Classical Listening

[stlukesguild]

I gave a listen to the Zubin Mehta recording of Mahler's 2nd Symphony today...



Damn! That thin was played at a white heat. Absolutely stunning. It was one of those musical experiences that left me so drained afterwards that I could only sit in silence for a while. When I eventually popped Vasily Petrenko's recording of Shostakovitch' 6th and 12th into the CD player it seemed so anti-climactic that I'll definitely need to give it another listen later... under different circumstances. Brian... you would surely love Mehta's performance. All fire and drama... no holds barred>

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

I've been hearing a lot about this soprano Katherine Jenkins now that she's competing on Dancing with the Stars (and, yes, I too think its a travesty that she has to appear in such drivel to gain any kind of popular fame), so I searched her on YouTube to see what the fuss is about.

I think I'm in love.

[Dark Star]

I've been hearing a lot about this soprano Katherine Jenkins now that she's competing on Dancing with the Stars (and, yes, I too think its a travesty that she has to appear in such drivel to gain any kind of popular fame), so I searched her on YouTube to see what the fuss is about.

She's actually a very popular classical crossover singer in England.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

She's actually a very popular classical crossover singer in England.

"In England" being the key words, there. I guess I should've clarified and said fame in the USA. We're not in the habit of making opera or classical artists well known sales, unless it's Yo-Yo Ma.

[stlukesguild]

Unfortunately, Katherine Jenkins' finest "assets" are not to be found in her singing:







A female equivalent to Andrea Bocelli.

[Emil Miller]

I gave a listen to the Zubin Mehta recording of Mahler's 2nd Symphony today...



Damn! That thin was played at a white heat. Absolutely stunning. It was one of those musical experiences that left me so drained afterwards that I could only sit in silence for a while. When I eventually popped Vasily Petrenko's recording of Shostakovitch' 6th and 12th into the CD player it seemed so anti-climactic that I'll definitely need to give it another listen later... under different circumstances. Brian... you would surely love Mehta's performance. All fire and drama... no holds barred>

Got to agree, and although the sound quality on YouTube isn't good, it's an incredible performance. Those last bars are so powerful they seem to sweep one into eternity; which I guess is what Mahler intended. Mehta was also fortunate in having Ludwig and Cotrubas as solo singers as they were both out of the very top drawer at the time of recording.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Unfortunately, Katherine Jenkins' finest "assets" are not to be found in her singing:







A female equivalent to Andrea Bocelli.

Why? What's wrong with her singing? I don't know that person you named....

[stlukesguild]

Like the singer I mentioned, Andrea Bocelli... or Sarah Brightman... Jenkin's is a classical cross-over artist... or what is referred to in the classical world as a "Popera singer". As a pop singer, her abilities are more than adequate. Within the world of classical vocalists she is seriously lacking. First she is wholly dependent upon the microphone. The real opera singer must be able to project regardless of where she is in the theater or on stage... or what she is expected to do in terms of acting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTAYNoZSQTA

Jenkins is then limited... from what I have heard of her... to an easier, less demanding repertoire. It is more than doubtful that she has the stamina to pull off a heroic role such as demanded by Wagner or Richard Strauss. And certainly she has shown no ability to perform one of the roles that demand a degree of vocal pyrotechnics. Just watch as the brilliant Diana Damrau tears up one of the most difficult arias ever composed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvuKxL4LOqc

Seriously, Jenkins could probably be quite good at some secondary, less demanding roles... or certainly as part of the chorus or a vocal group. As it stands now she's dependent upon the microphone, added reverb, schmaltzy saccharine settings, and autotune, which uses computer software to alter the pitch in vocal performances (originally intended to disguise off-key inaccuracies, allowing vocal tracks to be perfectly tuned despite originally being slightly off-key... employed by many pop singers of limited vocal abilities).

If Jenkins was truly serious about becoming an opera singer, she would do well to focus more on classical vocals as opposed to all the pop music... but one cannot blame her... the path she has taken will undoubtedly result in far greater success than if she were to focus on a classical music career. I think a lot of classical fans are irritated by the manner in which she is marketed by her PR and idiotic TV commentators as a brilliant opera singer although she has never once sang in an opera. At the same time, she has made dismissive comments toward critics suggesting that she is bringing opera to a new audience (in other words, bringing pseudo-opera to an audience that doesn't like opera) and making snide remarks about true classical vocalists... while repeatedly stating that when her voice matures (she's in her 30s now) she wants to sing opera at La Scala. The reality is that if she were serious, she'd be singing in the chorus... or in smaller regional theaters.

Now here is Jenkins performing O mio babbino caro. The performance is mediocre... not bad... although her use of vibrato is ridiculous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lJ9oFzMVU0

Compare with Anna Netrebko... who is far from the finest at the Italian repertoire:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-4TS...eature=related

Another truly fine example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRuYQ...eature=related

Now I can appreciate that Jenkins is a real looker... but then again Opolais (see above) wasn't bad... and Netrebko in her prime was an absolute stunner:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWnWi...eature=related

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Okay, totally get where you're coming from. And I do agree . . . Jenkins doesn't really compare to the examples you gave.

Out of curiosity (and I ask this because I suspect you enjoy making such lists as I do perusing them), who are the best opera singers right now, make and female? I've watched a few operas, but I haven't really learned the "who's who," if you will, of the opera world. The only contemporary name I know of is Placido Domingo. I would know a few others if I saw there names, and I'm definitely better at recognizing a singer by their face (I probably know 20 or so that I would go, "Oh yeah, I remember him/her."

And, if you feel like it, who were the best of the past? I know Pavarotti was just awesome. I also know of a woman named Reneta Tebaldi, but that's only because her name has been mentioned on Frasier.

I've noticed with opera I really don't have a refined ear at all. I've been pretty impressed by every opera singer I've seen (though, all the operas I've watched have been recorded or simulcast from The Met, and I doubt many slouches get to perform there)--hell, I'm usually blown away by them--but then I'll look up reviews and read so-and-so was off or so-and-so was weak, and I think, really? They sounded good to me.

[Dark Star]

I've noticed with opera I really don't have a refined ear at all. I've been pretty impressed by every opera singer I've seen (though, all the operas I've watched have been recorded or simulcast from The Met, and I doubt many slouches get to perform there)--hell, I'm usually blown away by them--but then I'll look up reviews and read so-and-so was off or so-and-so was weak, and I think, really? They sounded good to me.

This is not surprising. The reality of the professional opera world is that standards are so high that anyone who 'makes it' will be quite talented, even if individual performances are mediocre. As a result of this, many of the flaws present in a particular performance require a trained eye and ear (and extensive knowledge of the repertoire) that neither you or I possess.

Two names come to mind off the top of my head for past greats:

Hans Hotter (beautiful, powerful baritone) and the Wagnerian soprano Birgite Nilsson, though I should note that her voice is not particularly accessible. She is very powerful and that will take some getting used to, but the effort is worth it.

Edit: I'm not going to bother arguing over whether she is among the greatest or not, but Nuria Rial is a fine, living soprano that is worth your time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-eoc...eature=related

She ain't bad looking, either...

[stlukesguild]

Among the finest living and performing female singers you would have to include:

Cecilia Bartoli
Angela Gheorghiu
Anja Harteros
Anna Netrebko
Anne Sofie von Otter
Christina Schäfer
Danielle de Niese
Dawn Upshaw
Deborah Voigt
Diana Damrau
Edita Gruberova
Elina Garanca
Joyce DiDonato
Kristine Opolais
Natalie Dessay
Patricia Petibon
Renée Fleming
Vesselina Kasarova
Vivica Genaux
Veronique Gens
Magdalena Kozena
Sandrine Piau
Waltraud Meier
Mariella Devia
Nina Stemme
Camilla Nylund
Bernarda Fink
Karina Gauvin
Christine Schäfer

The names in bold are those singers who I am quite familiar with.

Older (retired or diseased) female singers:

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Lucia Popp
Joan Sutherland
Maria Callas
Kiri Te Kanawa
Montserrat Caballé
Renata Tebaldi
Victoria de los Angeles
Mirella Freni
Shirley Virrett
Christa Ludwig
Ileana Cotrubas
Leonie Rysanek
Astrid Varnay
Barbara Hendricks
Elly Ameling
Maureen Forrester
Lisa della Casa
Mady Mesple
Elizabeth Grummer
Rita Streich
Jessye Norman
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Leontyne Price
Frederica von Stade
Leyla Gencer
Lotte Lehmann
Teresa Berganza
Marilyn Horne
Katia Ricciarelli
Galina Vishnevskaya
Pilar Lorengar
Regine Crespin
Renata Scotto
Kathleen Ferrier
Kathleen Battle
Janet Baker
Irmgard Seefried
Kirsten Flagstad
Teresa Stratas
Gundula Janowitz
SENA JURINAC

Among the finest living/performing male singers you might include:

Placido Domingo (still performing at 71!)
Bryn Terfel
Philippe Jaroussky
Juan Diego Florez
Thomas Hampson
Dmitri Hvorostovsky
Jonas Kaufmann
Roberto Alagna
Thomas Quasthoff
Andreas Scholl
Rolando Villazon
Bejun Mehta
Matthias Goerne
Ian Bostridge
Simon Keenlyside

Male Singers from the past:

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Hans Hotter
Tito Gobbi
Nicolai Gedda
Beniamino Gigli
Fritz Wunderlich
Jussi Björling
Franco Correlli
Hermann Prey
Peter Schreier
Peter Pears
Lauritz Melchior
Wolfgang Windgassen
Luciano Pavarotti
Jon Vickers
Robert Merrill
Jose Carreras
Richard Tauber
Gérard Souzay
Léopold Simoneau
Cesare Siepi
Walter Taussig
Samuel Ramey
Alfredo Kraus
Pavel Lisitsian
Alfred Deller
Richard Tucker
Mario del Monaco

Undoubtedly I've forgotten any number of worthy singers. Your best bet is looking at the names that appear frequently in the leading roles in the recordings of operas on the major labels... especially EMI, DG (Deutsche Grammophon), Decca, etc...

Anyone serious interested in learning more about opera might explore this forum:

http://operalively.com/forums/forum.php

[stlukesguild]

I've noticed with opera I really don't have a refined ear at all. I've been pretty impressed by every opera singer I've seen (though, all the operas I've watched have been recorded or simulcast from The Met, and I doubt many slouches get to perform there)--hell, I'm usually blown away by them--but then I'll look up reviews and read so-and-so was off or so-and-so was weak, and I think, really? They sounded good to me.

I think there's something about opera... this unique art form that combines theater and music... that brings out the most fiercely passionate supporters and critics. Indeed, in no other field of classical music have I come across such brutal criticism. There are those who are absolute acolytes of Maria Callas who will spit out the most vicious critiques of any challenger... however brilliant: Joan Sutherland, Birgit Nilsson, Elizabeth Schwarzkopf. There are fans of contemporary singers who are equally brutal... merciless in their criticism of any singer excepting that with whom they are obsessed. Renee Fleming fans will post comments on YouTube videos calling Anna Netrebko a "slvt", or Angela Gheorghiu a "wh-re" (although Gheorgiu does deserve her nickname, 'Draculette'). There are also those who will argue to the death as to the superiority of some singer who reached her peak in 1917... when recording technology was less than ideal. At the same time... as Dark Star suggests... the highly-trained listeners are able to pick up on things that the rest of the audience will miss. They catch the slightest missed note... the poor enunciation or pronunciation. I was listening to this show on the radio once when they played about 15 seconds of a selection of 10 different singers performing the same aria. The experts were able to identify almost all of the singers with little or no real effort. I was absolutely flabbergasted... but then again... I probably have an eye for paintings that is quite similarly developed.

[Lokasenna]

That's a great list Luke, and there are quite a few on there I haven't heard of but am going to explore! I was wondering, though, whether your soprano list ought to include Dame Felicity Lott and (perhaps to a lesser degree) Dorothea Röschmann. Also, as a denizen of Durham University, I feel obliged to recommend Sir Thomas Allen to the list of male singers!

[stlukesguild]

Certainly Felicity Lott belongs on the list. Dorothea Röschmann? I can't say as I'm not familiar with her... although in no way would I suggest that this is an all-inclusive list. Classical music is so broad and there are some many genres which each have their great singers who often specialize in a given repertoire. I think now of Michael Chance... another great singer I forgot. You also have vocal groups which specialize: the Anonymous 4, the Gothic Voices, the Deller Consort, the Hilliard Ensemble, the Tallis Scholars, Sequentia, etc...

[Lokasenna]

A sad day for music lovers... Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau has died, at the venerable age of 86.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18118722

One of the greatest voices of the 20th century, and who leaves behind a tremendous legacy to the musical world.