parterre box

70 comments

• CruzSF says:

  Cool. Thanks, Sanford! I’ll go back and listen to the recording again with your notes in mind.

  on September 2, 2009 at 4:59 PM
• CruzSF says:

  Very interesting. Now I have a better understanding of “scooping,” referred to so often by commenters here. I’ve read explanations of why singers do this, but it sounds uncomfortable. I ran out (virtually) to YouTube and found this clip of Callas. Even with the poor recording quality of the original, the performance seems more assured.

  Obviously, I’m not trying to say anything ridiculous like “comparing Fleming to Callas is like comparing Sutherland to Malibran.” I AM, though, noting different approaches that singers take and hearing which is more pleasing to my ear. As I’ve said before in other threads, I enjoyed Fleming in “Thais” last year but understand that others find that impossible.

  on September 2, 2009 at 11:11 PM
• Sanford says:

  Also, Cruz, her Schubert is wonderful (not Elly Ameling, but wonderful in its own right)

  on September 2, 2009 at 11:19 PM
• CruzSF says:

  Thanks, Sanford, I’ve now ordered it.

  Now, very OT: do you or anyone here know of an online location to learn about and discuss lieder? I’m not a singer. Just an avid fan of the human voice.

  Thanks.

  on September 2, 2009 at 11:37 PM
• CerquettiFarrell says:

  #53 – Fleming’s Schubert wonderful, OK. I think it is one of the most laboured, beautified, cleverish lieder recitals ever recorded. Some songs were simply unbearable. The style is so WRONG IMHO. True, her Rach / Faure recital is even worse. No wonder both CDs are no longer in the catalogue

  on September 3, 2009 at 3:03 AM
• CruzSF says:

  55 Don’t just tear down. Offer an alternative with reasons for it.

  on September 3, 2009 at 4:11 AM
• Buster says:

  Never heard the Fleming record, but different styles of Schubert singing can be heard on the wonderful double CD from Preiser, Lieder in historischen Aufnahmen.

  I am fond of a lot of styles – from Elena Gerhardt and Elisbeth Schwarzkopf to Edith Mathis, but the recordings I listen to most are the four Gundula Janowitz/Irwin Gage CD’s on DG. Margaret Price on Orfeo and Hyperion too, but none of her later recordings on Forlane. And I love Elisabeth Schumann’s double CD on EMI.

  on September 3, 2009 at 4:20 AM
• manou says:

  @QPF 25 : not sure why you would like to know, but this is what I can make out (obviously the premiere of Funny Girl in Paris) :

  (numbers refer to white numbers on screen)

  02:41:15 : Michele Morgan dancing with her husband Gerard Oury
  02:45:06 : Streisand with the Baron Guy de Rotschild
  02:54:23 : obviously Omar Sharif
  03:04:15 : lady in mink and Gunter Sachs (Brigitte Bardot’s then husband)
  03:06:16 : Maurice Chevalier and BS
  03:15:01 : Daniel Gelin
  04:37:23 : this one is a poser because it looks exactly like Karim Aga Khan, but if it is the same man who is escorting her just before, it ain’t him
  04:50:15 : OS
  04:55:23 : more Gerard Oury and Michele Morgan
  05:11:22 : Eddie Barclay (French music mogul)

  Hope this helps…

  on September 3, 2009 at 5:18 AM
• manou says:

  Apologies for dropping an H – Rosthchild.

  on September 3, 2009 at 5:36 AM
• CerquettiFarrell says:

  #56, sorry you are VERY right. I normally don’t just berate without providing explanations. Bascially I think Fleming’s Schubert lacks a sense of spontaeniety and naturaleness.
  One of the best Lieder recitals to be had, I think, is Irmgard Seefried’s double album on DG
  http://www.amazon.com/Irmgard-Seefried-Lieder/dp/B0015RR4XI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1251975272&sr=8-1

  another one is her Testament recital comprised of Mozart concert arias and Lieder:
  http://www.amazon.com/Irmgard-Seefried-Johannes-Brahms/dp/B000003XI8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1251975323&sr=8-1

  Aly Ameling, as mentioned before, is exquisite in Schubert et al, I think her best album is probably the one with Jorg Demus on DHM :
  http://www.amazon.com/Elly-Ameling-Schubert-Schumann-Songs/dp/B000001TWU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1251975395&sr=1-1

  and, for me, practically all ot Lotte Lehmann’s late Lieder records, which I prise for the sincerity, warmth and still spectacular voice. There are all to be had on Naxos historical, including a near-complete Winterreise, split between the various volumes, but then it is highly addictive: buying one, you might want to have them all.

  here she is, croaky voice and all, yet incomparable in a Brahms Lied during a masterclass:
  

  I’m not much of a Schwarzkopf fan: I can’t deny the intelligence and the hard work behind it all, also the sheer beauty of the sound, but it often sounds (to me) contrived and devoid of naturaleness. DFD I like his younger, more deeper-voiced self.

  I’d also recommend most of Janet Baker’s Lied albums, especially Brahms and Mahler, two composers in which she particularly excelled.

  French melodie: Suzanne Danco, Gerard Souzay, and for me the greatest: Charles Panzera.

  Modern singers: I love Ian Bostridge’s first Schubert recital with the patrician Julius Drake. It still has the best Im Fruhling (my favourite Schubert song) and Ganymed.
  http://www.amazon.com/Schubert-25-Lieder-Franz/dp/B000A2H7PY/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1251975879&sr=1-8

  baritones: most impressive nowadays is probably Christian Gerhaher. Love the voice, attitude, diction and discretion:
  http://www.amazon.com/Melancholie-Liederkreis-op-39-Christian-Gerhaher/dp/B000WGWW9Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1251975925&sr=1-1

  Bernarda Fink is very impressive in Brahms and Schumann. Her Schubert and Berlioz I found pretty bland.

  Grip any Lorraine Hunt recital you see -- especially the one just out on HMF from Ravinia. Undoubtedly to my mind, she was the best vocal artist of the last 20-30 years. The most generous and warm and totally devoid of any mannerism whatsoever.

  http://www.amazon.com/Recital-Lorraine-Hunt-Lieberson-Ravinia/dp/B001L15C5K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1251976026&sr=1-1

  This recital has the best Von ewige Liebe that I have ever heard. Also a wonderful Abendempfindung.

  I don’t see any really interesting new sopranos in this field, though the radiant Genia Kuhmeier might prove to be a new Seefried.
  

  Anja Harteros is also a responsive, individual artist. I love her recent 4 last songs, one of the most individual and warm.

  French song has Veronique Gens in a beautiful recital that “grows on you”:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0cVF8H6Ils

  and her Nuits d’ete is great too:
  http://www.amazon.com/V%C3%A9ronique-Gens-Berlioz-Nuits-Cl%C3%A9opatre/dp/B00005A9ND/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1251976361&sr=1-1

  And Bartoli as a song artist is not to be ignored. Her French album one of the vocal glories of the gramophone. If only she’s concentrate on this kind of rep instead of her quirky operatic appearances!

  on September 3, 2009 at 7:13 AM