The "Una voce poco fa" - Roberta Peters

[Poet2916]

I'm a lyric mezzo. Does anyone know a good arrangement of this song for my voice? A version I could possibly listen to for practice for an upcoming variety show?

[8Goldie]

@Poet2916 Have you heard Joyce diDonato's version? And yes Callas is great too... I like this version but originally Rosina is a mezzo so better stick to the mezzo version in my opinion..

[bud21s]

All the elements are in place ... PERFECT phrasing , timber ,pitch , exuberance ! This is how it should be done . Is there anything higher then a five ?! :)

[FrogCraw]

I suppose you can argue her interpretation, and argue how Rossini intended the music to be sung. But it is impossible to argue the sheer physical talent she had. The performance is unequalled on the internet as a result. Just listen for a minute to what an incredible voice she had and marvel at what training did with it. Then get pedantic.

[jetta101]

Ms. Peters owns this song!

[uranoinpesci]

Amazing!

[mmbriggs]

duscussions about modern voices fitting the definitions of bel canto voices from the early 19th century, need ot accept that as those voice definitons and categories are so foreign from late 19th and 20th and 21st century vocalize and voice tecnhique, we don't really know how those voices sounded , and marilyn horne as stated that she believes the contralto music she has so triumphed in--as no other singer in recording history---sang without modern vibratto and with broken reigisters. !!

[WynnCreasyFineArt]

though really face it ... the role was written for a contralto... not a coloratura... it was written for a fuller, richer voice. Still, I love her facility. She was always such an incredible performer.

[bottale]

How could anyone object to anything about this performance? The aria is all about the young girl having a lot of fun with the situation she finds herself in vis a vis "Lindoro", and who could put more fun into it than this?

[krandidu]

te pone la piel de gallina. Fantastico!

[skitzo429]

sometimes i think some of her artistic choices are in bad taste, theres too much ornamentation, she doesnt sing most of the cabaletta as written

[jpcs1st]

This is the example of Una voce poco fa used by Dr. Robert Greenburg in his "How to Listen to and Understand Great Music" and "How to Listen to and Understand Opera." Absolutely fantastic!

[anoldnightengale]

Too heavy! 3

[clairefalvey]

This was the first version I heard of una voce poca fa and prefer it over all others.

[hoibie]

@clairefalvey I must admit that it is lovely. Although personally I enjoy the more tragic sung aria's. but styles do differ a lot and she has a amazing, gentle and pure voice. she is one of my favourites as well.

have you ever heard the live version of Maria Callas? type in Maria Callas- Una voce poco fa, and its the first one: 6.25

it is also amazing and the crowd cant almost contain themselves. It does seem like its a bit more sung from the heart, but of course the taste can differ. enjoy.

[sascha1984dd]

perfect...

[ChatonEndormi]

Are you really sure this is Roberta Peters ? It doesn't look like her voice... Which recording is it ? (By the way, this interpretation is outstanding.)

[tristanhnl]

This is indeed Roberta Peters. The timbre of the voice is unmistakeable. This recording came from her full-length Barbiere Di Siviglia with Bob Merrill.

[romalisan]

Mme Peters has a wonderful voice and is also a example of life. Her family had to work a lot to give her a high education.

[cartoonandanime]

peters gorgeous. no others voce poco fa except hers

[Mihalis1885]

she makes my eyes tear of pleasure when I hear this version.

Simply the best rosina I've ever heard

[pearlmuth3]

Peters is fantastic and I don't need Galli Curci to compare, thats not needed, Brava Peters

[vonDali]

one of the best!

[bachkicksass83]

I love her because she is my exact perfectly matched voice type... we sound the same, it makes me so happy that i can look up to her and learn from her. Someday I will be like her :-)

[pearlmuth3]

You should have heard her in the house it had a point that could go up to the last seat like she was in front of you, amazing and great control, never heard her crack and she lasted, opened grant park season in 1993 at age 63 and sang CASTA DIVA! for fun!

[FABRIZIO82]

WHY was I born so late?

[Jeffrizzle09]

This IS coloratura at its best. I have yet to find a soprano that has raised this song from its original key up a half step and then singing a Queen of the Night "F" in alt as though it was nothing!

[coryisawake]

Moffo does & I can't remember, but I think Mesple does as well. Other's have tossed in an F and with arguably more finesse/taste.

[MrRicksStudio]

In the earlier days, ALL sopranos sang this in F. Many still do. Edita Gruberova asang it in F, and ended on the high F, at least she did back in the eighties.

[meltzerboy]

Roddyrodk, if you really want to be spoiled, try the version sung by Galli-Curci here on youtube.

More perfect coloratura singing you will never hear.

[roddyrodk]

Flawless...I truly cannot hear anyone else sing this aria, she has truly spoiled me for any other version. 5/5

[DesTeufels]

4/5 I was surprised about the brilliant coloratura technic. The successful variante to Maria Callas. Fantastic art of singing.

My favorits:

Maria Callas place 1

Roberta Peters place 2

Jennifer Larmore place 3

[geddafan1]

At this point in her career, she was already forcing a bigger sound so the voice was fairly uneven between registers. There's also a slight huskiness creeping in. Agility is still intact. I'll give her 4.2

[Valkyrie91a]

Roberta's interpretation of this aria is my absolute favorite. I just love the versatility and personality she imparts to this aria. Wonderful. Brava!

[CoreyLeig]

Superb singing from a truly gifted soprano. Her high notes are awe-inspiring! And her agility is incredible too. There is a lot to admire here, bravo Ms. Peters!

[KathrynBoussemart]

Dazzling! Polished as bright as a diamond! Flawless! Her ringing, floated top F, her equalized scales from top to bottom, her characterization, her amazing agility, her slancio, her rubato, her dimiuendo and mezza di voce, her control over her dynamic range . . . 5/5. This performance should be the primer handbook for EVERY aspiring coloratura soprano. AMEN!

[blkmichaux]

AMEN!!! Excellent opinion!!

[dukemantua]

If I had to cast a Rosina - this is the voice.  She's sixteen, she's desirable, and she knows it. This is the Rosina I hear in my head. 5/5

[patjan1992]

All in all, I really liked that. 4.5/4

[GalambBorong]

Like all virtuoso shows, there was a strong element of "Wow, look at that voice go!" and a genuine excitement in wondering where she'd take it next. If this was a recital, it would be 5/5, <i>but</i>... she kind of sacrificed characterization for showing off her amazing voice. It was girlish and appropriate, but not really dramatic. So I'm afraid I'll have to say 5/4.

[borias12]

I like it so much!

[Iareto]

4/4. She wasn't bad. High notes sound weird I expect due to her vowel choice.

[meltzerboy]

While the sound of Peters' high tones does not match that of her middle and lower registers, I find her high notes exciting and her interpretation quite charming. She once remarked she could sing this aria while brushing her teeth, and indeed she demonstrates much facility.

4/4.5

[drdre333]

I must admit I've never been a fan of Peters. I don't care for her vowels, and the tone (and it's weird duality) is not to my taste.

I praise her for her acciacatura throughout the entire scene. The interpolation and high notes are just too much for me... 3/3

[operadm]

"lightning fast" yes, but also stratospherically high and agile! 5/5