shabby little shocker
Not Tosca, of course, cher public — La Cieca could never say that about her dear, dear Tosca. But it does seem both shabby and shocking that the combined forces of The New York Philharmonic and Charles Zachary Bornstein, the Philharmonic’s Leonard Bernstein Scholar-in-Residence would not at the very least ask for a retake of the following video clip embedded in the NYP’s site. Wait patiently through the early platitudinizing for the final thirty seconds or so of the clip, when soprano (?) Courtenay Schowalter bravely attempts to sight-read the spiky intervals of that rarely-heard vocal work “Vissi d’arte” whilst Maestro Bornstein fakes the accompaniment by ear. (What, the New York Philharmonic couldn’t afford a vocal score of Tosca? Or couldn’t they afford a Scholar-in-Residence who can read six flats?)
Crap like that runs the risk of turning inquisitive newbies away from classical music. *shudders* I feel sorry for anyone around the world who happens to watch that video clip and thinks it is instructive about the glories of Puccini. And my Tosca! The singing secretary should have demonstrated a flying leap.
But perhaps Sherri Shepherd would enjoy this bit of opera; it’s much more accessible than the Brahms rockeem.
Dear me…
How could they have put that out for the public?
He really should have taken the time to mark the accidentals and never have given his permission to release that take.
Such a boring commentary too.
With all the complaining about the present state of the MET radio intermission vs the past this Bornstein chap is not helpful.
Where is Miss Maisiello when we need her most?
In cielo. Con Knabe.
what was that he was playing and she singing, it started as Vissi D’arte and became? That is hideous. He is no berstein explaining music, and she is no, well, anything. This is a new york organization?
Joe Conda asserted:
The singer is a vocal cripple. She’s obviously wrecked her voice, quit singing, got a yob at the NYPhil and has come out of retirement to share her vocal stylings including wobbles on F natural.
I think you are being unjustly harsh. Granted, she is over-parted, but if you consider that a wobble, you need to get out more. I think the sound is more indicative of a poor microphone and/or faulty microphone placement than of a wobble on the singer’s part.
I wouldn’t call her a vocal cripple. Frankly, she deserves a medal of honor for her performance in spite of Mr. Bornstein’s playing(?) at the piano.
Perhaps you are projecting your own shortcomings and bitterness on Ms. Schowalter?
“Vocal cripple” is rather harsh. She is a young woman, though, so it seems more likely that she tried her hand at singing without much success and sensibly changed her career objective to artistic administration. Though one has to wonder at the “sensibly” part if she was still willing to lend her voice and name to this travesty.
The “wobble” is more likely a tremolo; in other words, this poor thing sounds scared stiff.
As for Mr. Bornstein, he is no Geraldine Farrar!
Looks like they took down the offending clip!