Neil Shicoff - Les Contes d'Hoffmann - Kleinzach aria

[mrantiquedealer]

I'll take Gedda anyday in this role! This is just a pushed out of focus voice...

[vilabreze]

Nei Shicoff is a very dramatic Hoffmann here, gripping performance, and a fantastic voice.

[pearlmuth3]

It was never put out on DVD lucky I video taped it that night.

[Dudewoah2]

The 1988 Hoffmann from the Met was never put on a commercial tape, although there was a general idea that it had been and then withdrawn. I had all the Opera News Magazines from that time and after, and never saw an ad for that Hoffmann. I've waited for it to be put on DVD, but so far Mr. Gelb, despite his promise to give us the DVDs of the operas he had allowed to be seen in theaters has not yet come through with them.

[pearlmuth3]

HE IS 54 YEARS OLD HERE, CHECK OUT HIS EARLIER LIVE ONES IN THE ROLE BEFORE YOU COMPARE TO ANYONE. HE ALSO MADE A GREAT RECORDING OF IT WITH THE CUTS REMOVED IN THE 80's.

[pearlmuth3]

OK the Bass in the 1982 Hoffman with Shicoff is Bruscantini, Malfitano,Zilio and it is at Teantro Comunale, Firenze Italy, Brigitte Fassbaender is Guilletta, Arleen Auger, olympia, Antonia is Malfitano and Almeida cond.

[pearlmuth3]

yes it is 1982 Italy and I don't think it is available nor is his great one with James Morris, bass from the met on PBS in 1988 both where terrific and he was fantastic in the 1982 with Malfitano but the Italian staging was not as good as the metropolitan one in 88 with Morris and Tryaonos and Gwendlyn bradley, I will post tomorrow the 82 cast but will be hard to get, I do have it in poor video but fine sound and I love it, Check Premiere opera list he may have it he was fantastic with her

[Rahela83]

I didn't know there is a verion with Malfitano! Must be great. Do you think I can find it somewhere?

I was wondering... who sings the villain in this recording?

[pearlmuth3]

CHECK OUT premiere opera for many live ones.

[pearlmuth3]

You need to see and hear his early version from 82' in Italy with Malfitano, if you prefer a faster more traditional tempo, his voice was more lyric then and it was in wonderful sound. Really amazing singing, Hard to get it now, also he did a terrific Romeo in Paris the same year, yes also on VHS and had by many. Hard to get now but worth it. The Met Hoffman he did on PBS in 88 is a favorite of mine for acting and singing but hard to find.

[QueenBoadicea]

@pearlmuth3 I may have seen that. Once I heard him sing and saw him act at the Met, I made a point of catching him in anything and everything. He had this passionate intensity that made him mesmerizing; you simply couldn't take your eyes off him when he was on stage. Thank you for uploading this.

[pearlmuth3]

IBAC , Your 38 and never heard these guys in the house in prime voice, I did, Shicoff debut was when you where 5 years old so listen to some early things he did if you want to learn. He sings Grimes and heavier roles now.

[pearlmuth3]

then listen to his early lyric ones from Italy, 1982, Neil is better then kraus for power and emotion or don't listen at all your out voted. I heard them all in the house, forget it.

[ilbacioditosca]

this role need a tenor like Alfredo Kraus or Nicolai Gedda.Too long for a heavy lyric with no

flexibility for the high range.

[soganzallein]

Thank you for sharing this! A wonderful performance, artistically and dramatically! Niel is always great!

[pearlmuth3]

IF YOU WANT TO HEAR IT FASTER THEN GET THE 1988 MET. OPERA VIDEO OF IT, HARD TO FIND OR THE RADIO BRDCST. OF IT A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THE ONE ON PBS, Both are SENSATIONAL AND HE WAS 39 YEARS OLD WITH A MORE LYRIC VOICE THAT GOES INTO SUCH PASSION YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE, DYNAMITE SCHICOFF AND IN HIS PRIME, with James Morris and the late Tryanous

[barrister79]

Magnificent theatrical interpretation!

BRRRRRRRAAAAAAVVVVVVVOOOOOOO..­........

[genovefo]

Neil!!!!!

[wotancb]

ja :-) hier ist sie mal nicht eine wunschkonzert-nummer, sondern die widerspieglung eines zerissenen charakters - zudem hat Shicoff noch eine ausdrucksstarke Stimme. Im vokalen Glanz ist ihm beispielsweise Domingo natürlich überlgen

[canzonettasullaria]

ogottogott, wotancb, tatsächlich?

[Ivanhoe2]

Shicoff is very impressive with skilfull acting and splendid voice, which would sound more brilliant without all the bodies around deadening the accoustics.

[wotancb]

Fantastic - ich habe diese Arie nie besser gehört als von ihm!!!

[canzonettasullaria]

ogottogott, wotancb, tatsächlich?

[steainsy]

there are a couple things that one could criticise about this, but it's still a very good rendition especially for 54, the control especially in the upper register plus the refined acting(great drunkeness!) and energy make this great

[hightenor123]

Neil Shicoff is a magician in this role. It fits his voice, his personality, although for me this version is a touch slow. BUT I LOVE NEIL SHICOFF!!!!