Rockwell Blake - Il mio tesoro

[francotarika]

genius!!!super!!!he is a great maestro of the century!!!bravoooooooooooooo!!­!

[operalover67]

nobody will be able to breathe in the history of singing like blake did...great..more...superb..th­ank you ...from italy...

[maferreira1984]

1:43 to 1:56 - Amazing!

And I'm far from being a fan of R. B.

[timothyc273]

such amazing breath control. such a large mouth and harsh timbre,

[sallpario]

rockwelle fake it s not singing-it s a goat s bleating

[sallpario]

rockwelle fake it s not singing-it s  a goat s bleating

[IHATEWINDOWS]

the breath control around 200 is just like mozart wanted it, fabulous, if you ask me.

[FlyingTiger5]

Is it just me or does this guy look like Christian Bale? LOL

[hansquad]

@FlyingTiger5

ahahaha, it's true! lol.. Bale singing Il Mio Tesoro.. =)

[OperaLover84]

This needs to have more a bouncy feeling to it. It's in cut-time not 4/4.

[pepelu1980]

This fiatto is... incredible!!! jajajaja

[BelCantoFan2]

breath suppore very goood...but technique-not quite good

[Lovelytenor1]

Yes, portions of this are ugly as well as his singing of the other Don Giovanni aria. The higher vocal placement & open singing(watch the vast jaw movement just to form vowels) which allowed him to be the greatest Rossini tenor of his generation do not serve him well in this role. HOWEVER, re-listen to the "run" in the middle. I would consider that the best since J. McCormick. Marvelous breath control throughout.

[blichilde]

@Lovelytenor1 Try Alva in that "run". I think he's unbeatable.

[Lovelytenor1]

@blichilde I've always been an Alva fan. His heyday was in my youth. A lovely instrument.

[mroowens]

like pirania...

[richiedrr]

He wins the prize for taking "the big" phrase all in 1 breath AND the next one too. From 1:41 to 2:02! Truly outstanding breath control.

[2009ClaireBear]

Absolutely!!! Incredible. I don't think I have ever heard that phrase sang on one breath!

[blichilde]

It's only me who doesn't like him?Ugly voice,mediocre interpretation,and why does him smile?

Listen to Alva,Dermota,McCormack,Gedda and after you don't want to hear him anymore.

[viafilodrammatici]

Unfortunately you don't understand him because you are ignorant. The smile is typically a feature of the old bel canto school, which of course you have never read about, otherwise you would not make a fool of yourself. Read more, kid.

[blichilde]

Datti un contegno,viafilodrammatici. Che ti fa pensare che non sappia che il sorriso è un aiuto tecnico? sta di fatto che molti grandi della vecchia scuola belcantistica sono perfettamente in grado di cantare pezzi drammatici senza sorridere.

Ah ,I'm not a kid, but an old lady. Blichilde is a woman's name, check it.

[viafilodrammatici]

You are acting like a kid, though. Despite the clever choice of the username.

Tesoro sei tu quella che ha chiesto perche` sorride. Ma a lavare la testa agli asini si spreca acqua e anche sapone.

[blichilde]

Se asino è chi non apprezza Blake, vabbè, pazienza....

[viafilodrammatici]

Pazienza. Magari col tempo e applicazione...

[caribolas]

one point: Alva SUCKS big time. His coloratura sucks, his range sucks, his overall technique sucks.

[AustinGB90]

rockwell's technique is perfect but he seems to be best in rossini and donezetti. mozart stuff doesn't serve him as much enough justice as the others do.

[g4thz]

I feel similarly about Juan Diego.

[senilangakali]

beau mais too much vibrato for mozart or don ottavio!

[senilangakali]

Alva or Gedda to set the stansdard for this aria...i respect and take my hat off to Blake's interpretation but one cannot sing everything in the same style or manner...this is not Handel, this is Mozart!!

[asisecanta]

First class performance!!!

5 stars!!!

Who cares if he is smiling with such a fantastic technic!!!

[puxex]

I prefer alva, is more elegant.

[dertsa]

This aria is much better than his earlier "Dalla Sua Pace." Not a huge fan of his acting, however I am not one to talk, not being much of an actor myself. My personal opinion is that this tenor would be a much better performer as Albert in "Die Fledermaus" or something similar to that.

[TrovadorManrique]

comprendo que cada cantante tendrá su propia técnica de máscara, pero anunciar una venganza con esa sonrisa en la cara no parece lo más apropiado, ¿no?

[Merryjest]

Bueno, a menos que en realidad DISFRUTE del prospecto de venganza ;D

[LICORNE31]

Esta sonrisa que puede ser chocante para muchos de los que entran aqui, y que da paso a comentarios despreciativos o de mofa, hace parte de la tecnica personal de Blake. Cuando lo vi cantar por primera vez (hace tiempo ya) tuve esta misma reaccion que algunos aqui. Pero despues, "indagando" supe el porque. Y asi es. Los seguidores de Blake desde siempre lo saben bien.

[TrovadorManrique]

Bueno, hombre, si no lo digo en serio. La posición de sonrisa la han tomado otros muchos cantantes, solo que algunos han hecho de ella un tema, como la Sills, mientras que otros la disimulan un poco más, como Kraus.

[Greatfan]

The sound , the audio is here too low to appreciate Blake.

[nick2007AD]

He's ok but I prefer the likes of Beniamino Gigli which expresses much more sweetness in the voice.

[ettoleetoile]

I think his singing is excellent! There are many tenors who are cast in this role but can not sing the difficulties in this aria (1:41 - 1:56!!). But I think he is not an Ottavio. He doesn't know what he sings...

[TrovadorManrique]

you are right, he is smiling!!

[vickersman]

Way too many negative comments. Usually from 20 year olds and wannabee's. Well sung, and as always for Rocky,excellent coloratura.Sure he might best be singing other roles-those that expose his incredible technical coloratura mastery and range-but he does a fine job right here.

[spgtenor]

Right on. Personal taste is one thing, but this is definitely Rocky's fach. This is just another example of his versatility. Too bad he never expanded into more lyrical roles, he could have excelled in them as well.

[rosetheatre]

You are right Ben H.

I studied with Rocky a year ago and he is a genious. He compliments the Great Garcia for all of his technique.

[tehen162]

I think this role is not for him. His sound lacks the sweetness needed for this aria, it is not the way how Mozart has to be sung.

[SONIETCHKA]

Parmi les ténors du XXe siècle, Blake est celui qui possède LA MEILLEURE TECHNIQUE pour le bel canto : c'est incontestable. Juan Diego Florez, dans le même répertoire, lui est très inférieur

[ecosse99]

If you listen carefully, he inserts intrusive H's, which are definitely not in Mozart's score. On second listening, one does not even have to listen carefully!

They are a distraction, and a sign of lazy technique. They can be eliminated, with hard work!

[sevoflurane]

I cannot hear any Hs. The notes are "sgranate" with precision, as they should be.

[roloco9]

pu...que yo canto mejor de donde sacaron este pata se ensartaron los que pagaron su entrada pero le tiembla la voz eso lo canta mejor luis alva.y no le baila la voz.pabrecito.

[LICORNE31]

ME DAS PENA !!!!

[peiote77]

i prefer Plácido Domingo

[puccinilover]

I do like this singer but not really in this role I think its just not for him

[alonsosicairos]

Definitivamente una voz y tecnica impresionantes... no habia tenido el gusto de escuchar esta aria tan bien cantada... gracias a quien la subió ;)

[nengster]

why not YOU post a video of YOUR singing and let others comment "GREAT" tenor. Loser

[BeniaminoGigli]

I haven't made my Video yet,but I am sure you will pay the ticket for listening to my singing in a few years.Maybe you need to training your ears before that day,ignoramus!

[yinjiegreattenor]

What?The technic is so shit.

[bigpinkypig]

thank you so much for this construcutive and elegant observation.

[davidoski001]

The technic is amazing, breath, mouth position... woau, what an example for singers!!!

[sallpario]

rockwelle fake it s not singing-it s a goat s bleating

[comocracy]

@yinjiegreattenor  If by technique then no his technique is pretty effing flawless. Look at the wide vs tall vowels and his breath control, 25 second run in the middle is INSANE!

[alepeccia]

Hid technique is not good? LMAO

Bravo Rocky... Wish RAI still played operas!

[rosetheatre]

his technique is not good??? What?

You might not like his voice or his rendition of the aria....but technique?

Coome on....that is what Rocky is all about...TECHNIQUE

[janraei]

I would have to agree that the technique isn't quite there. He's trying to bring the weight of the chest into everything he sings in this performance. Above all, this is dangerous for the voice. Secondly, it detracts from times when the added weight would bring drama to the interpretation.

[sevoflurane]

Dangerous for the voice? Is that why he sang coloratura like no other tenor for nearly 39 years, in operas like Crociato, Semele and Zelmira? I wish most tenors had this "dangerous" technique.

[Cylleruion87]

Actually, it's a hell of a lot safer to not use so much chest in coloratura passages. Yes, there needs to be *some* chest into the upper range, but damn. That's a lot.

And really, it's Mozart. Not Verdi or Wagner. There's no need for a huge tenor voice. At all.

[sevoflurane]

I don't understand your comment, sorry... what Blake uses is falsettone. And anyway, no tenor in the last century has matched his coloratura. In fact most tenors have to cheat on florid passages and simplify them. I think Rocky knows the difference between Mozart and Wagner. I would recommend his CD "the Mozart tenor". It is very educational.

[Cylleruion87]

Uhm...that's not falsetto. It's WAY too heavy. I'm a tenor/countertenor, and I'm *very* intimate with the usage of falsetto.

I don't come from that school of thought, Sevo - if you have to cheat to put a coloratura passage on stage, then you shouldn't put it on stage at all. Mozart wrote EVERY note in his music for a *very* specific reason. If he didn't want the note there, he wouldn't have put it there.

[sevoflurane]

Now... as Lauri Volpi put it beautifully: falsettone is like silk, falsetto resembles cotton (there is a difference, his book Voci parallele is very informative). The problem is that most tenors, or singers for that matter, have to resolve some florid passages with a feeble coloratura, without using coloratura di forza. Again I would recommend some Blake's CDs. Mozart is not Verdi or Puccini.

[sevoflurane]

Between, I love countertenors! What do you like to sing?

[Cylleruion87]

Interesting notion; I'll do some research and ask my voice professor about this "falsettone". I've honestly never heard the term.

Heh, I know the feeling; most people tend to try to control *every* note instead of letting their brains (and thus their instrument) take care of the passage. I'm starting to like my coloratura a lot better.

I sing anything I can get my hands on in the CT range; I'm just starting to explore the notion, so it'll be a fun experience.

Yeah, very different composers.

[sevoflurane]

Do you like Lauri Volpi? I have always liked his timbre and phrasing. In some recording he sails up to the E flat, which is very impressive. He recirded some stuff at home when he was in his 80s lol!

As far as countertenors are concerned I very much admire Drew Minter and Christophellis. What do you think about them?

[Cylleruion87]

I haven't had many encounters with any of the people you've mentioned. I'd search 'em now, but I'm on my way out to class. More from me later.

Eb? Nice. Great command of the headvoice there! woo!

[Ragazzodicore]

okay, this dude is such a screamer...sings too open..and his technique is NOT good...lol..he tries to make his voice bigger than it is..he alsot makes the same facial expressions whatever he sings!

[blakemooney]

The damn volume is too low! I can hardly hear any of it no matter how I change my settings. And this taxing aria is either done masterfully or not. There's little in between. If anyone has another source in youtube.com that "plays well" please end the info on to me. Thanks.

[nycmetbound]

eh, its ok. well i should say its really good. but it just doesnt do anything for me. the technique is good, but it still doesnt move me. and isnt that the point of singing?

[sevoflurane]

Then go and listen to the singers that move you. Why are you wasting your time here?

[LICORNE31]

Quelle bonne réponse, Sevoflurane. Et avec de l'humour. BRAVO !

[sevoflurane]

Sublime! Who else can actually sing all the notes of the aria without mucking up the coloratura? And he makes everything look so easy!

[LICORNE31]

Bravissimo ! Ce n'est pas le répertoire habituel de Blake, mais quel talent, quelle sensibilité (Même s'il n'est pas le "ténor mozartien" habituel). J'ai cette VHS en entier. Je crois qu'il s'agit du DON GIOVANNI de Bologne avec Ricardo Chailly. Mr. BLAKE un grand bravo. Vous nous manquez.

[lyrictenore]

Ha. I felt the same way grandtenore.

[Grandtenore]

Hmmm...a lil flat. Also, he should not have to utilize the smiling technique here. He looks to be happy in an aria that is not.

[fabiantenor]

Why just highlight the "bad" points???... of course, ANYBODY can sing this aria with such breathspan and coloratura perfection... not to mention the "disdain" attitude he's able to portray instead of worrying about dying without any air left like EVERYBODY does... or showing your teeth in a "non-happy" aria...

[Cylleruion87]

Well, why not, if people are looking up to Mr. Blake as a singing role-model? Opera is MUSICAL ACTING. You must PORTRAY your character WHILE singing, not just in the interlude.

"Il mio tesoro" asks the others to console Ottavio's beloved while he eradicates the evil that is Don Giovanni. Ottavio's character is *not* happy about having to kill someone, so the constant smile throughout the aria tells me he doesn't know what it means. He's just throwing notes out there, which is how it sounds.

[fabiantenor]

To all those "wise critics": We are waiting for your portrayals of the aria the way "it should be done"... Go ahead...

[goodday4guinness]

If you look at some other clips of him, he looks as if he is smiling in serious arias.

I think it's just his technique that causes him to pull his lips back and reveal his teeth. It is assumable that someone with an international career would have a modest understanding of what they are singing, and would most likely perform the role correctly...

[dibeling]

That's not necessarily a smile, rather, a lifting of the zygomatic muscles, which looks like a smile.  Singers do this to keep their sound from flattening.

FYI!

[2009ClaireBear]

Agreed. But you have to be careful in doing this for two reasons. First is appearance.

Cylleruion87 makes a great point regarding that. Second, You can sound a little bright and almost sharp if you "widen" the space too much. Something he does quite a bit. Listen to him compared to singers who focus more on proper phonation and you will see what I mean.

[erstelage]

FYI, Mr. Blake is *fluent* in Italian AND French. However important you may consider acting to be, his technique has made him perhaps THE cornerstone of the Rossini 'revolution,' and perhaps the finest and most complete vocal technician who has ever lived. Period. Amateur singers/haters, please, go back to school and the JDF Fan Club (and honestly, he's great, I just don't understand the 'religion') When you're all grown up, you may understand what's going on in this man's videos....

[sexybcl21]

Very well put!  :)