I give Mariella high marks for this performance. She is in her mid-fifties here, I believe, but the voice is secure, and the notes above the C still ringing and in place. She demonstrates great agility as well. Brava!
I think she's a fantastic singer, the execution is really great, but in this aria I really enjoy the sweetness and delicacy in the timbre of the voice. This is why Sutherland's version (or Callas) are more appealing to me. They transmit more feelings to me. Sutherland in particular, even in her later years, had so much beauty and purity in the tone, that it made me want to cry.
The problem with Sutherland is that you can not understand a single word: she was perfect, true, (as Mariella) but her renditions were confined to an amazing and possibly overwhelming aesthetic feeling. Nothing more than that. In the belcanto repertoire the connection between word and music is essential and that's why Sills (for instance) is a better performer than Sutherland, because of her pronunciation, which was almost perfect. As far as Mariella, she is number one to me (but that's just my personal opinion).
@@cuteoperaloverTo say that you can't understand a word or that her singing is just an aesthetic effect, I think it's underestimating her. Her diction wass not the best, but you can recognize most of the words unless you have an ear problem. I also believe that through the emission of her voice, in the use of dynamics, phrasing and minute details that characterized her singing, there was a very powerful expressive intention, independent of the text. I also have a lot of respect for those other Sopranos and I think they are excellent with their strengths and weaknesses. Sills for example,was a great performer, but her voice declined very soon because of poor voice emission, same as Callas. I found both great artists too. Every singer creates art in different ways. Which is more important ¿Vocal production or diction? It depends..... Electronic music, Classic Instrumental music and many other musical forms don't have a text but they make you feel emotions. The same goes for singing. Example Elizabeth Fraser, a non classical singer, from a band called Cocteau twins is the best example
@@crisha721 No, on the contrary. I am not underestimating her. God bless her creamy voice. But i guess that you, as a non-Italian mother tongue speaker, have less problems with the diction. Especially in the recitativi .
It is fascinating - and irritating - to receive comments about how "I" hears the voice of a singer. I (!) sometimes try to challenge myself, pretending that I don't know who the singer is....do we really love and recognize our favourites and detest the others ? Being objective is tough, to say the least.
