Nessun Dorma. Puccini

[Maleth]

Maltese Tenor Josheph Calleja at the Night of Proms at Royal Albert hall London 2012 with BBC symphony orchestra.

 

[Angela]

Maltese Tenor Josheph Calleja at the Night of Proms at Royal Albert hall London 2012 with BBC symphony orchestra.

WOW, Maleth...very nice as well that the English lyrics appear onscreen.

People like me think about and read things like this...A Nessun Dorma sing off...a voice masterclass.

One of the comments mentions the "Maltese" tenor very favorably.
http://masterclasslady.com/2013/02/19/the-nessun-dorma-sing-off-a-vocal-masterclass-review/

I like Fernando Varela among the new crop as well...very Pavarotti like...at the end he showboats and adds even "higher" notes...ah well, we all know that tenors are show offs!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkNvU0FISpY#t=111

A note about Nessun Dorma...this isn't the most beautiful aria or the most difficult necessarily, imo. I think with one of the reviewers that it's popularity is all due to Pavarotti singing it at the FIFF world cup, and that it's relatively short. Unfortunately, that means that everybody and his niece has sung it, and badly, imho.

Also, although Pavarotti sang this aria, he did not perform the opera. He had a 'lyric' tenor voice and this was written for a
"spinto"* voice; he thought he would damage his instrument if he sang the whole opera. He was a very "wise" musician; that's why his voice lasted for so long, unlike Bocelli, who has ruined his...

This is also an interesting article: 10 Best Nessun Dorma of all time:
http://www.classicfm.com/composers/puccini/guides/best-nessun-dorma/

The you tube selections range from the spare Merli version, which is closer to what Puccini wrote, to the luxurious version by Jussi Jorling, that very "Italianate" Scandinavian tenor.

I think that Franco Corelli, who actually is a "spinto" tenor, does a superlative job. As does Placido Domingo...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE4EgIG0pew

I also don't know if you've seen this...
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/sep/06/joseph-calleja-tenor-maltas-treasure

 

[Maleth]

Glad you liked it Angela. Thank you for all the links. Franco Corelli is surely stunning. I think Nessun Dorma would be the most popular because it flows and has a great way to reach the crecendo bit. It always give me goose bumps when I hear it. But as you say there are also maybe more difficult arias were one can express their vocal capabilities.

here are some more popular aria's for you with titles in English ....the introduction to the arias start at 8.30 on the time monitor.

 

[Angela]

Maleth, they'd be justified in taking away my Italian citizenship if I didn't understand and speak Italian any more! It's just that I always try to find versions of Italian music of any kind that have English translations on screen so more people can enjoy them.

Calleja gave a nice little explanation of Verdi there...

I was struck, as I often am, at the similar facial structure of most opera singers...almost without exception they have these large, broad faces. My friend who is a singing teacher tells me there's all sorts of reasons for that, but I'm afraid I start to (politely) tune her out when she gets too technical. She also says many of them are afraid to get too lean for similar reasons, although some of them take it too far, I think. Such a difference with dancers, who, especially lately, all seem anorexic.

 

[Maleth]

Maleth, they'd be justified in taking away my Italian citizenship if I didn't understand and speak Italian any more! It's just that I always try to find versions of Italian music of any kind that have English translations on screen so more people can enjoy them.

Oh no we dont do that do we? you are right things are much more appreciated when they are understood and I notice you take much time translating for all to enjoy and makes it more interesting

I was struck, as I often am, at the similar facial structure of most opera singers...almost without exception they have these large, broad faces. My friend who is a singing teacher tells me there's all sorts of reasons for that, but I'm afraid I start to (politely) tune her out when she gets too technical. She also says many of them are afraid to get too lean for similar reasons, although some of them take it too far, I think. Such a difference with dancers, who, especially lately, all seem anorexic.

Yes it really seems like it ( I presume you are referring the the female opera stars too), if so that would make Maria Callas an exception, who I remember as a kid having heard her voice and somehow I was expecting a big women to match such a powerful voice. I was impressed to find out how skinny she was.