should be at least some short story on the horizon again!
speaking of Sweden, ASvOtter has a Diary page in June Gramophone, p. 21. Very sweet and chatty. recommended.
JG
PS No self-respecting US tv channel would pay attention to Eurovision, especially if an opera singer is in the finals. Bunch of yahoos – i’ll check it out here after it’s all over.
Anik said: My thoughts are going out to those brave enough to walk in the continuously prohibited Slavic Pride on Saturday. Let’s hope that the international attention during the ESC will prevent or at least lessen violent outbursts of homophobia and that the Russian LGBTQ community will be accepted as a normal (and visible) part of society one day.
Unfortunately, : La policía rusa ha detenido hoy en Moscú a 25 personas que tenían previsto celebrar una marcha gay no autorizada coincidiendo con la final de Eurovisión, según una fuente policial. Entre las 25 personas detenidas figuran dos de los organizadores de la marcha, Nikolái Alexéyev y Nikolái Bayev. Representantes de los colectivos homosexuales siguen llegando a las inmediaciones del mirador situado junto a la Universidad Estatal de Moscú, uno de los siete rascacielos estalinistas de la capital, y los agentes continúan con las detenciones… link
Thanks Anik and Samantha for a timely reminder that the battle for equality is far from over for many of the queer family around the world. It’s all too easy to forget here in the West that the (relative) freedoms we take for granted are still denied many queers around the world. Sadly coming out is still hard for many in the West (just look at the world of opera for one!!) but at least here it’s a matter of personal status, perceptions of impact on work etc., and not a matter of life and death, imprisonment, and torture. And thanks for another reminder as to why it’s so important to support Pride marches around the world however we (gay, straight and all points on between) can.
…with the oppression still strong in some parts of Eastern Europe, it’s nice to know that both the ESC winner (Rybak) criticized the local anti-gay attitude shortly after his win, and that Ernman took a clear pro-gay stance even before the show. At least the Baltic Pride took place in the end, cordoned off in a park as it may be, but at least the ban was lifted.