Thomas Allen - Revenge, revenge, Timotheus cries (from Handel's ALEXANDER'S FEAST)

[Btpride305]

His coloratura is good, I wish I could take off pressure from my voice and still be heard

[umroo2014]

He sounds a lot like Patrick Stewart if he were a singer! :) what a great baritone!

[showhiminbailey]

Love this, love this, love this!

[achantus1]

But he was a bass in Handel's Saul, right? He was just fantastic there! Just fantastic!

[interpreterr]

@achantus1 I must post the Saul bits then, just to hear how he sounded:)

[UsherLinder]

Most impressive!

[Wally773MTG]

hahahahaha, I've never heard this piece before (I'm not especially well versed in Handel, I am now actively working to remedy that) but jesus when he took that A at the end my brain damn near shot through my skull. Cheers Sir Thomas, yours is definitely another name to add to the ever growing "favorite baritones" list haha

[Octopop2010]

he is amazing

[bigus]

i have long said that if baritones would adopt more of a tenorial technique it would make them better vocalists and stay away from the tendency of overdarkenning the sound and woofing the high notes. thomas allen is the most amazing baritone i have ever heard and embodies everything i would love to hear more baritones do vocally. honestly if i sounded like thomas allen i wouldn't mind BEING a baritone! he has the most perfect technique for a baritone that i think can be achieved. he is amazing.

[drtmuir]

@sexybcl21 "Sapete, egli è una bestia!"  ;)

[interpreterr]

@sexybcl21 :-)))

[VoxDoc]

But, interpreterr, he still produces beautiful sounds. He has been my favorite lyric baritone ever since I first heard his "Songs of Travel" years ago. And yes, that Pelleas from BA is outstanding! As for the Messiah low notes issue, it's ironic Allen initially studied as a bass. Thanks for the post.

[interpreterr]

@VoxDoc I absolutely agree about the beauty of the sounds he still produces (and produced in the past - I almost cried when I heard his Pelleas for the first time, it was so exquisite!).

I didn't know that Allen initially studied as a bass. I suspect he decided he was a baritone quite quickly - I can't hear a bass even in his earliest recordings).

Anyway, I'm glad to hear you've enjoyed this post.

[raphabenbenjamin]

@interpreterr Sir Thomas states that he studied as a bass, baritone AND tenor. Not too unusual as great singers can produce healthy sounds over a large range. Temperament and natural color leads singer and teacher to best rep.

[drtmuir]

@VoxDoc Did he really? Hard to imagine, since his high notes were always so firm and it is his lowest notes that sort of disappear when he is tired/stressed (not trying to be snarky, I love him to death, as others here can attest). That's why he's not quite as comfortable singing the Mozart Figaro as he is the Count.

[stevevandien]

I'd love to hear Sir Thomas in "Messiah." Though he's not a bass, his voice has more than ample presence and range (not to mention flexibility) for the solos --

[interpreterr]

I don't think "Messiah" would be a good choice. His range is indeed impressive, but I don't think that the lower register (not quite his forte) would be strong enough for this work. Transposed Julius Ceasar is a different matter - a few baritones have sang the role and I'd love to hear what TA in it.

[1svlad]

This is a wonderful interpretation - I love his ending to the 'middle' section.

Very beautiful singing.

[interpreterr]

I woulnd't say there's nothing he can't do, but his range is certainly astounding.

PS. Why donuts? :)

[drtmuir]

It was a bit of the wisdom of Homer Simpson. ;)

[drtmuir]

Sir Tom is like donuts-- there's nothing he can't do. ;)

[interpreterr]

Yes, I have heard (and greatly enjoyed) this "Largo al factotum" with Allen. He does have a very good top register, doesn't he (very impressive in Pelleas). But what I enjoy most in his singing is its naturalness and the fact that he doesn't concentrate on producing just beautiful sounds...

[kostaspapaza]

interpreterr have you heard "largo al factorum" with sir thomas allen? you can find it in youtube. it's with marriner 1981 recording and it is only sound not video. hear his very good high a at around 1:18.

Thanks again for this video. Amazing singer.

[kostaspapaza]

thanks for the post very touching... great music great singing.!

[a96agli]

Where did you get these pictures?

[interpreterr]

I wish I remembered! Somewhere from the internet... Send me a message, if you'd like them as jpg files.