Comments on: Pavarotti and Presley http://medicine-opera.com/2008/01/pavarotti-and-presley/ Comments and reviews of opera, music, and medicine Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:55:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sylvia Burrage http://medicine-opera.com/2008/01/pavarotti-and-presley/#comment-29 Sylvia Burrage Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:17:00 +0000 http://nkurtzman.wordpress.com/?p=94#comment-29 I can't stand Pav or Bjorling. Both so nasal, forced, and that awful Bj vibrato...... And Tucker sounds like a foghorn to me. And diStefano, like a little foghorn. What tenor of the last 50 years could compare to Escalais. Even my favorite, Corelli, while unsurpassed in romantic roles of Verdi, Puccini, Giordano, did not feed adequate to try Tell or Otello. Yet Escalais seemed to sing these and a great variety of opera effortlessly, popping off full high D's as if vocalizing in the shower. An extremely solid sound with lots of brilliance on the top notes. Operafilly I can’t stand Pav or Bjorling. Both so nasal, forced, and that awful Bj vibrato…… And Tucker sounds like a foghorn to me. And diStefano, like a little foghorn.

What tenor of the last 50 years could compare to Escalais. Even my favorite, Corelli, while unsurpassed in romantic roles of Verdi, Puccini, Giordano, did not feed adequate to try Tell or Otello. Yet Escalais seemed to sing these and a great variety of opera effortlessly, popping off full high D’s as if vocalizing in the shower. An extremely solid sound with lots of brilliance on the top notes.

Operafilly

]]> By: bill http://medicine-opera.com/2008/01/pavarotti-and-presley/#comment-28 bill Sat, 06 Dec 2008 02:50:05 +0000 http://nkurtzman.wordpress.com/?p=94#comment-28 Although you give Pav praise, it is back handed, and you neglect to site the deficiencies in your romanticized reminiscents of other fine tenors. First something subjective and unearned, the god given gift of a perfect tonal quality, I think the visceral response that so many have for pav is based on this, no other voice I've heard has defined bel canto so perfectly. Yes he is a lyric who pushed to far into Verdi, but only after forever changing what one expected of a tenor in conquering Bellini, Donitzetti. Then maturing into the most sublime interpretations of Puccini. And much fine work in Trav, Trov, Ballo what was left to do? Oh that's right, bring back the concept of a top performer in his prime doing recitals, the best ever in 1975 Boston Symphony Hall. Then back to the Met for 9 high c's,"Regiment",and a couple of d's " Puritani."Why can't we hear samples from the others singing these roles?His diction, phrasing and legato are unparalleled, and his top had ping, pang and pong! If people wish to bash him for whoring, fine, but none of these men deserve anything less than the homage that us mere mortals can bestow. Although you give Pav praise, it is back handed, and you neglect to site the deficiencies in your romanticized reminiscents of other fine tenors. First something subjective and unearned, the god given gift of a perfect tonal quality, I think the visceral response that so many have for pav is based on this, no other voice I’ve heard has defined bel canto so perfectly. Yes he is a lyric who pushed to far into Verdi, but only after forever changing what one expected of a tenor in conquering Bellini, Donitzetti. Then maturing into the most sublime interpretations of Puccini. And much fine work in Trav, Trov, Ballo what was left to do? Oh that’s right, bring back the concept of a top performer in his prime doing recitals, the best ever in 1975 Boston Symphony Hall. Then back to the Met for 9 high c’s,”Regiment”,and a couple of d’s ” Puritani.”Why can’t we hear samples from the others singing these roles?His diction, phrasing and legato are unparalleled, and his top had ping, pang and pong! If people wish to bash him for whoring, fine, but none of these men deserve anything less than the homage that us mere mortals can bestow.

]]> By: Liva http://medicine-opera.com/2008/01/pavarotti-and-presley/#comment-27 Liva Sat, 02 Feb 2008 22:06:11 +0000 http://nkurtzman.wordpress.com/?p=94#comment-27 Well, if we're speaking of those tenors you mentioned, then Bjorling's singing seemed very uptight and high-pitched, too intense for me, didn't like him. I liked Tucker's "Improvviso", the other song even better, don't know why. Di Stefano is just Di Stefano, can't say anything bad about him, he's fantastic. "“Pavarotti” will be synonymous for tenorial brilliance" - well, at least for me. He's my favorite, and I'll love him and his voice forever, it's perfect, let alone his smile and brilliant personality. He was the greatest tenor of 20'th century, and nothing will make me change my mind. He left such a legacy, and he made himself immortal with all those recordings. And people will listen to them, me too, and, honestly, I listen only him, I expect his level from all other tenors I listen when I go to opera, I compare everyone to him. He's compared to Caruso, and it ain't so bad anyway, isn't it? Pavarotti is just God to me. Well, if we’re speaking of those tenors you mentioned, then Bjorling’s singing seemed very uptight and high-pitched, too intense for me, didn’t like him. I liked Tucker’s “Improvviso”, the other song even better, don’t know why. Di Stefano is just Di Stefano, can’t say anything bad about him, he’s fantastic.
““Pavarotti” will be synonymous for tenorial brilliance” – well, at least for me. He’s my favorite, and I’ll love him and his voice forever, it’s perfect, let alone his smile and brilliant personality. He was the greatest tenor of 20′th century, and nothing will make me change my mind. He left such a legacy, and he made himself immortal with all those recordings. And people will listen to them, me too, and, honestly, I listen only him, I expect his level from all other tenors I listen when I go to opera, I compare everyone to him. He’s compared to Caruso, and it ain’t so bad anyway, isn’t it?
Pavarotti is just God to me.

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