He's a very good singer, i think he may have just been overdoing it a little because this aria is basically boderline shouting anyway, he just crossed that line. but i dont think that should be indicative of him as a singer.
In my humble opinion, this is a lyric baritone pushing his voice to the extreme to try to sound like the Verdi baritone he is not! This is neither a healthy nor beautiful tone production
I sang opposite Bob in Faust. He was Valentin and I was Wagner - Michigan Opera Theatre in 1981. I just remember how huge and wonderful his sound was. His high notes were as great as any baritone. He was alos so good looking that he aw a matinee idol during that produciton. Remember, hw won the Met Auditions in 1979 - back when they had only ONE WINNER!
he is just yelling, there is a type of vocal placement that he is using to help project the voice, but he is really overdoing it to maximize his volume. Idiot! you cannot lose the beauty and integrity of the sound for the sake of volume only. there should be a balance
At the end ......singing is a matter of taste.....Mr. McFarland is a very good and refined baritone in my opinion.Interpretation? Yelling? Only the one that has place his or her feet on a stage is qualified to criticize. Is Iago for him? Is Iago not for his voice? Mr. MacFarland knows it better than us.
I can't believe that this guy is being so severely criticised. I think that he is a very good baritone, singing dramatically. I also don't believe that just certain size voices should sing certain roles in opera. If you can manage the tesatura, sing the aria. Chaliapin was first laughed out of town by the critics. They eventually had to eat their words. McFarland is, at the least, a very good singer. If you can do better, then criticise.
I know this comment is way old but I agree with you. Pavarotti sang some Dramatic Roles early in his career because his technique could handle it. I wouldn't recommend that to anybody else however.
For me, this was just a little painful for two reasons... 1. His acting was not great... and 2. Where is the colour or interpretation in the voice? You can not sing Verdi with out colouring every word. The best in this were the Warren's, Tibbett's, Merrill's, and Milnes of the previous decades... very few get it these days... a baritone doesn't need to sound like a bass, a wall of noise or a colourless boom... it's so un-Italian. This is just my opinion. If you like it... good for you... enjoy
I agree, and if we need to hear a real baritone, we need to go back to Taddei, Warren, Tibbett, Merrill, and Stracciari among others. But not this guy.
...*siiiigh*....if I chose to critique someone I think I would at least check google first just in case said person happened to pop up...ALL OVER THE INTERNET...now wouldn't it be interesting if this guy was a 'real' singer??.....*checking*...yeeeeah....he sang how many times with Placido?....hmmmm.... some great reviews....how many of his students have won auditions??...and it must REALLY suck to have been a close personal friend of Beverly Sills..yeah I bet that never came in handy....
People tend to categorize voices like if it was measurable! Every voices are different, sme have strengh here were another one as facility.There are so many type of baritone And tenor! A baritone that seing Rodrigo in Don Carlo per exemple, should'nt sing Scarpia! At least, this singer as the Physic and the attitde of a Iago and the Public seem to appreciate! Cant judge a singer with a recording on youtube!
It's hard too tell, this guy does'nt have good low notes, he's alrady n the chest where he should be in his medium! Although is top notes are quite round like those of a baritone. I think is voice is tired cause it's not natural singing! He probably does'nt sing in his right!
what makes some people think that this is a tenor, I don't understand. He is a real baritone. I just think that his interpretation isn't too dramatic and sarcastic, required in this role.
Robert is a wonderful baratone. I first met him in Memphis and have followed his career through the years. I now live in Delaware, and his Opera Company has performed at the University of Delaware.
you wont ever become a soprano, the thinnest voiced tenor will be the equivalent to an alto so all you can hope for as a tenor is to be an alto. you asking to be a full voiced soprano is like hoping a bass to become a tenor. by the way i see your colombian me too! =)
you can become a soprano, just become a castrato. this baritone is probably a tenor without high notes, that's why many change to baritones. It is easier.
I just read singthesilences post and am laughing. I think McFarland and Podles would sound great in the tenor/soprano duet from Lucia, don't you?? Ha!
Yes. He is a Tenor. As many others baritones nowdays... but..sings better as a bariton than these other "baritones" of nowdays that sings in Europe...specially in Germany!
This is definitely not a tenor singing, man. Google Robert McFarland, or something. He's a dramatic baritone, and a good one too! I like this piece a lot.
in 1979.. there were 10 Met "winners"... I was one. Bravo, bob!
bassocantante 9 months ago
I Love it!!!! His voice is so strong! :)
Rozzy46 1 year ago
I think his voice isn't well caught in the clip.
Agorante 1 year ago
Quite nice. He is not at all a lyric baritone.
AfroPoli 1 year ago
I was there, he's mah dad :3
Raymondmcf 1 year ago
He's a very good singer, i think he may have just been overdoing it a little because this aria is basically boderline shouting anyway, he just crossed that line. but i dont think that should be indicative of him as a singer.
ElSalvador50 1 year ago
Comment removed
ElSalvador50 1 year ago
In my humble opinion, this is a lyric baritone pushing his voice to the extreme to try to sound like the Verdi baritone he is not! This is neither a healthy nor beautiful tone production
lukebrainard2006 2 years ago
I sang opposite Bob in Faust. He was Valentin and I was Wagner - Michigan Opera Theatre in 1981. I just remember how huge and wonderful his sound was. His high notes were as great as any baritone. He was alos so good looking that he aw a matinee idol during that produciton. Remember, hw won the Met Auditions in 1979 - back when they had only ONE WINNER!
PecsMstr 2 years ago
he is just yelling, there is a type of vocal placement that he is using to help project the voice, but he is really overdoing it to maximize his volume. Idiot! you cannot lose the beauty and integrity of the sound for the sake of volume only. there should be a balance
bassodivo 2 years ago
este tiene de dramático lo que yo de soprano.
carlobuono 3 years ago
he is not dramatic.....he does not sound as others....that's my opinion....i would prefer others with more meat.....
ahtenor 3 years ago
Oh this part is dramatic with color and tone and he does great in my opinion. Don't just listen to his range F2-G4, but listen to the darkness.
riversideharp 3 years ago
Dramatic?
sung125cho 3 years ago
Who,s dramatic?
sung125cho 3 years ago
At the end ......singing is a matter of taste.....Mr. McFarland is a very good and refined baritone in my opinion.Interpretation? Yelling? Only the one that has place his or her feet on a stage is qualified to criticize. Is Iago for him? Is Iago not for his voice? Mr. MacFarland knows it better than us.
juniper41 3 years ago
Yes he has a very nice instrument, but his production is very shouty.
Yelling into the space doesn't make for a dramatic voice. It may fool some people for awhile but it will ensure a shortened career.
trem0lo 3 years ago
I can't believe that this guy is being so severely criticised. I think that he is a very good baritone, singing dramatically. I also don't believe that just certain size voices should sing certain roles in opera. If you can manage the tesatura, sing the aria. Chaliapin was first laughed out of town by the critics. They eventually had to eat their words. McFarland is, at the least, a very good singer. If you can do better, then criticise.
gpoec 3 years ago 6
I know this comment is way old but I agree with you. Pavarotti sang some Dramatic Roles early in his career because his technique could handle it. I wouldn't recommend that to anybody else however.
bigdigger87 3 years ago 4
For me, this was just a little painful for two reasons... 1. His acting was not great... and 2. Where is the colour or interpretation in the voice? You can not sing Verdi with out colouring every word. The best in this were the Warren's, Tibbett's, Merrill's, and Milnes of the previous decades... very few get it these days... a baritone doesn't need to sound like a bass, a wall of noise or a colourless boom... it's so un-Italian. This is just my opinion. If you like it... good for you... enjoy
lampardm 4 years ago
yelling
Operaddict 4 years ago
How? He has a dramatic voice...Generally bigger and heavier.
TheLOLrus12 3 years ago
Impresionante barítono, no había escuchado una voz baritonal tan dramática después de Hvorostovsky. ¡Bravo Maestro!
Gerardeus 4 years ago 2
I agree, and if we need to hear a real baritone, we need to go back to Taddei, Warren, Tibbett, Merrill, and Stracciari among others. But not this guy.
espertolirico 4 years ago
the ear is the only judge. Not google, not because he was a friend of a famous singer. That is really irrelevant. If he sang with
Domingo, good for him. Again, irrelevant. Do you know how many singers sang with Di Stefano, Del Monaco and Corelli, and are unknown????? hundreds....
dissstefannno 4 years ago
...its nice to hear a real baritone for a change....
tinydancer713 4 years ago
...*siiiigh*....if I chose to critique someone I think I would at least check google first just in case said person happened to pop up...ALL OVER THE INTERNET...now wouldn't it be interesting if this guy was a 'real' singer??.....*checking*...yeeeeah....he sang how many times with Placido?....hmmmm.... some great reviews....how many of his students have won auditions??...and it must REALLY suck to have been a close personal friend of Beverly Sills..yeah I bet that never came in handy....
tinydancer713 4 years ago
I think he's more of a lyric baritone than a dramatic baritone.
raigekimaru 4 years ago
People tend to categorize voices like if it was measurable! Every voices are different, sme have strengh here were another one as facility.There are so many type of baritone And tenor! A baritone that seing Rodrigo in Don Carlo per exemple, should'nt sing Scarpia! At least, this singer as the Physic and the attitde of a Iago and the Public seem to appreciate! Cant judge a singer with a recording on youtube!
gigalaf 4 years ago
It's hard too tell, this guy does'nt have good low notes, he's alrady n the chest where he should be in his medium! Although is top notes are quite round like those of a baritone. I think is voice is tired cause it's not natural singing! He probably does'nt sing in his right!
gigalaf 4 years ago
dramatic is the way he sings. terrible.
OperaFanLover 4 years ago
what makes some people think that this is a tenor, I don't understand. He is a real baritone. I just think that his interpretation isn't too dramatic and sarcastic, required in this role.
iiitttalllia 4 years ago
Is a tenor... and a good singer.
aguacun 4 years ago
to me he is a baritone, and bad singer.
mariacruzlujan 4 years ago 3
eh]m, that is not a tenor voice.
TheLOLrus12 3 years ago
Robert is a wonderful baratone. I first met him in Memphis and have followed his career through the years. I now live in Delaware, and his Opera Company has performed at the University of Delaware.
memphsgal 4 years ago
pam, is that you? it's donna! look for me - you'll know the name when you see it...
mfsladi 3 years ago
its true im a baritone and ive been singing for 2 years and now i can even sing the high A comfortably.
baritones become almost like tenors after a long career.
death2hakz 4 years ago
Oh! Well... I'm a tenor so tell me please: how many years may pass until I become "Like" a soprano? Hope just my voice change, not my chest!
aguacun 4 years ago
you wont ever become a soprano, the thinnest voiced tenor will be the equivalent to an alto so all you can hope for as a tenor is to be an alto. you asking to be a full voiced soprano is like hoping a bass to become a tenor. by the way i see your colombian me too! =)
death2hakz 4 years ago
you can become a soprano, just become a castrato. this baritone is probably a tenor without high notes, that's why many change to baritones. It is easier.
callascarusoruffo 4 years ago
bravo! we need today more dramatic baritones like this one!
newyorkopera 4 years ago
this is a great Baritone. He sang with many famous. Yes, in youtube there are many ignorant clueless people giving opinions.
expertlirico 4 years ago 2
He is a tenoral baritone, isn't he?
ghippan 4 years ago
Es en tenor,con ninguna linea ,un poco istriónico,que parece no saber de que va su papel...¿ina?...
julioviedo 4 years ago
I just read singthesilences post and am laughing. I think McFarland and Podles would sound great in the tenor/soprano duet from Lucia, don't you?? Ha!
izar1234 4 years ago
Yes. He is a Tenor. As many others baritones nowdays... but..sings better as a bariton than these other "baritones" of nowdays that sings in Europe...specially in Germany!
aguacun 4 years ago
Saying that he is a tenor is saying the Eva Poddles is a soprano... I just put it very dramatically...
singthesilences 4 years ago
Anyone thinking this man is a tenor, dramatic or otherwise, needs to seriously retrain their ears. If he's a tenor, what's Thomas Hampson?
izar1234 4 years ago
definitely a lazy tenor
cptnunderwhere 5 years ago
Absolutely the sound of a dramatic tenor taking the easy way out by singing a baritone role. Nice voice though.
singspieler 5 years ago
thats tenor buddy
romovid87 5 years ago
This is definitely not a tenor singing, man. Google Robert McFarland, or something. He's a dramatic baritone, and a good one too! I like this piece a lot.
nonemo138 5 years ago