The "Una voce poco fa" Contest: Jennifer Larmore (1st place)

[Dogaradodia]

Certified Intergalactic! Will you marry me?

[rlbella]

I am absolutely stunned that Teresa Berganza is not included in this list. An incredible oversight! In fact, many would say she is unquestionaly the best Rosina ever. Certainly she must be the best of all Rossini mezzo sopranos. And her version of 'Una Voce Poca Fa' (while she was in her prime) is the standard by which all other versions should be judged. Shame on you for leaving her out of the contest...!

[bottale]

This is excellent, but I absolutely LOVE Roberta Peters's rendition. It's all about fun, and showing off is a big part for the fun. Can't touch RP.

[madmaxx70]

bartoli first with larmore (best) and before callas? full of deaf people...omg

[dziady1]

Korjus is more fun and less screaming

[cincorn]

I do not Larmore in the role of Carmen so I never really listened to her in any other role. I like her as Rosina but she's no match for Teresa Berganza. She's kind of "screechy" in the higher notes of the coloratura passages.



[FrogCraw]

The genius of Rossini is that he wrote music that could give life to the talents of a huge range of performers, all of them with a unique "skill set" and physical talent. Most of the narrow minded critics are pedants and they only rob themselves of the sheer joy of listening to the best performers alive put their uniqueness to work with this masterpiece.

[KrystalB25]

The results are funny! ha

[kelusktube]

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[elainezmaher]

Sops have so many coloratura arias, save the few we mezzos have for us.I will listen to Moffo, vano

[avivsheriff]

As the most straightforward and uncreative of the contestants, it's not surprising this interpretation won the contest.

[mgarrincha333]

YUP !

much better than the rest !

[leporello56]

My God! I've never even Heard of this Lady! Bravissima!!!

[dolcesuegiu]

Bartoli first place!??! ahahahahaha yes, it's a joke!

[jorlando91]

HAHAHA this won over callas? thats a fucking joke.

[Dogaradodia]

Certified Intergalactic! Just as I've thought, Larmore has the best "Una voce poco fa"!

[vano198]

It was not italian vocal school.

Anna Moffo is the best!

Open yours mind and ears people!

[MariBEllada]

Уникальный по красоте тембр голоса!

[mgarrincha333]

@MariBEllada

da da...

[stefanventsislav]

Absolutely the best mezzo soprano of our day!

[kgarmaker123]

This does not compare at all with Baltsa. Baltsa has a more controlled vibrato and way better diction in a piece that is "comic" where it is VERY important that the audience understand what is being sung. If italian audiences listen to this, they would wonder if she was singing Russian.

[GeorgeMaxwellDuPre]

This is an excellent rich-voiced performance. Though very different, I'd put her and Callas on top of the others. But that could just be my mood this morning.

[CatalinaDM56]

The vibrato is FAR from unstable...it's free, not unnecessarily controlled like the majority of the singers on the international stage today...this is the voice Rossini intended for Rosina, just because it is not the light, lovely lyric we all love does not mean its a bad interpretation...she hammers it, and it is amazing that with such a heavier voice she nails this.

[tCrOMez1990]

how is she in 1st, she rushes through the Aria, a nice rendtition in a true mezzo voice, but not better than the masterful interpretation of Ms. Callas or even Damrau who despite doing it in the higher key, expresses the "youth" of Rosina, the spiteful youthfullness that gives the aria the excitement, this is the one thing that I think she lacks

[SiEtIn1]

my very important and operatic opinion is that she look smokin' hot in that picture

[tenorboston]

I have two words... Elina Caranca.

Jennifer has a beautiful voice and an amazing mezzo but I must say- this is not her aria. She over embellishes and her voice is too heavy for this aria. her vibrato on top is at best unstable.

[Solecit00]

pues a mi me gusta :D....Aún asi , nada como la Moffo jeje

[operareigns]

Is Berganza missing from the final list?

[PatriciaCarvalho0]

her voice is not beautiful like callas voice and it lacks expression...i cant even lessen to this anymore :s its ugly :s

[Aniretak205]

You find Callas' voice to be beautiful and not Larmore's? Jenny has a beautiful tone! You may just be so used to sopranos sing this that the sound of a mezzo sounds odd to you.

[PatriciaCarvalho0]

i know this is a mezzo's area. but i dont find This voice beautiful, i like cecilia's voice. she is really good, but not this one...for me. You may like this better that a gentil voice... this is something that cannot be argued..

[skitzo429]

Callas' voice beautiful? yes, your opinion of this woman means a whole lot.

[sasylatin]

CALLAS ROCKS!!!!!

Her voice is much more appropriate than this woman!

Like....WHAT THE eff!

Its soo UGLY!!!

Its like a man trying to sing!!! in a way....i know tht sounds mean....but.....I think Mr. Rossini would chose Callas over this woman ANYDAY!

[moghedien13]

I think she jsut has a more masculine voice for a woman, but its certainly beautiful, to me at least. Callas' voice being beautiful in the traditional sense is debatable. she's still one of my favourites though, always will be, maybe not so much in this though. speaking of callas making beautiful sounds though, have u heard her 1952 sonnambula. she makes the most beautiful staccati in the cabaletta of care compagne. u shoudl try and find that one.

[sasylatin]

Yeah... I know that one....I love that song too.

[SiEtIn1]

actually he wouldn't, because he wrote this for contralto, but of course you don't know that, it is your ignorance that makes you post crap on youtube

greetings!

[sasylatin]

I knew it was written for Contra-alto's. Although just because it is written for a Contra-alto doesn't mean a Soprano Sfogato can sing the song causing it to sound better. Maybe he wouldn't, but the general public would. Whatever, everyone is entitled to their own opinion; I'm not here to criticize that.

[SiEtIn1]

what the hell is a "Contra-alto"?

[mehehe1986]

very very good diction. impressive, it's better than callas'...

[jazzylianne]

she has a very 'mezzo' tone. especially down the lower end. she makes it sound very low even though the lowest note is a c. for me, she doesnt do enough of the coloratura as there is some beautiful high notes written in ossia which really could have been used! i guess she did what suited her though!

[stanzy]

the lowest is a g sharp

[Richardclausen1]

As I look down the list of "contestants" I am stunned by the amazing wealth of talent that is listed (and omitted)and am so very grateful that we have lasting documents of these performers' individual and collective brilliance. How very lucky we are - not to compare, but to enjoy the amazing gifts that have been shared with us and remain to thrill others. How does one compare a Callas to a Sutherland to a Caballe'? One just wastes time and loses chance to enjoy the beauty that they bring.

[lamsalgado]

Beautiful comment Richardclausen1. That is the way it should be! You saw (and listened) well the point. Bravo!

[branko1b]

this is a very good Gutrune, amzing Aida (!)... but a rather weird Rosina...

[megacosmicray]

probando

[theragingsoprano]

i love this version. it's my fave.

[Donnaelvira1919]

Brava!

[KathrynBoussemart]

Sometimes I go to the opera for a particular singer, sometimes for the opera. I LOVE the DIVERSITY of opera! There were GREAT sopranos before Maria Callas and there have been GREAT ones since. It would be sad if Callas was the only great soprano because then we would go the opera house to cry because she is gone - but opera is ALIVE thanks to new voices which come along and feed our souls. Viva la voce!

[jonytrapalhony]

You're missing Tereza Berganza!

[NEBESHIKU]

good rendition but this contest is like most of my contries political elections: aranged from the start. Even if she is very good there is no way she is better than La Divina. I'vve never heard of this singer before. any way good job for her.

[rico1357]

I was saddened that Kathleen Battle was not included in this contest. All of this sopranos you'll like are too heavy for a young girl. Kathleen's voice is lighter and does a very good interpretation of this aria.

[callastoujours]

This is originally a mezzo's aria. Mezzo's voices are generally heavy. You would have to discuss this with Rossini.

[tjaphrodite]

I think Jennifer's is good but I liked Marylin honre's the best

[fanniandwads]

Very strong but breathy mezzo voice - no sound of breath with Callas.

[Acacallide]

Wondering why she won this contest... She is definitely not the best one!

[pweny]

I guess people other than you thought she was pretty great...And she is! Certainly deserves all the praise she gets for this and pretty much anything she puts her stamp on!

[Acacallide]

Sorry, I forgot to say "In my opinion". This aria, in my opinion, belongs to other much more good sopranos. I don't like Miss Larmore at all. Anyhow, she has a nice voice.

[jr1844]

Au contraire! Rosina is a mezzo role. Much of Rossini is anchored by mezzo roles -- Italiana, Cenerentola, Barbiere, Elisabetta, etc. Not my opinion, either. Facts.

[idunnowhatimdoin]

@jr1844 NOPE. Not a mezzo role. But it's not written for a soprano either.

I can't stop myself, I love explaining this...

Rossini actually wrote the part for a coloratura soprano. 0_o

Never heard of such thing? That's because this type of voice is extremely rare, and so the aria is most commonly performed by mezzos or even sopranos.

It's transposed up because the voice type for which it was written is uncommon even amongst contraltos.

I like sopranos and mezzos but yeah. Written 4 contralto.

[idunnowhatimdoin]

@idunnowhatimdoin I MEANT COLORATURA CONTRALTO. damn i wanna bury my head in excrement. I'm stupid, but I have the right to conceal it, right?

But just because I screw up doesn't mean what I'm saying is false. The part wasn't written for a mezzo or soprano, it was meant for a contralto.

[gustopheles]

@idunnowhatimdoin Can you list an example of a coloratura contralto? Are there very many roles written for such a voice?

[LordHettrick]

@gustopheles Marylin Horne, after starting her career as a soprano, switched to a contralto colorature repertoire.  Although these roles are kind of rare, L'italiana in Algeri by Rossini features a leading contralto role, Isabella.

Also, some baroque operas feature contraltos or use contraltos as replacements for castrati; Marie-Nicole Lemieux is one of the leading singers of this type.

[cincorn]

@gustopheles The lead in La Cenerentola was  for a coloratura contralto. It is the rarest of female voice types..

[garconfrancais01]

wow...ive never heard her before...but what a tour de force.

[MrCafiero]

OMG how sad the results are.

[fpngan]

I dont really care for her voice, but it IS nice to here someone different.

[johnctmd]

the music is really a mezzo piece but i must say callas' reading is still a gold standard. ther coloratura runs gives it the brilliance that matches rosina's sauciness

[Agorante]

People seem to forget that "Una Voce Poco Fa" was originally a soprano aria and the Rossini intended Rosina to be a soprano part. The aria was lifted from "Elisibetta" where it was composed for Colbran - Rossini's soprano mistress and later wife. His first choice for Rosina - a soprano - was too expensive so they got a cheaper singer - a mezzo.

So much for those who think only a mezzo should be allowed to sing it. Larmore is great but so also, I would imagine, is Damrau.

[LindoroRossini]

Actually, he composed the aria for a contralto, Giorgi-Righetti. Even more, only the cabaletta from "Elisabetta" was used in the "Barber", and even then there are differences, mostly in the "Ma se mi toccano

qua nel mio debole etc. etc." part. Furthermore, Colbran wasn't a soprano, rather a high mezzo with a good high register. That explains why many Colbran roles are taken by sopranos and mezzos. I do agree, however, that it doesn't exactly matter who sings the aria, Rossini didn't mind :-).

[LindoroRossini]

As long as the singer gives the role justice, of course :-)!

[wysiwyg248]

LindoroRossini,

How did Teresa score? In my opinion she is one of the best in the role. Callas and Bartoli are the best IMHO, Larmore does not express so much happiness and rage during the "Ma, ma se me tocano..." and doesn't pause enough during the "Si.. Lindoro mio sara"

[JuillHope17]

..... ma semi tocano dove il mo debole saro una vipera saro? she's saying "if they touch me in my weak spot i'll turn into a viper" um.... it's not supposed to be happy. even callas said that in her master classes. seriously, you CANNOT just go by how the music sounds, otherwise you look stupid. you have to know the words meanings. and you're not supposed to.... UGH oyu know what? those puases aren't even there, you're just one of those people who hears recordings one way and thinks only that!

[wysiwyg248]

JuillHope17,

In order to show a difference during the "ma se mi tocano" you must sing happy prior to and angry during that passage. Larmore signs it with even tone, there is no difference. Callas does it perfectly by stopping in between and doing the last part very angry.

On the "Si, Lindoro mio sara". In Italian, "Si" can be an affirmative or conditional. She uses it incorrectly by not pausing and making it sound as "If Lindoro will be mine" instead of "Yes, Lindoro will be mine"

Ciao Bella!

[JuillHope17]

these are all interpretive matters of opinion. none of this is set in stone, and if it was set it stone, there would be notes in the libretto saying so.

[wysiwyg248]

JuillHope17,

It is not just a matter of opinion. As you said it: Learn the meaning of the words, don't just go by the way the music sounds.

In any case, this is my final comment.

Ci non ti vedo piu, felice muorte!

[JuillHope17]

Oh soddisfa, ciò era la dichiarazione la più muta finale mai. E dalla maniera, il suo italiano succhia.

[Agorante]

Not quite. Rossini wanted Elisibetta Gafforini (a soprano) but Duca Sforza-Cesarini insisted on the cheaper Giorgi-Righetti (a contralto).

Colbran is classified as a soprano in Groves. The soprano parts in Elisibeta, Otello, Armida, Ermione, Ricciardo e Zoraide, La Donna del Lago, Semiramide and Zelmira were all written for her. All those parts today are taken by sopranos like Caballe, Sutherland or Gasdia. None of them are typically taken by Marilyn Horne or Jennifer Larmore.

[voltape]

As a matter of fact, Rossini's idea was to have a Rossina with a strong willy character, a woman who likes to make things occur, rather than, say, a spoiled teengager in a tantrum, which would then best suited for a light soprano.

[Agorante]

Just what fact was that a matter of? Do you have a reference for this theory?

BTW Bill Clinton was known as "Slick Willy". When you refer to a "strong willy character", do you mean that Rossini wanted Rosina to be a Bill Clinton type person?

[jr1844]

Oh good grief! WILY!

[FABRIZIO82]

I'm not a fan of her yodeling coloratura, but at least we have A VOICE here. A gorgeous instrument gorgeously produced, with noble phrasing,and since we are living in a time which is the nadir of BEL CANTO, this is already a lot.

[oPeRa1923]

ah! hehehe, her rendition is breutiful alright... but a bit difficlult to sing along with... it is obviously a happy song, and BRAVO to her! ^_^ she had her own style on singing it...

[omvelde83]

Hey!

Nice contest but where is Berganza? Her rendition of Rosina might very well be the best there was.

[drdre333]

LindoroRossini posts what he has available... check out Coloraturafan's recent post. He's got Berganza.

[pweny]

Can someone explain why opera makes people say these things?

[LindoroRossini]

It isn't opera per se, it's opera as a hobby that makes us so touchy :-).

[LindoroRossini]

Number 3. The contest IS mainly about enjoying the music, about comparing different approaches to one aria, the voting is mainly of way of finding why people like different versions. Number 4. I value your opinion, but I would like to point out that you say in your comment to Maria Callas's rendition of "Son vergin" that "everybody" is an expert. Are you an expert on how music is to be enjoyed :-)?

[LindoroRossini]

Okay, number 1. Thanks for your opinion, though I was a bit offended for a second there. Number 2, this contest idea isn't about who is the best soprano/mezzo or whatever, I personally value each rendition of the aria: for example, the version of Sciutti which not many people like has a most wonderful section of staccati at the beggining of the repeat. Each rendition is interesting in it's own way.

[63Attila]

Thank you for this and other contests. For one comparison, is almost inevitable for most music lovers. I get to hear perfmances I never heard. Also it is great to hear styles from different musical periods.

This performance is brilliantly sung and interpreted. MORE CONTESTS PLEASE perhaps the great aria from Mirelle!!!!

Respectfully-John

[viviananderson]

I really like Jennifer Larmore, but I really don't understand how this won 1st place.

[ariscotm]

I think it's because she packs a double punch. She has that hearty mezzo voice that this role is intended to have. In addition, she rocks out the coloratura. If you listen to Damrau in this role, she's missing that delightfully mezzo quality. On the other hand, Horne---renowned for her heartiness, doesn't quite hit the coloraturas that make people gasp and sway.

[Jitpring]

Her appearance doesn't hurt.

[Febronius]

Za Larmore se slažem,ali ne i za Bartoli,nju se i suviše uzdiže,a gdje je Elina?

[valeriedesbois]

Je trouve sa version la plus équilibrée entre agilité et rondeur ! Un mélange de Cecilia Bartoli et de Maria Callas !

Superbe !

[Iareto]

Outstanding. Definitely won for a reason. She's brilliant.

[jr1844]

Winner? I should hope so! Great photo, too!

[pweny]

Go Jennie!!!!