Ramon Vargas "Che gelida manina" La Boheme Met 2008

[Vanchy58]

Esta versión de La Boheme de Puccini es la mejor que he visto y escuchado en mi vida. Ramon Vargas es un excelente Rodolfo y le impregna todo el calor humano que exige el rol. La producción de Franco Zeffirelli en el MET de Nueva York es un suceso fuera de serie. El DVD de la version completa se consigue con el sello EMI. Vale la pena comprarlo!

[BeatHaven]

Laaaaaa speeeeeeeeeeeeeeraaaaaaaaaaaaa­nzaaaaa:-).Damn how I wish I could sing and master my voice like that...How could this interpretation not get into your emotional core.Bravo Ramon,one of the most convincing lyrical tenors these days in my opinion.

[Fegen]

Terrific! I saw him today in the HD Broadcast of "Don Giovanni" Oct 29th, 2011

and his aria in the second act was absolutely beautiful and flawless. This tenor

is outstanding!

[rosamariahz]

lo amooooooooooooo!!! :D es fantástico!!!

[maumg71]

POR ALGO MAESTRO VARGAS HA SIDO CONSIDERADO EL MEJOR TENOR DEL MUNDO POR LA CRITICA ESPECIALIZADA FABULOSO ¡¡¡ ORGULLOSAMENTE MEXICANO

[h0bgawblin]

I have goose bumps.  This mans voice is truly the epitome of tenor elegance.

[OperataMr]

BRAVO LOS DOS. Es una delicia escucharles.

[vivadomingo1]

Probably the most underrated tenor in the last decade...a great singer and more importantly, a great artist!

[danbar73]

For those who are suggesting that RV does not have a high C anymore, listen to Soave Fanciulla. I believe he decided to sing the B here to produce a darker,more robust sound to contrast well with the usual bright,lyric versions out there. More than a year after this perf, he sang Berlioz' Damnation of Faust in Vienna concert with the two high C#/Db and a sustained, ravishing B. I believe the event was recorded for commercial distribution,hopefully soon.

[reinadegrillos]

Bravo!

Que bella voceee!!!

[medicoide]

El maestro Vargas casi a sus 50 años cantando de una forma excepcional.

[musicalme27]

I think I'm in love!

[tenore80]

Grandissimo tenore!!!!!!!!! ma nn capisco come mai un grande come lui si faccia abbassare l'aria.....

[juanmaplante]

personalmente detesto cuando bajan un semitono las arias, en general. Si está escrita en un tono, hay que respetarlo y bucar al tenor que pueda cantarla.

POR OTRO LADO PARA MI VARGAS CANTABA MUHCO MEJOR HACE UNOS AÑOS CUANDO ESTABA MAS FLACO. SU VOZ TENÍA MUCHO MÁS COLOR, BRILLO Y FUERZA.

Saludos

[sterneflamme]

Come si può dire che sia una bella interpretazone? Manca tutto: il fraseggio, il gusto, l'accento. Dov'è la giovinezza di rodolfo' Dove la sua passione? E poi, " via piacia?? Con quegli zeri nel cachet?

[matthieusarah]

Vargas is so good! Alagna (watch his performance at the Met, posted on youtube) used to be my favourite for this aria but now that I heard Ramon I couldn't say which one I prefer. Anyway he's far better than Villazon but less famous, that's a shame!

[tamalesytortas]

a vargas se le debe escuchar de rodillas

[robertopics]

fro the people that think he needs to work on his acting the video is to dark. i have watched this dvd and his singing is acompanied by acare free attitude. he is like i am poor bu ti do not really care with a candid face. para los que dicen que nesecita mejorar su actuacion les dire que el video esta muy oscuro y no se pueden apreciar sus expressiones faciales. he visto el video en dvd y vargas despliega una actitud un poco siverguenza y candida las cuales son ideales para rodolfo.

[kirrinchas]

Muy bien ramoncito, felicidades y que envidia al estar al lado de esa guapa

[voce1958]

Bello il timbro vocale di Ramon Vargas, bello il do acuto estremo sulla "speranza", mi ricorda un altro grande Rodolfo: Gianni Raimondi

[karifrid]

Scusi,ma non e "il do".Questo e si.Bello,ma non e il DO. Io studiavo in Italia tanti anni fa e so,che Italiani cantano (qusi tutti) il Do.Sempre mi piace Italia e la lingua e bellissima.Ho un nouvo video con me,Che gelida manina.karifrid. Viva Italia!

This is a high B,not C.Still beautyful. I put a new video with me 14 days ago,singing Che gelida manina,with the high C. I get some jobs after people see me one youtube,(few people can afford to hire Vargas.)

[pieritlyon]

RAMÓN VARGAS TIENE BUENA VOZ Y ES BUEN INTERPRETE. LA SOPRANO ES MAGNIFICA, EN VOZ E INTERPRETACIÓN, ,ADEMÁS BELLA Y DE LINDA FIGURA. Vargas debe procuparse de su figura,está muy gordo, se puede ser menos gordo y cantar bello. Su figura debe ,también,reflejar la belleza de la voz para que la magia de ésta se complemente. Espero que se valore mis buenas intenciones.

[karifrid]

I like Vargas a lot,more in Donizetti. I want to advertise ME HERE. I am an icelandic tenor,with good high notes,on youtube I sing this aria with a HIGH C. Also many other arias,La donna e mobile,(and ALL the tenorpart) Di quella pira,O sole mio with a HIGH C,Dies bildnis,Una furtiva lagrima,E la solida storia del pastore,La sernata,(Tosti) and many more. Hope to get some more jobs as a tenor.I am not "in" in Iceland.Sang La donna e mobile auditioning for the operachorus and did NOT get job.

[sexybcl21]

I watched your videos, and the reason you're not getting jobs is because you're not good. Your high notes seems strained, your tone is flat along with your pitch, and there is NO beauty to the voice. Now I wouldn't criticize others usually, but don't adverstise yourself next to Ramon Vasrgas, especially after he sang this aria so well in this video. You should feel and be ashamed

[anselgoya]

me gusta mucho su voz,pero le falta ser un poco mas actor.

un placer mexicano.gran hombre.

*la georghiu que belleza.

[mig82]

No estoy de acuerdo con tu comentario: yo vi esta produccion en su totalidad, y me encanto mucho Vargas. No es el mejor Rodolfo, pero definitivamente no fue malo tampoco.

[anselgoya]

yo no digo que fuera malo (comparado con el incompetente de pavarotti-en actuacion-) lo que digo que comparado con rolando villazon actualmente.o con corelli o del monaco ,le falto mas y si lo comparo con ellos es porque este señor es de las grandes ligas.

[tena2]

Villazon es quien es, para mi nada de especial, por que por algun motivo se le ocurrio a Domingo lanzarlo a la fama, de Villazon no me inspira nada, ni su color de voz, ni su manera de cantar ni su malísima técnica, ponerlo entre los grandes no es más que hacerle la pelota a Domingo, quien sí está entre los grandes por todos sus méritos.

[anselgoya]

tiene toda la razon en sus argumentos,pero le recuerdo que tambien la opera es actuacion,y es de lo que estoy hablando. villazon es buen actor.

lo que no entendi es: "hacerle la pelota a domingo"

[tena2]

José Carreras se hizo popular por que Montserrat Caballé cantó mucho con el. Plácido Domingo hace una cosa parecida con Villazón, la ópera es un mundo dificil pues realmente hay muchos cantantes buenos, pero también los hay muchos con padrinos, o enchufados o con contactos o como quiera usted llamarlo. Yo soy de los que opinan que a un artista auténtico se le descubre y no se le hace. No sé si me he explicado... Saludos.

[anselgoya]

se ha explicado completamente y la apoyo.

pero mi punto se basa en la actuacion tambien,en donde pocos realmente lo son,y domingo como villazon,son buenos actores.

le pongo un ejemplo: vea el trovador de pavarotti y comparelo con la traviata de villazon del festival de salsburgo.

pavarotti es superior al canto,pero ya en su conjunto,el italiano da pena y en cambio,el mexicano cautiva.

[tena2]

tengo que confesar que me ha causado gracias lode el italiano da pena, pues si, es verdad, en escena era algo pésimo pero vocalment muy superior a muchos. Saludos anselgoya.

[anselgoya]

pavarotti es mas para un concierto o para cantar un requiem o misa. o tambien escucharlo en grabacion,pero verlo haciendola de general egipcio (aida) galan aventurero (turandot) o en otros papeles,es digno de verguenza.

el unico papel que podria representar sin problemas sera rigoletto.

[tena2]

totalmente de acuerdo.

[voltape]

si, pero haga de rigoletto, aunque haya que subir la partitura para que sirva para tenor. Por que lo que es, el Duque... para llorar

[anselgoya]

es a lo que me referia,por lo deforme.

[danbar73]

This is to clarify my comment below that some famous tenors "all sang the B instead of C" in Che Gelida..I meant to say that at some point later in their careers,they chose to sing the B instead of C for whatever artistic reason. Most certainly, Pavarotti,etc(&Vargas too) had sung the C in countless live performances.

[danbar73]

RV's decision to sing this aria in a more robust, dark-hued,masculine sound for the DVD recording was a wise one. There are just too many versions in the market with the usual light,brighter sound. His performance here, which may be astonishing to those who prefer the lighter versions, does not lack his customary eloquence, sweetness and musicality.

[robertopics]

lt us not forget that this is puccini the master of drama.

[eddyarias2]

In this interpretation Vargas' voice sounds kind of tense and not so flowing. I love Vargas but not this interpretation, maybe he wasn't feeling good that day.

[javiergraciasanchis]

ramón vargas excelente

[nenad1711]

He doesn't sing high C but B

[danbar73]

RV did it to make the sound more robust,darker,virile. He did sing the high C in the duet, a trade off I guess. Puccini gave the leading ladies of his operas the best music and the high notes to sing. The original high note he gave Rodolfo here was A-b; Mimi's high note in her aria was A. To give the tenor 2 high C's and only one to the soprano would have been unacceptable to Puccini.Caruso,Gigli,Corelli,D­i Steffano,Bjoerling,Tucker,Pava­rotti,etc..all sang the B instead of C,Pav even at age 32.

[Mooorhe]

When did Pavarotti sing the B instead of the C at 32?

[danbar73]

I made a general statement here about tenors opting for the B instead C for whatever artistic reason(not necessarily in Boheme). In a La Scala(?) 1967 production of Bellini's Capuleti e Montecchi with Aragall singing Romeo & Pav singing Tebaldo (supporting tenor role), Pav opted to sing the B instead of a big,redeeming high C at the only spot for him to shine (cabaletta of E serbata a questo acciaro). He was in good voice, and had all the reason in the world to hit that C with Aragall starring.

[Mooorhe]

However, even as it was written, the highest note a tenor sings in this aria is a Bb on 'son', unless I'm mistaken.

[danbar73]

You are correct about the Bb on 'chi son'. I was referring to the high note on 'speranza' where tenors take the unwritten high C.

[jrevoredoi]

Como me encantaría que la nueva versión del "3 Tenors" sea con Ramon Vargas, Juan Diego Florez y Marcelo Alvarez.

The new version of "3 Tenors" must be with Ramon Vargas, Juan Diego Florez and Marcelo Alvarez. The most greatest voices of the moment!!

[michalberco]

Im fan of Heppner and Alagna BUT there is Vargas! He is an artist! Even in this bad recording he makes my heart melt!

[gaytenor]

I am able to understand someone preferring another tenor to Signor Vargas, I do myself, but the man is a GREAT ARTIST who isn't a recording studio fraud. He has a great lyric tenor voice which he uses with consumate skill. Of the tenors now before the public in international houses he is probably the most dependible since I have never heard him sing badly. I personally rather listen to Alvarez, Kauffmann, Alagna, or Heppner but that doesn't detract from Vargas' gift.

[olddeudynku]

nobody sings this like Pav does...did.... but the acting is soooo great in this that the story is far more compelling in this version than any I've seen. BRAVO!

[phllb]

Truly brilliant!

[tamalesytortas]

no solo es su talento sino el lugar donde nació.

eres nuestro paisano, eres el mas chingón

[Javiersamano]

yo no conocia a ramon vargas hasta que compre esta opera

es muy bueno el senor

[Vanchy58]

Maravilloso acoplamiento de Vargas con la diva rumana Gheorgiu. Los dos hacen un perfecto duo de uno de los momentos más sublimes del verismo pucciniano

[Moshebautista]

Que maestro, Que bello de verdad,, inspirador,, Yo recien estoy aprendiendo,, no se si muy tarde mi nombre es Moshe Bautista,, pero este es el tenor romantico por excelencia... Bravissimo Ramon Vargas

[cantantesmexicanos]

Bravo Gran Maestro VARGAS!!!

[Bondodevil]

thanks for putting this up. This was my first exposure to La Boheme, to opera in general and, thought I have since discovered more technically proficient versions of this aria, this one holds a special place in my heart. Thank you very much. :-)

[ilbacioditosca]

Vargas found another dimension at the end of the aria more than other tenors, he seem relax, and in real connection with her.

[Brahmsfourth]

Magnificent! Ramon Vargas is at his peak. His poise and acting ability are wonderful. His voice is full-bodied and gorgeous, and he uses it with passion, restraint and intelligence. What a jewel of a tenor.

[OettingerCroat]

i was lucky enough to see this live!!! great singers and actors.

[Webarton]

Oh my god, hands down my favorite interpretation... acting+ technique.. just wow.

=)

[danbar73]

Contestar--I did not say that RV sang the aria in a different key every night. I attended only the first performance on 3/29/08 when he sang the aria in key of Ab (w/ top C) in bright,lyric tones. It was criticized for being understated (another word for lyric). Obviously he decided to use his burnished bronze for the April 5th broadcast and DVD, and sang it in key of G (top B), giving us the most masculine, powerful yet poetic version. This is even darker and more virile than del Monaco's in G.

[nietzschearistofanes]

Are you serious? Do you know what are you talking about? This,'even darker and more virile than del Monaco...'? Wow! You should clear your ears man!!!

[danbar73]

My ears are quite fine, and I know exactly what I was talking about in comparing RV's version here with another favorite of mine-del Monaco's 1975 Telecast posted by Onegin65 on YT. My comment solely refers to Che Gelida Manina versions of the two artists on You Tube, and nothing more. I stand by what I said, and you can check out the 1975 MDM version of the aria, also in key of G, and do so with open mind and ears.

[luiszaoo]

@danbar73 No mames!!

[danbar73]

@luiszaoo What "no names" are you talking about? If you're responding to any of my comments, be specific so I can clarify it for you.

[CONTESTAR]

The key-change comes in the cords after the words "in verita" in the scene before. Compare with a recording where the tenor takes the C (like the Pavarotti-Karajan) and you will always be able to tell! ;-))

[antho5566]

:) Thanks

beep beep beep. chk out my prfile!! msg me! xu

[vivijd14]

magnifique!!!!

[puccinilover]

does he sing the c or transpose it down I can't tell

[danbar73]

The performance used for the HD moviecast and DVD (the video clip here) was on April 5/08; the first performance took place on March 29/08, which attended. On the opening night, Vargas lightened his voice singing in bright, lyric tones. He sounded great all night with effortless, well focused and ringing high notes including the two high Cs. His high C in Che Gelida Manina was just exquisite, delivered while sitting down.Here, he sang B for the aria,C for the duet in virile, dark spinto sound.

[CONTESTAR]

I cannot imagine that he sings the aria in a different key each night as danbar suggested.

The aria though beautifully sung is down half a step every time I heard him.

It is not the note at the end that goes down. It is the whole piece of course; otherwise it would be a-wrong-note... That makes the aria a lot more comfortable to sing and leaves you stamina for the C in the duet.

[ilbacioditosca]

Yes it transpose half tone down.

[robikske1804]

ramon vargas is the new substitute for pavarotti, placido domingo does not have the voice of that mexican tenor, he is at the moment the greatest voice on earth , also anna netrebko,

[celina5xxx]

Gracias y saludos! Great tenor!

[marcelramalho]

Bravíssimo!

[danteorochi]

As time go by You'll be my favorite tenor

Amazing Master Vargas!!!

so lovely..

[danteorochi]

As time go by we'll be my favorite tenor

Amazing Master Vargas!!!

so lovely..

[aprils49]

Sublime!! Bravisimo!!

[Operafiend22]

Such a beautiful voice and singer...he's no. 1 of the current lot of tenors in my book.

[novice1959]

operafiend- I completely agree with you, He's my favorite of the current operatic tenors also! Beautiful, expressive, warm, dark voice,

and he's a good actor too!

[rodrucci]

Wow, maravillosa interpretacion maestro Vargas !

[ugolinifu]

Bravissimo... RAMON! THANK YOU... So nice and sensitive singing... great!

[sanvocals]

Despite Angela is so DIVA!! they seems very sweet in the stage! and thats waht really matters!....this act is full of sweetness and they are doing the right thing!!

[novice1959]

Bravo, Vargas, indeed! This is very fine, and his acting is excellent.

[danbar73]

Vargas' Rodolfo does not have to take a back seat to anyone's performance. This is a superbly sung and acted Rodolfo, overwhelmingly acclaimed by knowledgeable opera fans worldwide. I might add also that this is arguably the finest performance of this opera. If you are using the names of dead singers to diminish a living one, or create bad feelings among fans, I don't want any part of it. Pavarotti and di Steffano were great singers; I enjoy a lot of their recordings in my collection

[ScottAuc]

Thank you, I personally love Ramon's singing and interpretation of this.

[Mooorhe]

My apologies Danbar73, that comment was rude of me.

I prefer those singers... But after watching this performance and some others, Vargas's voice has really grown on me. And I do agree that this is a great performance.

[luisenes]

you apologizes,you are a gentleman.

[danteorochi]

my Dear danbar73 im so excited to read your comment about Ramon Rodolfo's

And every time that i enter here and i see the opinion of the people about Ramon i feel so hot my blood inside my skin because apart of his opera career he is my uncle

Thanks a lot for ur magnific comment

greetings Dante Limon Vargas

[danbar73]

danteorochi: I appreciate very much your kind words. If you read unfair comments about your uncle Ramon, just ignore them. These are just from a few fans of other singers; millions around the world think highly of him. I am looking forward to the worldwide broadcast and recordings of his big concerts in Beijing, China during the Olympic Games last month. I heard that the Three Tenors concert with Vargas, Giordani and Licitra was "unforgettable". He did two concerts with Fleming & co. Good luck.

[alvarogm86]

you can't say that Vargas "doesn´t sound badly" just because he doesn't sound like pavarotti or di stefano, they are the best Rodolfos ever

this is a very good performance indeed

[bigdigger87]

It is not really fair to compare their voices because they are 2 different lyric voices. Vargas has more of a brassy timbre to his voice while Pavarotti had more "ping" (if you will).

[luisenes]

fuck you

[mona0825]

This was such a great performance! Thanks for posting it. I watched in a packed movie theater, and those floating ending notes were absolutely amazing. A very well deserved bravo. Vargas is a great artist, I saw him live one month after this, in Clemenza di Tito and I was very happily surprised on how his voice has developed an authentic darker, fuller sound without loosing the lyric touch.

[danbar73]

tristanhni---I believe the reason is a personal and an intelligent one, and I'm eternally grateful for this performance will stand out in a sea of pastel colored performances of the role. A most amazing thing about Vargas' artistry is his ability to lighten his voice and colors almost at will. He did it for the opening night of this run of Bohemes and for Mozart's Tito three weeks later. I saw the first performance, a week before this broadcast on 3/29, when he sang in gorgeous lyric tones.

[danbar73]

tristanhni--cont... On 3/29 I believe he sang all the high Cs; all his high notes were free, focused and gleaming. He sang the closing high notes of this aria in the most beautiful lyric sound so easily and SITTING DOWN! For this broadcast on 04/05 (to be released on DVD), Vargas decided to sing the role in his current burnished spinto sound, opting for B natural to bring out the optimum results for posterity. Million thanks for that decision, we finally got a virile, poetic and a glorious one.

[luisenes]

danbar73 bravo...veryy good coment.you know opera.

[dserafin777]

not convincing Ramon Vargas... like Alagna better in this role...

[danbar73]

Have to disagree with all the sobbing and wet eyes at the MET and movie houses. Blogger Oregon Opera said he "cried shamelessly" halfway through this aria. Wonder what he did at the end with that stunning sound. He must have been ejected for uncontrollable bawling. Vargas is decidedly a better singing partner to Gheorghiu. They are both musical , sensitive artists with matching vocal refinement and colors. G & V are totally involved and commited artists with great chemistry together.

[tristanhnl]

I wonder why Ramon Vargas didn't sing this in the original key...he most certainly is able to do high C's without too much problem. In fact approximately 10 minutes later at the end of "O soave fanciulla" he lets loose a spine-tingling high C with Angela Gheorghiu.

[danbar73]

It's so wonderful to hear this aria in dark, burnished sound delivered eloquently by a real poet of a singer. IMO this is the best pairing of principals and arguably the best performance of the opera. There may be a more vocally opulent Mimi or Rodolfo, but I cannot think of a more artistically compelling performance by both principals in a live performance. Simply outstanding! Really great to see the facial expressions of the artists; it adds so much to the enjoyment of the music. Thanks a lot.

[luisenes]

caramba you make a home runn on every coment

[oopperahullu]

Reply to ciociosan: Opera is all pretty unbelievable if you think about it, what with its outlandish plot twists and women playing men playing women, among other things. It requires a leap of faith from us, and I think Ramon Vargas makes it easy for us to believe! In love at first sight! In beauty! In poetry!

Onegin, thank you so much for posting this wonderful aria!!!!

[fabiantenor]

One of the most beautiful tenor voices on the planet, Dios lo Bendiga!

[guy1938]

Great tenor, bravo

[ciociosan]

he must have been the fattest, starving poet evah! LOL!

seriously, i think vargas is one of the most reliable opera singing actors we have today. bravo, vargas!