Duets for two sopranos

e***@tmocc.com

2017-09-19 19:09:58 UTC

I am putting together a recital for a lyric and a spinto. We would like
one of the segments of the recital to be opera duets for two sopranos. Most
of my repertoire knowledge is in art song not opera. Can any of you help
me? I need suggestions!

Not too long ago I asked a similar question on behalf of a soprano friend
planning a similar recital, and I got several answers. Although I
appreciated the suggestions, nearly all of them involved mezzos, and none
of them turned out to be useful to me.
My friends are now planning to perform the Arabella duet, which someone
already mentioned here, and the Norma-Adalgisa duet from Norma. I don't
know Arabella at all, but my friends were already planning that one. The
Norma duet is often performed by soprano and mezzo, but it lends itself to
soprano-soprano better than most of the soprano-mezzo duets which get
mentioned over and over (Butterfly, Hoffmann, Lakme, etc.).
Three others which intrigued me were duets from "Anna Bolena", "Elisabetta,
regina d'Inghilterra", and "La Juive". Alas, I can't recall the details,
but I'll try to recollect.
The Anna Bolena duet was rejected as being too similar to the Norma one to
warrant doing them both.
The Elisabetta duet, I think, was a lengthy piece with lots of bravura
coloratura for both singers throughout the whole range. I rather liked it,
but my friends felt it was more than they cared to learn.
The Juive duet I honestly don't remember at all; I just remember that it
intrigued me.
mdl

This is so funny! I am doing some research for a performance, and I saw this post. HI!! Maybe I'll take some of your advice.