Karine Deshayes - air d'Urbain - Les Huguenots, Meyerbeer

[toddydelahov]

Salute, O Cavalieri

[Matt75003]

The singing is good, but the words are mostly unintelligible (I say this as a native French speaker). Ironically, Eric Cutler's French is marginally better than Karine's.

[m0e4g2]

@Homoclassicus. Are you using 'timbre' to define the qualities of her voice? I found her voice rich and colourful, a bit 'sharp' at the top, which allows her to have almost soprano's light tops and it is real good! This is a splendid rendition I would have liked to be there like I was in Lyon for her Charlotte!

[MrHbc3]

@m0e4g2 Part of the problem may be in how this recording is coming through YT. Yes, some of this aria is at what is usually the very top of Mezzo range, but in a few places the orchestra itself seems to be suffering this sort of brassy distortion. Listen again for that and see what you think.

[MrHbc3]

@m0e4g2 An example of the "sharpness distortion" can be heard at 5. 26.

[Homoclassicus]

I'm very impressed. Her singing is very agile, accurate and (something rare nowadays) has a sense of excitement and precise rhythm that I find essential (especially in coloratura singing). Her timbre isn't the most beautiful of all, but the singing is very special. I didn't know this scene of Les Huguenots following "Nobles seigneurs", so I also thank for that. It's thrilling.

[luvxl]

@Homoclassicus

you're welcome :) it's the end of the first act actually, I left it so it was more coherent and showing all the talents of Karine, which I simply adore! This is from the broadcast, I couldn't be here alas, but it's the only thing I'm missing from her season :)