Chorus singing in Verdi

[Ein Heldenleben]

The very posh English sounds in this ( just played on Breakfast)

Giuseppe Verdi. Aida: Gloria all'Egitto (Grand March) (Act II)

and in particular the perfectly enunciated Gloria’s made think what choir could be doing this . Surely not the ROH chorus . It was more like St Pauls Evensong than Ancient Egypt . Turned out to be :

Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Choir: Royal Choral Society. Conductor: Owain Arwel Hughes.


It also got me thinking what is the right “accent “ for singing this bit of Verdi’s Aida : Italian , Cockney , Egyptian ?

[Pulcinella]

Veronese? It's probably performed in the arena at Verona more often than anywhere else!

[LHC]

Your question about pronunciation in Aida reminded me of this fascinating Insights programme from the Royal Opera House.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNPebuN14q0&t=91s

In the second half of the programme (from about the 30 minute mark), Mark Elder and Matteo Dalle Fratte (Covent Garden's Italian language coach) discuss the importance of Italian pronunciation and diction in Verdi's operas. By happy chance, this is done as part of a discussion about Aida.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Your question about pronunciation in Aida reminded me of this fascinating Insights programme from the Royal Opera House.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNPebuN14q0&t=91s

In the second half of the programme (from about the 30 minute mark), Mark Elder and Matteo Dalle Fratte (Covent Garden's Italian language coach) discuss the importance of Italian pronunciation and diction in Verdi's operas. By happy chance, this is done as part of a discussion about Aida.

Thanks great post !

[Simon Biazeck]

I was going to mention Matteo Dalle Fratte. He is one of the Italian language coaches at the ROH. His approach was new to us and had its uses for choral singing. I recognized it from Italian recitative where natural speech rhythm is the key. The Italian singer in the cast certainly didn't exemplify his approach, though.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I was going to mention Matteo Dalle Fratte. He is one of the Italian language coaches at the ROH. His approach was new to us and had its uses for choral singing. I recognized it from Italian recitative where natural speech rhythm is the key. The Italian singer in the cast certainly didn't exemplify his approach, though.

If you hear Pavarotti’s Italian singing it sounds (attractively) regional - that shu sound he uses sound in “bacio scioglierà” in Nessun Dorma - no one does it like that (leaving aside the notes ! )