Opera Cage Match

[OperaTenor]

On "Di quella pira".

The Legends

Modern Tenors

Your picks?

The *Three* are conspicuously absent....

I sang in I Pagliacci this past season with Cura. I think he's phenomenal.

[piqaboo]

Wow, I listened to the classics 3x thru.
Not Corelli. I dont like the way he performed the song, tho his voice is very much to my taste. Too much huhuhu in the delivery.
I liked Caruso more than I usually do. I dont like the strain I hear in his voice at either end of his range. I wonder if its an artifact of the times, as I thought he had a huge voice?
I'm leaning toward Jussi B.

and now onto the next link.

[piqaboo]

Ooh. Too hard for me.
Cura's voice is noticeable darker than the other three, but I cant even eliminate one much less choose a favorite.

[Shapley]

Methinks I'm unqualified to make such a choice. I like Licitra in other works, but I didn't think he did as well in the video. Alagna does good, I would probably give him top marks. The others were okay, not great., IMTUO (in my totally unqualified opinion).

As for the classics, I think I liked Corelli best, again IMTUO.

[barfle]

As is the case with the stream, our network blocks youtube.

[dai bread]

I was surprised at the slow pace of Caruso's version. I can only think he must have had to fill up his disc. Either that, or he didn't like his mother much. She'd have been ash by the time he'd finished singing.

My pick goes to Jussi Bjoerling in the classics; and to Ben Heppner in the Modern section.

"Oh what a bonfire
My mother's on it...."

[piqaboo]

Dai,

[Mahlersfifth]

My choices:

1. Heppner
2. Licitra
3. Cura
4. Alagna

Sorry OT... I didn't care for Alagna's recording. He seemed a bit forced for me, though his high C... my oh my how he can sustain it and clearly. NOW, if we speaking about looks .....

[Shapley]

Hello, Mahlersfifth,

and welcome to the B.com BB!

V/R
Shapley

[Mahlersfifth]

Well thank you Shapley. Very kind indeed.

[OperaTenor]

Yes, M5, welcome to the Pit!™

No apology necessary. I though Alagna was pushing, too.

Caruso and Bjorling - the finest.

[GreatCarouser]

Heppner
Cura
Licitra
Alagna (ewwwwww)


Bjorling
Caruso (who can tell...backed by a marching band, no chorus, lower key (because of the inadequacy of the recording techniques at higher ranges?) but best tempo, articulation and control..
Corelli
Tucker

[Trumpetmaster]

Welcome Mahlersfifth

I have to ask...

Are you a trumpet player with that handle?

[Mahlersfifth]

Sorry TM.. I, alas, am nothing. Just a hack who loves Mahler and Mahlersfifth. Actually I adore vocal music, but most of you already know that. I have been on this board before.

[Mahlersfifth]

Of the Legends:

1. Bjoerling
2. Caruso
3. Corelli
4. Tucker

But I must say the chorus with Tucker was so magnificent that I tuned out Tucker to listen to the chorus.