www.matthewcurran.net Matthew Curran, Bass Brian Paul Thomas, Conductor Choir of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, New Canaan, CT Handel's Messiah, Part 1 December 10, 2010
Oh My God! Am I understanding this correctly that you listen to to this through your car radio on the way to work? You just made my day! How to make the long phrases in one breath? That's the million dollar question, isn't it? Many years of training and developing the relevant muscles, I suppose. But the more specific answer is a low and consistent support starting down from the pelvis, engaged in a steady and balanced way as you sing through the phrase. Breath low and wide. And trust it.
For He is like a refiner’s fire .... I can’t think of words or sentiments more powerful to call us to profound moral reckoning. The image shakes me to the bone and points me toward the path of righteousness. Who shall stand when he appeareth? Yes, indeed. Who shall stand....? Beautifully sung. Powerful. Filled with fire, fury and a call to moral reckoning.
Can't tell you how nice it is to receive this kind of mention, Steve. Thank you so much! Have a wonderful holiday season and enjoy your time singing his praises.
Been listening to your rendition of this piece of Handel for a couple of years now, and it's the one I prefer. Excellent chest voice, very fine. Prophetic in its delivery. I can feel the emotion, and it makes me want to call out to God. There is no finer recital of this piece on RU-vid. Bravo!
@@LauraRose83 true as that may be, compared to the audience modern songs get, this is pretty small. And finding people who listen and sing or play these pieces is a miracle
When I first started learning this recit/aria, this video was the first I watched. Now, here I am, a year later, and WHOA. I know you now! What a crazy feeling! I hope you have been well! Bravo!
I know that Handel preferred a castrato for the aria, but I think that a bass is much better able to express "the refiner's fire" so much better. Well done! And thank you for taking the lead and not taking the conductor's ridiculous beginning tempo.
I like it more when it is sung by bass, as it then conveys the seriousness, powerful threat and anger of "For he is like a refiner's fire" that contraltos are too soft to express. I grew up hearing a record with William Warfield singing it and still think that is one of the best interpretations.
This was quite lovely. Your breathing technique is impressive. I’m learning this and I’m not finding it easy. The melismas are making me crazy. I start the line going, rev it up into proper tempo and at the slightest relaxation of my concentration it’s just all over place. It’s like attempting to run a really strong vacuum cleaner on a conveyor belt. Pity me, I’m a lazy baritone. 😢 🎭 😭
Thank very much! I appreciate your kind words and am so glad you enjoyed my singing. South Sweden!!!! Sounds beautiful. Some day I hope to visit your country. I've met nothing but wonderful people from there.
Matthew, you have my favorite live performance in RU-vid. I'm learning this one along with 'For behold' and I keep listening to your versions because you sing them very well. Thanks.
Great performance sir. What an awesome singer you are. Too bad you only did two pieces. I would have loved to have heard all the the bass solos from Messiah. You are such a talented singer. It's inspiring to hear you sing. Thank you for posting these videos.
This is sooo amazing!!! I use this as my go to piece. I have been watching you forever!!!!!!! I have also been listening to your puccini also!!!! You rock Sir!!!!!
I'm learning this now and it's really helpful to hear another bass sing it! Thank you! Also I realized after a moment that I met you briefly in Memphis during Boheme, you were excellent as Colline as well :)
Yes i love it! when i drive to my job i use to sync this to my car radio from my iphone and listen every morning. and i nearly sing perfect as you do. but i cant make the longbreathings tecnincs as you do... how do you hold it longer?? i also listen to "when people walked in darknes.
YES absolutly!! its bluetooth through my radio and my iphone. you mean that i need to push out more air with my abs from the lower part at the belly? sorry for my spelling hehe, i havnt use english for years :) i also listn to your song : the people that walked in darknes, its so nice to listn to this when i drive in the cold winter here in Skåne. it would be nice to have you as a mailfriends or what you call it? many regards from Jesper.
Vielen Dank! Aber kenne ich nicht genau diese Sprache. I'm thinking this is probably Dutch, but I always want to call it Swiss German when I see or hear Dutch.
...todays conductors should withstand the tendency to take wrong tempi. Mr. Curran does right to decelerate that ridiculous tempo in the beginning. And indeed, I have never been a friend of countertenors. Best regards from Maestro Klemperer! Conductor Magnum.
If only there was such thing as the "Correct," tempo. Alas.... And what feels right on one day in one situation may feel totally wrong on another. I know many countertenors who are wonderful people and good friends, though I do prefer this aria sung by a bass. But of course, I have a bias. ;-) As for Maestro Klemperer, are you in touch with him? Impressive.
@@MatthewCurranBass ..it is all about the voice here. I would never dare any further comments about personal friends whatever their voices sound like. Yes, I do like the voice and interpretation of Mr. Curran very much! That’s how a well balanced Basso should sound like. What I dislike are the tiny orchestras and their conductors tendency for hasty tempi. Not especially here. I prefer by far the Klemperer version, the full blossom of a big orchestra and Opera voices he always chose. RDS
