Emmy Destinn -Suicidio - La Gioconda by Ponchielli

[blktenor]

I actually like her voice. I like how she approaches that high note at 1:38.

[rosaponselleart]

beautiful - thanks!

R.

[65attila]

This is an exciting performance but the voice itself IMO is not partifulary beautiful pr round. There is a bit of a braying sound which I find unpleasant and in this aria, I prefer Ponselle and Milanov.

[MrCafiero]

@65attila Did you hear her live? Of course not and it is very difficult to judge a voice like this based on such limited recording equipment.

[paulostroff99]

Awesome! TY.

[mariasarda]

Superbe voix ! Mais je n'adhère pas au maniérisme de la plupart de ses fins de phrases. Les notes tombent souvent. Mais bon... c'est toute une époque !

[allangoo]

This aria separates the sopranos who can sing from those who cannot.

It is an understatement that Destinn was one of the greats.

This aria falls largely around those notes dreaded by all sopranos - namely F and G at the bottom of the staff.

Even if a soprano has strong chest notes from E down, you usually hear a weak colourless sound around the area mentioned.

But Destinn sings every note of her range with equal power and importance.

[lewashcliffe]

MrCafiero, thank you so very much for sharing your wonderful collection of singers from the golden age. In that period there were basically 2 types of singers: parlor singers, and opera singers. The great singers had not only beauty and balanced registers, but tremendous power capable of filling an opera house over a huge orchestra. Singers today are spoiled by microphones that allow them to get by with poor vocal technique. These recordings are critical to understanding great singing.

[papoocanada]

what a horrible accent she has , makes me roar

[MrCafiero]

@papoocanada That isn't an accent as much as it is a language called Italian.

Also, she was fluent in 5 languages and was a great translator. Admired by Caruso, Toscanini etc.

[bowmister]

what year was this recorded please? thank you

[maldoror26]

1914.

M.

[janejones11]

A great voice which was well captured by the early recording process.