amazon grace
La Cieca wishes to thank you, cher public, for making this year’s Amazon Associates advertising program successful beyond her wildest dreams.
And now, the top ten most ordered items of 2008!
1. Wagner: The Great Operas from the Bayreuth Festival
2. Marilyn Horne – The Complete Decca Recitals
3. The Original Jacket Collection: Montserrat Caballé
4. Legendary Perfomances of Leyla Gencer
5. Vivaldi – Ercole s’ul Termodonte (Spoleto Festival 2006)
7. Jonas Kaufmann: Romantic Arias
8. Rene Pape: Gods, Kings & Demons (Opera Arias)
9. La Nilsson: My Life in Opera
10. [Tie]
wow just watched that Straniera clip. She was a delightful anc charming Adina too in Stuttgart with Lima as Nemorino.
listened to most of rondine last night, he sounded alot better than she did. She has a lovely voice, but she always seems to be paying attention to the conductor in her head rather than the one in the pit. she always seems out of sync with everyone else, she rushed the Doretta dream aria in act one and gave little sense of character.
Judging from the Straniera clip, it really does seem that Aliberti channels at least the Callas sound.
In the opening of the clip, it’s really uncanny — and I thought that it might actually be a timbral doppleganger. However, it seems that it’s a manufactured timbre, as Aliberti’s sound changes into something much different (and not resembling Callas’s sound at all) when she has to compete with a larger orchestral sound and other singers. Even in the same registers as her Callas-like sounds from the opening, the tone quality is now much different. Less bottled, brighter, and in some ways, sounds less “mature” (which is only accentuated in comparison to what she sounded like just minutes prior).
I think that mimicking Callas’s timbre was definitely conscious.
Just wanted to wish La Cieca and all others a very happy and healthy 2009. May you never be disappointed musically (or otherwise). – MKL
Well, Karnal, I have never experienced Aliberti in the flesh, so I can’t say what I really think about her. Recordings seem to suggest Callas-imitation with a voice of less substance and lesser schooling.
Maybe Aliberti is more viscerally exciting in the opera house or concert hall … And that is where my well-aired issues with poor beleagured RF arose — from 1995, when I saw her in recital long before she became American Diva inc and acquired all her current mannerisms. For some reasons, even though the voice was beautiful — and I like a beautiful voice, which was why I went along in the first place — she did nothing for me and it was clear that she didn’t do much for the rest of the audience either, apart from Matthew Epstein, who tried to whip up a standing ovation for his client. She just doesn’t have ‘it’, and no amount of carefully applied vocal technique or acting technique — and blanket PR — will ever convince me (and clearly many other people) otherwise!
How funny, Krunoslav. I always felt that Callas, even in her prime, sounded hard pressed herself. I can think of several Callas recordings that I have used as party records over the years. Every time a high note comes up, everyone has to grab onto their chairs and/or cover their ears.
Of the top 10 listed above, I only have the Caballe set. I suppose I should buy the Nilsson book. Needless to say, I would certainly never invest in a DVD of any baroque opera.
If you close your eyes during Aliberti’s Straniera clip, it’s Sylvia Sass.
In that Straniera clip, Aliberti keeps nudging into notes, which I find a really irritating habit. (Freni does it too, though she seems to be considered beyond criticism for some reason, probably because the basic sound was so healthy and she had lots of charm.) Callas certainly had her faults (I am not a fan of her voice, though I can appreciate her artistry) but she took notes cleanly in a legato line, didn’t she?
Getting back to what matters – all of us who read this site religiously are delighted that our doyenne has had a great year and wish her even more success, happiness and prosperity in the New Year! Being able to visit with her via this site has become a bright spot in our daily routine. Dear Cieca, thank you and long may you reign! Cheers!
See Thackeray…after all that, you’ve proved yourself to be little more than a one subject basher…in fact, I have to give it to you- you are a very good one! No wonder you are always first out of the stalls when our Doyenne puts up the balloon. Pity- those that hoped for more remain disappointed.
Operatically speaking you really should go get a life.