Great Opera Singers You Just Don't Care For

[Conchis]

I don't go along with the anti-Callas and think it is modish.

Also like Pavarotti and Sutherland,

His big cross-over assault in the 90s made it a bit embarrassing to own his 'proper' opera records.

[Beppe]

His big cross-over assault in the 90s made it a bit embarrassing to own his 'proper' opera records.

Cross over is bothersome, but the worst is pop singers trying to cross over into opera.

[cloughie]

I don't go along with the anti-Callas and think it is modish.

Also like Pavarotti and Sutherland,

Maybe modish - I don’t know - don’t follow trends anyway - I don’t like her voice for the reasons stated in #6. I quite like Pavarotti and envious of his power in hign notes!

[Conchis]

Cross over is bothersome, but the worst is pop singers trying to cross over into opera.

Agreed. But, on the reverse side, Renee Fleming's Dark Hope is the only successful cross-over album ever made by an opera singer: she understands the point that to attempt 'operatic' versions of rock songs is as ridiculous as attempting rock versions of opera arias. She covers rock songs in a rock style and the album is a total success.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Hope

[Darkbloom]

Rene Pape has always perplexed me. He has a magnificent voice that has no effect on me whatsoever. It has a production line feel to it, all very matter of fact.

[Serial_Apologist]

May one class Peter Piers as an opera singer? I have to admit to recently having changed my views on his singing - some of it, at any rate - finding him best when actually NOT doing Britten's stuff, but when accompanied on piano by his partner, particularly in English songs, eg John Ireland.

[Conchis]

May one class Peter Piers as an opera singer? I have to admit to recently having changed my views on his singing - some of it, at any rate - finding him best when actually NOT doing Britten's stuff, but when accompanied on piano by his partner, particularly in English songs, eg John Ireland.

I would strongly agree. With is Peter Grimes, you only get half the story. You really need Jon Vickers (imo) to give you the other half.

[Conchis]

Rene Pape has always perplexed me. He has a magnificent voice that has no effect on me whatsoever. It has a production line feel to it, all very matter of fact.

I've enjoyed his performances in the opera house but he seems to come into direct repertoire conflict with his contemporary Bryn Terfel (whose voice I sometimes like but whose cultivated glad-handing persona I can't stand).

[cloughie]

May one class Peter Piers as an opera singer? I have to admit to recently having changed my views on his singing - some of it, at any rate - finding him best when actually NOT doing Britten's stuff, but when accompanied on piano by his partner, particularly in English songs, eg John Ireland.

How strange a coincidence - I have had a similar Damascus with his CD with BB of his folk song arrangements.

[cloughie]

Agreed. But, on the reverse side, Renee Fleming's Dark Hope is the only successful cross-over album ever made by an opera singer: she understands the point that to attempt 'operatic' versions of rock songs is as ridiculous as attempting rock versions of opera arias. She covers rock songs in a rock style and the album is a total success.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Hope

...and Streisand's Classical Barbra shows how maybe it can be done! I also like Kiri's 'Blue Skies' album with Nelson Riddle.

[Richard Barrett]

Agreed. But, on the reverse side, Renee Fleming's Dark Hope is the only successful cross-over album ever made by an opera singer: she understands the point that to attempt 'operatic' versions of rock songs is as ridiculous as attempting rock versions of opera arias. She covers rock songs in a rock style and the album is a total success.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Hope

I see the Arditti Quartet's Dov Scheindlin playing in the string section there, but even that wouldn't tempt me to listen.

Largely offtopic, since its about a singer I have the highest admiration for, but my past week at The Hague Royal Conservatory has been taken up with giving a five-day intensive workshop on electroacoustic improvisation, open to students from all departments of the school, and I noticed that one of the participants, a cellist, had the surname Fischer-Dieskau, so obviously I asked him whether he was any relation. Yes, he said, the singer was his grandfather. I remarked that in the Conservatory he must be asked that question every day, to which his reply was no, he hadn't been asked by anyone there before me. TBF he's only been there a couple of months, but I found that rather sad.

[Richard Tarleton]

I have had a similar Damascus with his CD with BB of his folk song arrangements.

Not a Damascus moment for me as I've always admired his voice (and saw him live several times, in opera, oratorio and recital) but yes, that is a fabulous disc, one of my absolute favourites .

A fine non-Britten moment in his discography is his Emperor in Turandot (Mehta, Sutherland, Pavarotti, etc. - a dream cast).

By the way, people, it's Pears

[Richard Tarleton]

I see the Arditti Quartet's Dov Scheindlin playing in the string section there, but even that wouldn't tempt me to listen.

Largely offtopic, since its about a singer I have the highest admiration for, but my past week at The Hague Royal Conservatory has been taken up with giving a five-day intensive workshop on electroacoustic improvisation, open to students from all departments of the school, and I noticed that one of the participants, a cellist, had the surname Fischer-Dieskau, so obviously I asked him whether he was any relation. Yes, he said, the singer was his grandfather. I remarked that in the Conservatory he must be asked that question every day, to which his reply was no, he hadn't been asked by anyone there before me. TBF he's only been there a couple of months, but I found that rather sad.

That is a sad story. Memories are short, these days...

[Conchis]

That is a sad story. Memories are short, these days...

I would imagine he's relieved not to receive the automatic attention that having a famous name usually involves!