Pappano's Classical Voices

[mercia]

bass John Holmes

googling John Holmes bass opera produces some results e.g.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/events/performers/4981/performances

[Barbirollians]

There is something about the bass voice which has an effect on the listener more powerful than any other type of voice, not only because of the qualities which Pappano described, but also because it seems to come from some primeval, subterranean origin.

Terrific

I agree with your analysis of the programme which was excellent but this is very contentious ! I have never heard a bass whose voice affects me like Ferrier, Callas , Gobbi or Gigli for example . Magnificent as many are .

[aeolium]

I agree with your analysis of the programme which was excellent but this is very contentious ! I have never heard a bass whose voice affects me like Ferrier, Callas , Gobbi or Gigli for example . Magnificent as many are .

Fair enough - I'll amend my comment to say "this listener"

[Mary Chambers]

There is something about the bass voice which has an effect on this listener more powerful than any other type of voice, not only because of the qualities which Pappano described, but also because it seems to come from some primeval, subterranean origin.

I think your reasons for liking it may possibly be my reasons for disliking it. To me bass is the least interesting type of voice. I'm about half way through the programme.

[Richard Tarleton]

Another terrific programme. I've particularly enjoyed the last two.

I was grateful for that early film of DFD singing Der Erlkönig so subtly, and for AP's analysis - it's a song that can easily descend into bathos in the hands of a lesser artist, i.e. just about anybody else.

I liked the description of Bastianini's acting as "traditional" - what a voice.

[Mary Chambers]

I found this programme rather hard going, presumably because of my lack of real interest in baritones or, especially, basses. I think Pappano gave me a clue to my dislike when he described Bastianini as an 'alpha male'. I prefer something a bit more subtle

I do admire John Tomlinson, and the Russian oktavists were new to me. I was surprised to find myself admiring DFD's Erlkönig. I often find his singing over-studied, almost pedantic, but it seemed to work in this terrifying song.

Paul Robeson I remember from 78s, which I think belonged to my grandfather, though it might have been my mother. She liked bass voices. He is the sound of my childhood, along with Ferrier, Isobel Baillie and (of course) Ernest Lough singing 'O for the wings of a dove'.

[Richard Tarleton]

I found this programme rather hard going, presumably because of my lack of real interest in baritones or, especially, basses. I think Pappano gave me a clue to my dislike when he described Bastianini as an 'alpha male'. I prefer something a bit more subtle

I do admire John Tomlinson, and the Russian oktavists were new to me. I was surprised to find myself admiring DFD's Erlkönig. I often find his singing over-studied, almost pedantic, but it seemed to work in this terrifying song.

Paul Robeson I remember from 78s, which I think belonged to my grandfather, though it might have been my mother. She liked bass voices. He is the sound of my childhood, along with Ferrier, Isobel Baillie and (of course) Ernest Lough singing 'O for the wings of a dove'.

Bastianini was in his element in Verdi and Puccini roles, alongside the likes of Tebaldi, Simionato or Cossotto, Bergonzi.... horses for courses!

Those were the sounds of my childhood too. We had a 45 of Paul Robeson singing Deep River/Lazybones, various Ferrier, John McCormack, and E Lough a regular on Your 100 Best Tunes which was my mother's favourite prog.

For bathos in Erlkonig, try Terfel on his first [only?] Schubert CD, with Malcolm Martineau.

[mercia]

I'd like to see the whole of that Sea Pictures they showed a little bit of. I wonder if it was a BBC film.

[Barbirollians]

It wasn't a Prom looked more like the stage of the RFH - that led me to proms archive and I was astonished to see that Sea Pictures was absent from 1959 when Norma Proctor sang three songs until 1978 Janet Baker did not not sing them there until 1982 and then sang them again with Pritchard in 1984 on the First Night which I think I vaguely remember

[Prommer]

I liked the description of Bastianini's acting as "traditional" - what a voice.

Yes, on both counts - but the acting was in the voice and with the voice.

Try this, from Vienna. Nemico della patria from Andrea Chenier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yFY8qclFXo

[subcontrabass]

The piece on the Russian orthodox tradition was fascinating too, with the voice of the rare octavists.

It seems hard to credit that there are currently only three in the whole of Russia. I have met and heard the other one from St Peterburg. He and Vladimir Miller have in common that they are very tall, and that most of the extra height is in the body rather than in the legs. This gives them a larger than usual chest cavity to act as a resonator.

(I note also that costs seem to have been kept down by recording Vladimir Miller whilst on a visit to London.)

[MrGongGong]

It seems hard to credit that there are currently only three in the whole of Russia. I have met and heard the other one from St Peterburg. He and Vladimir Miller have in common that they are very tall, and that most of the extra height is in the body rather than in the legs. This gives them a larger than usual chest cavity to act as a resonator.

Interesting
Kaigal-ool Khovalyg from Huun Huur Tu is a very small man indeed and can sing lower than anyone I've ever met

[Barbirollians]

I thought that the whole series was outstanding.

In particular , I am grateful to Pappano for introducing me to the young DFD pre barking stage . I bought a cheap second hand copy of his early Die Schone Mullerin with Moore on EMI as a result and it is terrific .

[Pianorak]

. . . I was surprised to find myself admiring DFD's Erlkönig. I often find his singing over-studied, almost pedantic, but it seemed to work in this terrifying song. . .

Same here. - Wouldn't Paul Robeson perhaps made an oktavist?

[mercia]

Same here. - Wouldn't Paul Robeson perhaps made an oktavist?

..... and how about Mr Jetsam ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb51UrrCwgg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSmeF-5_BUk

"sounds a bit low to me"