SJ Reidhead has been posting some YouTubery of beautiful music sung by various artists, mostly tenors, recently. (Here’s one example of five featuring Nessum Dorma). I thought I’d share a couple of examples of excellence in baritone voices, beginning with Bryn Terfel singing, “Oh What a Beautiful Morning”–not the absolute best from his collection of recordings, but nevertheless a good example of this Welsh baritone’s vocal production and performance:
(I used to have a recording of Marvin Lee Aday singing a credible rendition of “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning”. Not Bryn Terfel, but decent enough for a fading rock star. I have no idea what became of that recording, but I’m sure I have it around here somewhere… )
Like I told you, we opera fans are like baseball fans. We will argue stats, operas, performances, etc. and never give up! Thanks for the great comments.
SJR
The Pink Flamingo
Oh, SJ, I’m not really an opera fan; I’m a music “fan” (if such could be said of someone like me), which means I find most of the stuff being cranked out today by the conteporary “music industry” to be revolting, and so must find music performances elsewhere… and opera certainly offers a wealth of good music. But I enjoy good jazz–and agree with the Marsalis brothers that most modern jazz just isn’t good music. So, I prefer artists like them, and jazz artists from earlier eras as well. Then again, I like any good instrumental, vocal or choral music, which opens my realm of enjoyment up to good performances of a couple of thousand years of good music–early chant, reproductions of Medieval music on repro Medieval instruments, much from the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras and even some from 20th century composers. Loads and loads and loads of folk song (no, not necessarily the manufactured “folk” songs of the 60s, although some of that does qualify as good music) and even pop music of eras gone by qualify for listening (and in the past singing or playing) in my hearing space.
And good opera is in that mix for me.
why doesnt your site remember me eh?..lol..ah yes tis a beautiful morning!:)
Remember who? Who are you, anyway? *LOL*
I don’t know, Angel. Try logging in once in a while. 🙂 Heck, you could even leave a post if you wanted. *VBG*
A beautiful mornin’? Oh, yes! Sidebar: ANY vocalist would KILL for a sound space like that, let alone a voice of that quality. The instrumentalists are a joy, too. I’ve actually played for a production of Oklahoma (what? 40 years ago? Yeh. Wasn’t playing my fav instrument, or even my second fav, but was a joy to play the music anyway… ), and I love hearing the accompaniment played so well. And that sound space… *sigh* Nice! Notice the acoustic shield next to Terfel–a seriously smart touch in that situation. Lots of good touches. Even in the low-fi YouTube reproduction, hits of overtones and fundamentals remain to enrich the experience. Seriously enjoyable performance/recording.
I would have enjoyed this wonderful voice had he the sense to wear something more appropriate, either a Western Shirt, a tux or even a plain shirt; but the ball cap and t-shirt came across as a poor representation of his respect for anyone watching.
Well, it was really just a video of a recording session. Nowadays, I imagine Curly would wear a ball cap as often as he wore a “cowboy” hat. I know I do. 🙂 Well, almost as often. Since I no longer ride (horses–I used to ride “western”), a “cowboy” hat is an afectation except when strong sunlight calls for more face and neck protection (and good sunglasses and high SPF sunscreen often do as well or better overall).
Well, I’m going to be snicky. Just ’cause I can, you know? 😉
I enjoyed the music very much – great voice! – but for some reason, the video looked (to me – subjective!) like he was lip syncing…
[headdesk]
Maybe I’m just still feeling sick-cranky…? LOL
Well, Kat, Terfel opens–heck, moves–his mouth/lips far less than one would normally expect from someone getting that much sound out. I’ve noticed that for some time, now, and it does irk me a tad. *heh* Of course, I just pray that translation to heaven brings with it a voice for me equal to Terfel’s (God Himself would certainly not give me a heavenly voice the equal to Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau’s; He would create only one such as a lesson in humility to angels;-))
LOL! Hey, I’m with you – I’m very much looking forward to being able to really SING when we get Home… Nah, like I said, I was just bing snicky ’cause I’m feeling cranky 😉
Kat, I hear you on the crankiness. Hope you feel much better Real Soon Now. My Wonder Woman’s been under the weather all week (cough, chest, sinuses) and I’ve jojned her, starting today with no voice at all. Gladly, I’ve learned how to deal with laryngitis, so I expect that as my own chest/sinus problems clear up, I will get what voice I have back. 😉
But you take care, you hear?