Ramon Vargas as Lensky "Kuda, kuda vy udalilis" Eugen Onegin

[EvanAbelingTenor]

17 people must have no ears...

[TheCatcherkid]

this is great!!!

[dalferr]

Bravo!

[vitellia]

What a sensitive and yet ardent interpretation! His voice is just so perfect for this role. He sings it almost too beautifully for a Russian work, in a very bel canto way. I'm not buying people complaining about his appearance. He's far from obese, he moves relatively well, his countenance, while not classically handsome, is expressive, more so than some other tenors with standard good looks I've seen. I just hope he wouldn't gain any more weight. This is one fabulous Lensky.

[kolyan333]

Замечательно! Но в исполнении Placido Domingo больше понравилось.

[MyNatalie31]

Vargas - to me - has a beautiful voice, and has taken the trouble to learn the Russian words to the best of his ability. And has done very well indeed. As did Villazon. Sure Gedda, Leshnev are Russians, sing every word correctly - and with Russian 'soul'. But Domingo also sings it beautifully, even if he 'murders' the Russian language. So let's be thankful to the all these tenors bring us joy through their singing. I'll also add Wunderlich, Bjorling. as well.

[sikoraptashka]

@kalpubinc Why do you come with such negative grand conclusions just on grounds of my disagreement with your opinion.? Just because if some blog? This discussion has no end. Just accept that people could have different opinions and tastes. But we love opera - it should unite us. if you want to continue bickering -I have more sources to cite. Chiao.

[sikoraptashka]

@kalpubinc

In words of Yuri Lotman, prominent Soviet scholar:

The image Lensky is located somewhat closer to the periphery of the novel, and in this sense it may seem that the quest for certain prototypes are more reasonable. However, vigorous rapprochement with Lensky Kuchelbecker produced YN Tynianov (Pushkin and his contemporaries. S. 233 - 294), best assures that attempts to give the romantic poet a unified and unequivocal prototype of convincing results do not lead.

[sikoraptashka]

do not lead to any meaningful and convincing results.

[sikoraptashka]

@kalpubinc

You remind me a person who said: I allow all opinions as long as they do not contradict mine :)

[amlirco]

@sikoraptashka Since when the external appearance is more important than the interpretation. You are right however: out of all non-Russian tenors I've listened recently to this is one of the finest rendition, along with pronunciation. Neil Shicoff is also very moving. I personally would recommend Ilija Yossifov's version.

[sikoraptashka]

@amlirco

In the contemporary opera performance looks are important as well. If one just listens to an opera, impressions are based on the interpretation, voice etc; however, when one watches a performance, appearance of a singer could enhance his other qualities.

I will definitely check your recommendations.

[amlirco]

@sikoraptashka It could enhance if there's something to be enhanced...

I suppose you realize that your statement actually means that contemporary opera promotes the external (in every sense of this word) neglecting in the same time the very core of this art.

[sikoraptashka]

@amlirco

It is not a statement, just my opinion. And again, not neglect because a good voice and beautiful interpretation still are of the paramount importance , but enhanced.Otherwise why Deborah Voigt was fired in 2004?

[amlirco]

@sikoraptashka Good question... I think I've already given my answer.

[amlirco]

@sikoraptashka BTW what's wrong acc. to you with Ramon Vargas' look?

[toonlass2007]

Looks a bit like Pierre Bezukhov, far from Lensky's classic image:)

[sikoraptashka]

@toonlass2007

Agree

[laurabellisoprano]

@rfmadden 100% agree :-)

[MrRossVit]

Да неплохо,но ему и Николаю Гедда до уровня Лемешева как до луны

[Ctapuk56]

Я так думаю, что эта ария - лакмусова бумажка для певцов, всем нужно её спеть, вот и поют. Рамон поёт хорошо)

[opera888able]

I saw and heard this man for the first time in the recent dvd production of the Mets. La Boheme. A superb voice, right in his prime. Acting perhaps a little naive but what the hell,he's got all the rest in abundance.

[djkostya76]

Yeah, he is the best of non-russian speeking singers who could sing Lensky. Lemeshv is still the best. Must say that today's vocal school in former-USSR states works terribly . The tenors sound more like goats producing sound through the nose. We lost the culture of singing.

[Alfruna]

I don't know why but Ramon sounds better live.

I like him but Lemeshev still owns this aria! ;)

[Catoperatheater]

I have to laugh at some of the pretentious comments regarding 'his Russian". Heck, when singers are singing in English, one can barely decipher it. Plus I didn't realize how many people on these blogs are fluent in Russian. Get over yourselves.

[Catoperatheater]

Whilst I am not crazy about his voice, I do think he sings this aria quite well., with the exception of a few really bum notes. And Met opera goers, we had better just accept that Ramon and the other RV are basically what we will be getting for years to come now Luciano is dead and Placido is at the end of his career and the only Italian tenor that is top notch, has not been to NY for several years. (Florez is great for bel canto roles).

[DmitriyD71]

Голос очень хороший. Но нельзя сравнивать с Гедда и Лемешевым. Видимо потому, что они русские и Vargas не может кое-что уловить.

[mistatomsom]

one of the most boring Lenskis I've heard in a long time. beautiful voice is really not all!!!

[danbar73]

@mistatomsom Have you seen the entire DVD of this ? If not, it will be shown again on the big screens in the US this summer. RV received the most ovations for this aria than either DH or RF for theirs, so it couldn't have been that boring to the Met's audience. He dominated Act II with his singing and acting. Were it not for the last six minutes of the opera, RV would easily have stolen the show. No other Lenski,boring or not,could do that to DH & RF.

[mistatomsom]

@danbar73

no i haven't seen the whole production and also have not been commenting the whole production but this perticular aria. I'm not so disturbed by his acting - not a lot of stage frolicking can be done in this aria anyway, but by his interpretation which i find very flat, safe and unimaginative.

[danbar73]

@mistatomsom 4,000 in the audience obviously didnt't think RV's perf of this aria was "very flat,safe and unimaginative". His most admirable trait is his unselfish dedication to his art,performing with honesty and sincerity to serve it,not to use it to serve his ego.He is not the type who deliberately slows down the tempo and overmilks a phrase to death, squeaks out an unwritten high note, or go melodramatic over a lost penny - all for the applause and to sell himself.

[sashacastel]

If this doesn't give you chills, see a doctor. Bravo!

[reinadegrillos]

Vargas has the most beautiful voice nowadays!

[verdiotello]

Hermosa Interpretación.

[musicalme27]

Just wonderful. Moving and beautiful. A perfect Lenski.

[team20002000]

кстати, хороший русский

только научится произносить гласную Я и йотировать согласные - чтобы не было тебья а было тебя))

ну и гласную И более близкой к Ы - не такой итальянской

ну и по мелочам

а так - Варгас офигенный певец,

оставивший достойный вклад в вокальное искусство

[lamsalgado]

Vargas is a moving Lemsky with a beautiful voice

[crazyaboutleo]

amazing voice but his poor russian ruins it for me.I can listen to him without looking at him- he simply does not look like a young romantic poet

[TexasAmigo]

OK, his Russian is not perfect. Otherwise, Ramon Vargas is perfect as Lensky! Reminds me of Lemeshev.

[lamsalgado]

It´s not for nothing that great Valery Gergiev loves Vargas - Who I´m to dissent from brlliant Gergiev´s opinion?

[spqrmor]

I knew he's been performing for nearly 20 years.I meant "great future"he is to be acknowledged as great tenor of 21-th. The performance of Eugen Onegin is difficult for a foreigner in principal.Nevertheless Vargas did his best.That was what I meant. Regards

'

[spqrmor]

He succeeded the state of Lenskiy's thrill before duel.His high register makes me to be thrilled too.Enunsiation is far from real russian but even that doesn't make it worse.He is brilliant and faces great future!

[dvdgrog]

Loved him in this role. Two comments on your post:  When I hear a slavic, Italian, French or German tenor sing perfect English I'll demand perfect Russian from Vargas. Second, this is his great future. He's been singing already at least twenty years. Have loved him all along.

[flaze3]

We usually say '--is very thrilling'. And I agree :-)

[Gotthard38]

Fantastic, fantastic really Art.

[smbdcool]

это комментировал я. Красноярск

[smbdcool]

я это не комментировал!!!!!!!

[smbdcool]

как так

[smbdcool]

Великолепно! Господи! почему я так не могу?!

[KiddoLen]

hehe...my surname is lenski. so I get killed by a dandy...damn.

[SonoPortoricano]

He is so good, its amazing. Beautiful.

[bezgin78]

so brillliant and full of emotion. great interpretation. VIVA EL VARGAS

[gaosichen]

哇塞 ~~~

[MARISOLDELMONACO]

Grande, magnifico. Ramon Vargas. voz hermosa. interpretacion que llega al alma el mas grande tenor de este tiempo.

[cantante189]

I was agreeing with bagschli

[ernestgye]

Nicolai Gedda is the best Lenski...ever!

[ShamusMacGuffin]

I agree, his vocalization is lovely and his diction and tone are spot on.

[lehava960]

Great and elegant!

[jorjikia]

i think that ramon vargas with juan giego florez are the BEST TENORS OF OUR TIME!!!THEY CAN REALLY SING!!!

[satch8838]

Superbe interprétion où l'expressivité de la voix devient réellement figuralisme du désespoir.

Bravo !

[runingwithhamer]

the best Lenski ever ... elegant, touching , pure ...thank you,mr. Vargas.I bought DVD and listened you so manny times and I allways enjoy

[jhvorotin]

I would say the aria is beautiful, touching, and highly tragic. The melodic phrase is wonderful (thanks to Tchaikovsky!). Vargas' Russian is excellent I think. His singing is descent. I like the decrescendo at the end...pianissimo. However, he lacks personality, shape, character in the voice. It's nice but something more is missing. Strange because I remember I was very moved when I saw it live. I guess I changed my mind, though it's nice singing.

[alexninko]

take a look lemeshev lensky..it the most tuching

[cantorandopera]

I had always loved the Shicoff rendition on CD but then I heard Vargas live at the met this past march. I thought he outshone Renee and Dmitri -and I love them too! His singing was absolutley elegant and beautifully done. He is a wonderful musician, too.

[bagschli]

Check out Vladimir Atlantov's interpretation of this aria. His dramatic tenor's rendition is unsurpassable...

[danbar73]

Atlantov's performance is more suited to the concert environment he was in but not ideal for live opera in the theater as we have here. His rendition sounds so defiant with a lot of bravado. On the other hand, Vargas has exceptional control of his delivery and volume dynamics. With his dark tones and natural expressiveness, he was able to convey melancholy over his lost love and total resignation on his impending death.

[cantante189]

THANK YOU! with Mazurok and Vishnevskaya no less...

[ugolinifu]

Was so nice and moving this interpratation. Thank again Ramon Vargas

[BariTenoreDram]

somebody have the partiture pls i need it reply pls!!!!!

[Operaphile]

Is this from the 2007 Met Production? I listened to that on radio and fell in love with this opera that had escaped my collection. Compared with Schicoff, Villazon, Gedda and Burrows, I feel Vargas is the most sublime rendition. Burrows on the Solti set is amazingly sensuous and achieves phenomenal sustained pp singing.

[DroogTchaikovskiya]

Hey!! Schicoff did an excellent job как Леньский. No need to compare here.

Schicoff is an excellent tenor (as anyone can also see with his interpretation of Don Jose en Carmen and his pronunciation in both French and Russian is superb

[carmen1945]

estoy de acuerdo tiene una preciosa voz.

[marcothetenor]

Magistral. El maestro Vargas ha superado la integridad musical e interpretativa de su mentor , el gran Alfredo Kraus. Lo que diferencia a estos maestros es la belleza de la voz del tenor mexicano. Bravo Ramon.

[calenheniel]

Estoy de acuerdo completamente. Mi madre es de Rusia y ella esta encantada con la voz de Vargas! :)