Here's something you might be interested in.
Besides Kathleen Ferrier, who were the other five voices that were distinct and beautiful in the 20th Century? For the record, there probably more than five.
The hinge is beautiful. For instance, Callas had a voice that no one ever forgot but half the people who heard her thought the voice was grating and unpleasant.
I’ll take a shot at compiling a list of five beautiful and distinct voices. I’m limiting the list to singers who are no longer singing—I don’t know why.
Canadian heldentenor, Jon Vickers, had a massive voice and a distinct tone. His voice was never confused with the Italian superstars of his generation such as Corelli or Bergonzi.
Vickers did sing a significant amount of Italian repertoire in the dramatic category. His Otello and Canio were the stuff of legend because he acted them as well as he sang them.
Vickers excelled almost all others in the big Wagnerian roles that he sang even though he didn’t really sing that much Wagner. He sang four roles in all; Erik in Dutchman, Siegmund in Valkyrie, Tristan in Tristan, and Parsifal.
Siegmund and Tristan were his signature roles in Wagner but his 1964 Bayreuth performance of Parsifal is considered to be some of the most dramatically effective singing of all time.
In spite of his monumental Wagner and psychotic verismo roles, it was as an addled English fisherman that Vickers was best known and loved. The role of Peter Grimes was written by Benjamin Britten for the English tenor Peter Pears.
Pears was a lyric English tenor for whom Britten wrote several pieces. If Peter Pears is an English meadow then Vickers is the Canadian Rockies.
English meadows and granite mountain peaks both have their appeal but no one gets them confused. Pears sang roles Vickers would never dream of and vice versa. Both singers sang Grimes with great success but ask any opera fan who is the greatest Grimes and they will say Vickers.
Vickers in Parsifal Finale http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji3UgVHkGXk
Vickers as Grimes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg3UCgMLXhE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-juIqZGKdZA
Besides Kathleen Ferrier, who were the other five voices that were distinct and beautiful in the 20th Century? For the record, there probably more than five.
The hinge is beautiful. For instance, Callas had a voice that no one ever forgot but half the people who heard her thought the voice was grating and unpleasant.
I’ll take a shot at compiling a list of five beautiful and distinct voices. I’m limiting the list to singers who are no longer singing—I don’t know why.
Canadian heldentenor, Jon Vickers, had a massive voice and a distinct tone. His voice was never confused with the Italian superstars of his generation such as Corelli or Bergonzi.
Vickers did sing a significant amount of Italian repertoire in the dramatic category. His Otello and Canio were the stuff of legend because he acted them as well as he sang them.
Vickers excelled almost all others in the big Wagnerian roles that he sang even though he didn’t really sing that much Wagner. He sang four roles in all; Erik in Dutchman, Siegmund in Valkyrie, Tristan in Tristan, and Parsifal.
Siegmund and Tristan were his signature roles in Wagner but his 1964 Bayreuth performance of Parsifal is considered to be some of the most dramatically effective singing of all time.
In spite of his monumental Wagner and psychotic verismo roles, it was as an addled English fisherman that Vickers was best known and loved. The role of Peter Grimes was written by Benjamin Britten for the English tenor Peter Pears.
Pears was a lyric English tenor for whom Britten wrote several pieces. If Peter Pears is an English meadow then Vickers is the Canadian Rockies.
English meadows and granite mountain peaks both have their appeal but no one gets them confused. Pears sang roles Vickers would never dream of and vice versa. Both singers sang Grimes with great success but ask any opera fan who is the greatest Grimes and they will say Vickers.
Vickers in Parsifal Finale http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji3UgVHkGXk
Vickers as Grimes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg3UCgMLXhE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-juIqZGKdZA