Pelleas et Melisande - Act IV sc 4 (end) - Thomas Allen & Ann Howells

[alexanderhurd]

Wow. Wonderful to be able to hear this. He is a great artist, of course, but I wonder in the end if this part demands a tenor? That Allen can sing with such feeling is great, but he's really got to sing full out on top, and I wonder if some colors are unavailable to him as a result, particularly in that last of the very high, high A's. Not a criticism, but simply a question.

[drtmuir]

@alexanderhurd Pelleas was a major role for Allen. He is/was a high baritone, and his most solid notes were always on the upper end; he once said that he had the notes for Siegmund, no problem. Criticisms of Allen have usually concentrated on his lower notes, so I find your question kind of -- I don't know, do I want to say funny? Just another example of how singers are damned if they do and damned if they don't. ;)

[Chum2MarchHare]

@alexanderhurd yes an important question as the "baryton martin" that can negotiate Pelleas as Sir Allen does here is rare, and practically the same range as a Helden Tenor. Debussy was so gifted at refining characteristic orchestral colors, it seems likely that he chose the color of a baritone with an equally specific intention.

[pianistpedro]

The end reminds me to Puccini's music...How fantastic!

[drtmuir]

Incroyable. Incredible work by Davis and the orchestra, too-- . God, I wish he had done this at the Met, with Levine and the orchestra (a BEAST of an orchestra!), so I could have heard it-- but it couldn't have been any better than this.

[antmusique]

Thank you for sharing! This is so very moving.

P.S: I don't want to turn this into another discussion of the clothes he is wearing or lack thereof, but what the hell is going on with that jacket? Oh dear.

[interpreterr]

Well, maybe the jacket was supposed to be very poetic, Debussy-esque or God knows what...-:)

[schweitzer006325]

Thank you so much for posting this up...like his Ulisses, I've been searching for ages to listen/watch his Pelleas. The recording quality is certainly not keeping me from getting shivers up my spine when he sings 'Je le trouver' here...wonderfully tender, sincere and intense at the same time. Many profiles have mentioned his soaring Pelleas and I can see what they mean...he could really reach those higher notes beautifully.

[interpreterr]

Yes, and there's nothing "watch it, high note coming!" about it, if I may say so. Everything seems so natural...