Starting with Nicias and then the short duet between him and Thais from Act 1 of Massenet's Thais. Covent Garden, 2007. Nicias - Joseph Calleja Thais - Renee Fleming Athanael - Simone Alberghini
Here here! I am so glad to hear someone say that about Fleming. Renee Fleming's career has helped me learn so much about opera. When I was 13 years old, I thought Charlotte Church was an example of an opera singer. Someone suggested I listen to Renee Fleming, and I haven't stopped listening since. Although I have since listened to other singers, she is and will forever be my favorite soprano.
THANK you for reiterating this! If I hear one more person talk about 'using vibrato' I will scream. Even some singers talk this way -- where are they getting their training? Or worse yet, why aren't they getting any training? As you note, vibrato is is the natural byproduct of singing freely, from a relaxed vocal mechanism. It is not manufactured, and is someone is trying to 'make' his voice have vibrato, he is going to run into trouble.
All I can say is that I wish I sounded so good even in my prime! Can't we just sit back and enjoy the art form? It is so needed in our splintered world these days.
D ~ Feb 18-08 That's a lot of views for only 2-weeks, wow, star power: it must help to have Calleja & Fleming among the tags! Very nice touch, your switch to Fleming in costume just as she begins to sing her first response of this Thais scene. Hers must be just about the most ravishingly feminine of all American females' voices on major stages today. ~ A
@Jussi1946 "How can you listen to Lamento di Frederico or Carmen and state that he is "just loud." " Totally agree, Jussi. What about " Je crois entendre encore" ?
AfroPoli, we all know that you & all your other pseudonyms consider Calleja to be the greatest tenor of all! That's why you keep coming back again & again to all his videos to listen & worship! - You can't fool us by your fake protestations, - you're in love! Just try & stay away from his music without commenting! - You can't! - it's not possible for you, - you're completely smitten, & hopelessly addicted to his fabulous voice, & there is no known cure! lol
Hi there @Cantormatis, I liked his singing a lot a couple of years ago, but I believe he hasn't been using the vibrato as he used to. This recording is quite good, I think. I am referring to his last months' singing. An YT friend sent me this some time ago: /user/AnryK2690#p/f/8/OhtLLBL6gmk is this the kind of tenor you are talking about?
I will respect your opinion since you heard her live :) (although she's arguably past her prime, to be fair..) I've been impressed by Eglise Gutierrez from recordings, (more than Netrebko) if you want to check her out..
I've heard both Fleming and Netrebko at the Met, and I much prefer Fleming, although I think both are good. I saw Fleming's Traviata from the back of Orchestra under the overhang, probably the worst place acousitcally in the house, and I could hear her fine. I don't see how you can consider hers a "pipsqueak voice" unless you have hearing difficulties or Maria Guleghina is your yardstick on vocal size. However, I can perfectly understand liking large voices, and I respect your preferrences.
@stradaforni51 No way... have you been reading reviews on him? They write (and quite accurately, I must say) that he doesn't know how to use vibrato and therefore it sounds like sheep bleating. Further more, there are Diego Flórez, Grigolo, etc!... There are still some people who believe in Villazón - I don't.
I haven't heard Fleming live. However, based upon recordings, I much prefer her to Netrebko. No offense but I think Netrebko get's alot of attention for her good looks. I've heard her crack a few times. I'm not sure her technique is really sound, although her natural ability may be good. Anyway, I wouldn't call her far superior to Fleming.
Fleming "the greatest soprano alive today period"? Her voice is fine and artistically she is probably among the top 3 today. But vocally, there are a number of sopranos today who are far superior--Anna Netrebko for one. Small voices have always come across better in recordings. Saw Fleming last night in Thais at the Met. She was fine, but vocally, she has a pipsqueak of a voice. . .you could hardly hear her in the 8th row of the orchestra!
As I said, recordings have a way to make small voices sound much bigger than they are. I like Fleming, but I feel she's overrated, mainly because her voice is of below average volume in the opera house. That does not count for everything, granted, but it counts. Fleming is also good looking. But if you're sitting in the balcony of the Met, good luck hearing her interpretation of, say, Thais. That is not a problem for Netrebko. By the way, I also heard Fleming crack in Traviata!
