#10: "Che gelida manina" (Stephen Costello, soloist) - Marcello Giordani Foundation 12/08/2010

[SouthPacific005]

This is masterful singing. Haters gonn' hate.

[GERMANYFrankie]

I like it!

[nhcrama]

How is it possible to sing this aria with no dynamic whatsoever? I know not everybody can be Nicolai Gedda, but geez. He has a great sound, or rather could have a great sound, but because he's belting the whole time, it's grating to listen to. in this way he is very much a modern singer.

[dg6da]

...this is the american way of singing italian opera. The pronounciation is awful.

[juanmarrero2005]

That happen all the time, people want all for them, and what about the singer, if he like to sing open and he can so don't care what people want, that was the issue with Del Monaco, she always like to sing forte, other singer critizice him because they can't do like him, he born with that marvelous instrument why don't use?

[juanmarrero2005]

aroncooker why begin cover at F? if you have the ability to sing open why not? too much covering is for recording, covering hold the voice, the sound, in opera if you cover too much people can't hear you in top seats, he did great, he is a real opera tenor, the only way to sound squillo is opening, squillo give elegance.

[aroncooker]

@juanmarrero2005 No that is quite wrong. All of the greats from the past (Bjorling, Pavarotti, Caruso, etc.) Used the 'covering' tool. Its the only answer to a healthy and efficient technique and a lasting one. And I'm pretty sure if you ask anyone if they had trouble hearing Pav in the top seats they would say no.

[coryisawake]

Uh oh, maybe just being around Giordani makes tenors have impure attacks...

[chrisvetera]

Hace unos años atrás vi a este cantante recien apareciendo en youtube en la AVA en algunas arias y simplemente quedé asombrado de lo bueno que era, ahora con la madurez creo que está en su esplendor, creo que debiera mejorar algunas cosas para sonar mejor en las airas italianas como son las rrrr, las hace sonar igual que el gran Mario Lanza. Bravo.

Few many years ago I saw on youtube on some arias in AVA, and I knew that he will come in a star, now with mature of his voice is in top.

[canariasesmusica]

AVA is a factory of excellent singers: Marcello Giordani, Joyce DiDonato, Eglise Gutiérrez, Burak Bilgili, Indra Thomas, Othalie Graham, Michael Fabiano to name just a few! And of course, in this list you have to include Stephen Costello who has an amazing young voice that he has to take care of, and his wife Ailyn Pérez. Please, do not comment if you don't know what are you talking about!

[jaketaz]

@canariasesmusica

These days, opera is mostly comprised of people that don't know what they're talking about. Personally, I don't think it's fair to claim that any young singer is "excellent", let's see if they can still handle it in their forties and beyond - as history's truly excellent singers have.

[aroncooker]

This is GOD AWFUL. Holy cow. That AVA knows how to RUIN potential singers.... There is something seriously wrong with voice teaching today. Good lord people...

[DivaMamaNYC]

@aroncooker There is a saying that goes, "if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything." I know some teachers at Steinhardt very well and I think you should be disciplined for your comments about other conservatories and singers. Stephen Costello is not a "potential" singer he is a young opera star who won the Tucker Foundation award as did 2 other AVA grads. Do your homework before you write any nasty posts. Would you like this done to one of your videos?..I think not.

[aroncooker]

@DivaMamaNYC If you did know teachers at Steinhardt, especially mine, you can be certain that they would agree with me. And i know exactly who Stephen is, as well as many other AVA Grads. I do my research. I have nothing against Costello himself, im sure he is a great guy. But his technique is lacking and it wont last him very long. He sings way too open in the passagio, among many other things that Schumann seems to teach every single tenor he gets a hold of. It unfortunate.

[viv3147]

@aroncooker too open? you begin to cover at F# unless making a different color for the music

[Honken]

@viv3147

For lyrical tenors yes, heavier categories like spintos cover F. Dramatic and heroic might even begin at E, though this is rare.

[hobo1975]

@viv3147 i thought c# to F# is an important passage,starting to cover at f# doesnt make sense?f# to G is an important move as well but you have to have start some modification from c# upwards.

[js59695]

@aroncooker cooker isnt far off. I dont think he ruins voices but he def teaches an open top...which in the long run, 40's 50's will come crashing down. But maybe these singers are looking for the now and not worried about the future. Good for them. Get what u can while you can. An for sre Schumann teaches a very very open top in his tenors.

[aroncooker]

@js59695 I'm glad you agree with me, it honestly isnt hard to hear. Just takes an intelligent ear for correct singing, which seems to be lacking with most these days. And you are right, no one is thinking about the future, not even the people hiring them. They want it now and dont care if it only lasts ten years or less. Its ridiculous! Its not hard to hear this ridiculous screaming. This is not music.

[aroncooker]

@DivaMamaNYC Also, YouTube is a public site where if you want comments, you can allow that. You should expect both positive and negative comments. If I had any videos up, I would welcome both. It's a learning experience. I was just stating the truth that AVA ruins male voices, and Costello, among others, is a perfect example of this.

[DivaMamaNYC]

@aroncooker I'm glad to know that you are an expert, at your young age, on vocal technique. I suppose that Marcello Giordani, one of the greatest tenors of our generation, has been ruined by Schumann's teaching. Enough said.

[DivaMamaNYC]

@aroncooker You are right that YouTube is a public site and you are entitled to your opinion but keep in mind that the singer in the video is a human being with feelings and as a young, aspiring opera singer I would hope that you would have more compassion than to try and trash a fellow performer in a public forum. People do it all the time but that doesn't make it right.

[MrLupo23]

Che bono. Ehm... Bravo :-)

[earvinarp]

Not the most Italianate sound, but the guy is solid. Most tenors wish they could sing with this ease. There's a lot of envy in opera, that's why it is preferable to disable the ratings.

[Buzaglod]

damn what a high c

[idialegray]

Beautiful! Looking forward to his R & J in Philly this Friday.

[dtkane]

Beczala, Calleja, Fabiola, and now this - we are blessed! Villazon, with all the hype, was never so good, and Kaufmann never will be either.

[eurydike]

@dtkane who is Fabiola? I have never heard of him. No offense meant:) this tenor is good and very good looking.is Fabiola at least as good as this one:-)?

i think Costello is going to sing in Anna Bolena at the MET next season.

[premiereopera1]

Gorgeous!!

[boneocas]

A rising star!!

[aroncooker]

@boneocas or a falling one...

[mig82]

Still amazing!!! :-) Everybody should see his old videos and may agree with me he is still awesome!