Aris Christofellis, Lampugani: Superbo de me Stesso

[Typhoon792]

Why is this guy barely known and that gimmick known as Vitas is know everywhere?

[sfkcbf]

@Typhoon792 You pose a very good question. Generally speaking, in America of all the music recordings sold, only 3% is serious or classical music. Baroque, especially written for castrati, is just a tiny % of that. Also, Aris was an extremely rare sopranist, most singers not being able to sing so high and certainly not with his skill; and he recorded for only a few years. His CDs are especially rare and expensive. Pop performers, with all their show and gimmicks draw tons of attention.

[Typhoon792]

@sfkcbf Yeah, well, the question was more rhetorical. That's some good info, thanks though. I also saw this guy performing and it was kind of unpleasant. It's just, I really hate the direction music is going in and really our culture is getting dumber and dumber. It's upsetting. I'm actually surprised a great band such as Muse is successful current day.

[serenaluce]

@Typhoon792 I agree. But it's a good philosiophical question why the majority of all the people are just primitive and the simpler and worse music is the more people enjoy it and classical stuff is understandable only by small percentage, especially CT singing. But at least Vitas is a pure pop singer and doesn't sing baroque. I'm more preoccupied in which direction our musical culture is going if another pure POP singer Philippe Jaroussky is overpromoted but he isn't a real CT, just a FALSETTIST

[Typhoon792]

@serenaluce Lol, I will provide you plenty of information on which direction our culture is leaning towards and which direction it's headed. Kesha!

Ridiculous...

[serenaluce]

@Typhoon792 The question is what to do if such "viruses", pure pop singers like PJ in baroque or Bocelli as a "tenor" are infiltrated into real classical stuff only because they are "big names" and can attract more people to the theatre and concert halls who don't know what true classical stuff is and don't care?! Bocelli is great as a pop singer in the repertoire like Con te partiro' with another pop singer Brightman but has no TECHNIQUE to sing OPERA!So is PJ but he can sell himself for market

[Typhoon792]

@serenaluce Hmm. Well that I'm actually not too concerned about. I don't think it'll ever happen. There are a few instances where this slides but the people that like this stuff in the first place are people like you and I anyway so we wouldn't stand for it just like any of these other stupid things. Fortunately, at least when it comes to our territory, we have some control.

If your concern is more public perception of these instances in which case it can spread, well, what's to be...

[serenaluce]

@Typhoon792 My biggest concern is that nowadays promotion can make a "great artist" of any monkey or teddybear who only pleases, entertains the ignorant crowd and has a special talent to find and please the "right" people too for their career, but in reality he has a FLAT voice and sings without any depth which is good for pop but not enough for true opera. PJ has no proper technique to sing baroque like e.g. Christofellis. He only produces sweet, sugary but empty sounds without true emotions.

[Typhoon792]

continued... expected of them?

There are exceptions to this rule I feel like Freddie Mercury's "Popera" album I guess you can call where he collaborated with Montserrat Caballe (Barcelona). At first listen it sounded a bit foolish even if impressive but now, aside from it being a little rushed, it's simply genius, especially if you listen to recordings of Freddie working on it.. astonishing! Ever had a listen?

[serenaluce]

@Typhoon792 Well, there are exceptions too. I still wouldn't compare Freddie Mercury with Vitas and especially with PJ:-), as he is a real great pop singer! I haven't listened to the whole album but I heard that song Barcelona. It's wonderful! But the purpose was different: it was broadcasted all over the world for the Olympic games 1992 in Barcelona. It's was logical and in a way to popularize a bit more their Spanish great singer Montserrat Caballle. They couldn't show a CT for the world:-).

[Typhoon792]

Oh, believe me, I was definitely not comparing them with Freddie Mercury, lol.  I simply meant to say that he was able to bring music out of any genre with his vocals. He put the right emotion into everything! That song in particular was written for that purpose partially but not the entire album. The other songs are worth a listen. Here's a recording of him singing both parts (his and Monseratt's) as he was getting final ideas for the song.

mediafire(.)com/?r05uo3q957tk2­ku

[serenaluce]

@Typhoon792 Thank you for the information, but I'm not so good in computers and can't download this link:-). So, for now I can't say anything more than before:-). I only agree that Mercury was great and "was able to bring music out of any genre with his vocals". Actually, I agree that Montserrat Caballe is great too, but she isn't my favourite voice though theoretically I understand that she is amazing, but for me the voice is the main thing, and I can forget about the shape...Not in her case:-)

[Typhoon792]

@serenaluce Lol. Yeah. 

In regards to the link, you needa write out the full link for it to work. That's my bad. I will just message you the thing :)

[Typhoon792]

In all these recordings, which are essentially "live" as they are single takes to either listen & develop on or show to Montserrat as the final part she needs to sing (making it even more amazing), I feel he actually sing better than Montseratt herself. She of course sings it more technically right & everything 100% perfect, but it's so boring. She doesn't bring out the emotion of the music & doesn't use any dynamics. Sure it's not proper, but wow is it otherwise impressive. Take a listen :)

[Typhoon792]

@serenaluce I'm curious about your opinion and I of course agree with you in regards to your other remark.

[Sorrentodellesirene]

@dessayfan: A parte il fatto che Christofellis non è un castrato ma un sopranista naturale, la voce di castrato doveva stupire, essere agilissima potente, mantenere fiati esagerati: era spettacolo. Secondo nessuno ha mai sentito la Voce di farinelli o caffarelli o Senesino quindi non si puo giudicare. la tecnica di Aris è molto molto buona, se poi contesti il timbro quelli sono gusti

[sfkcbf]

@Sorrentodellesirene It is true that no person alive today has heard the voices of the great opera castrati; however, there is much evidence in many forms that provide the knowledgeable person with a reasonable idea of how the castrati sounded. For a better understanding, go to the website MaleSopranos and read the abundant information there, especially under Forums, Male Sopranos and Altos "The High Male Voice: An Introduction" + info in the Articles section.

[Alicantino1976]

I think is very difficult to sing like a soprano using falsetto. Chritofellis is a very special voice with an unique technique.

[dessayfan]

Io voglio sperare che i castrati non cantassero così; ho capito perchè handel detestava i contraltisti.. capponi!

[sfkcbf]

Handel did not hate castrati, far from it. Instead, Handel was a primary reason that Italian opera was brought to London. (And please do not call them "capons.") What did frustrate Handel were personality clashes amonght the women singers and the differences of opionion that he had with some of the castrati such as Senesino, who eventually left. Handel then hired additional castrati.

[sevoflurane]

@dessayfan che commento illuminante...

[contratenors1]

Aris es realmente excepcional, gran tecnica y fantastico fraseo

[jewish1972]

desde luego ha mejorado mucho desde las otras interpretaciones k le he oido antes. Yo soy contratenor, todavia, pero no llego tan alto como el.

[LordMagros]

Aris!! Aris!!! the best Sopranist!!!

[Dobrib]

Stunning rendition!TY

[sevoflurane]

Sublime. Thanks for posting.

[thecritiquevirtuoso]

MOVED... truly moved by his talent! it's amazing how he (as a male) could even execute such coloratura.

[scribeuisum]

musica sublime... deturpata da una voce di anatra starnazzante!

[emilytransex]

ignorante xke non ci fai sentire la tua voce? la voce di christofellis e una voce unica nel suo genere si e una voce nasale e si sente ma la tecnica e ferratissima il timbro omogeneo in tutta l estensione e soprattutto e una voce naturale xke aris non ha avuto la muta della voce!

[scribeuisum]

la voce sarà pure naturale, ma comunque sembra un oboe attappato!

[emilytransex]

ma xke non canti te? cosi almeno possiamo dirti se canti col culo o meno....

[scribeuisum]

ma chi ha deciso che solo un cantante può esprimere un giudizio su un altro cantante? io non canto, e comunque tu sei una scaricatrice di porto

[emilytransex]

e tu sei un grandissimo finokkio!!!!!

[sevoflurane]

Ma lasciali perdere i mediocri! Capaci solo a criticare con il culo sulla sedia!

[jewish1972]

Xk hablais en italiano? Es una lengua feisima!

[sevoflurane]

if i speak italian? yes i am italian.

[Dobrib]

Magnificent singing!Great video! Thanks for sharing.

[joeroma80]

Aris e'davvero grande

[sfkcbf]

There are many sites from museums and other sources that may be structured to permit downloading images of famous paintings. One of my favorites is by Witcombe. It is very user-friendly. If anyone else has suggestions, please post them here.

[vedraville]

The wallace collection includes magnificent paintings like these.Google pics is the easiest way I guess..And thanks so muich for uploading these diamonds.

[devampa]

This takes me back somewhat. I seem to remember that I had this aria on a vinyl record. I gave my vinyl records to a charity shop when Cd's first came out. What a mistake that was. I think Marlyn Horn was singing this aria? Please, NEVER, EVER give up your vinyl records, one of the worst mistakes I ever made!!!

[rabulio]

Where have you found all these magnificent paintings?