Maestro Carlo Rizzi
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Porgere La Voce! by Freeman Gunter
Italian conductor Carlo Rizzi discusses his crusade against bad operatic “tradition,” reveals what he looks for in singers, and explains what he was attempting in his controversial Il Trovatore performances at the Met.
“We have a phrase in Italian that I don’t know how to translate into English: porgere la voce. Many singers of the past were able to do this. It is a kind of gesture or movement toward the public. Very often, this does the trick. I think that many singers stand there without this feeling of going out to the public as if to say, “now I’m going to present something to you.”
·Il segreto Lucrezia Borgia (Donizetti) Jennifer Larmore, Carlo Rizzi conducting the Welsh National Orchestra (Teldec 0630-10211-2).
Christa Ludwig – master class
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Inside the Christa Ludwig Masterclass by Lara Stevens
Sidestepping the “quick fix” limitations of the format, this great singer was able to make a real difference in the artistic growth of a group of young singers. One of the participants, Lara Stevens, reports on her experience being coached in the song below.
·Immer Leiser wird mein Schlummer (Brahms) Christa Ludwig, Geoffrey Parsons (EMI CDM 7 64075 2)
The Coach: Joseph Smith
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A Close Look At Monostatos’ Aria from Mozart’s “Die Zauberflote”
“The composer has provided a more detailed description of dynamics than is usual for music of this period and attention should be paid to his wishes.” Joseph Smith takes singers through a detailed coaching session on this aria. Three different interpretations are below:
·Alles fühlt der Liebe Freunden Die Zauberflöte (Mozart) Friedrich Lenz, Karl Böhm conducting the Berlin Philharmonic (1964) (DGG 419 566-2).
·Alles fühlt der Liebe Freunden Die Zauberflöte (Mozart) Heinrich Tessmer, Sir Thomas Beecham, Berlin Philharmonic (1938) EMI.
·Alles fühlt der Liebe Freunden Die Zauberflöte (Mozart) Robert Tear, Sir Colin Davis, Stastskapelle Dresden (1984) Philips 411 459-2).
Classical Singer on Records by Freeman Gunter and Nicholas Limansky
New recordings prove that small labels are now leading the field of vocal recordings:
Patrice Michaels sings Lili Boulanger on Cedille
·Attente (Boulanger), Patrice
Michaels,soprano, Rebecca Rollins, piano
·Elle é tait descendue au bas de la prairie (Boulanger) Patrice Michaels,soprano, Rebecca Rollins, piano, Cedille CDR 900000 054.
Enrico Caruso on Naxos
·Una furtiva lagrima L’Elisir d’amore (Donizetti) Ennrico Caruso, with piano (1902) Naxos 8.110703.
·E lucevan le stelle Tosca (Puccini) Enrico Caruso, with piano (1904) Naxos 8.110703.
La traviata on Cetra
·E strano!…Ah, for´s e lui…Sempre libera La Traviata (Verdi) Maria Callas, Gabriele Santini, Orch. Sinfonica di Torino della RAI (1953) Warner Fonit 3984 29354-9.
E-mail me at opera@mrichter.com
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