Jerome Hines was a superb musical artist, an excellent actor, and a gifted athlete. At 6 feet 7, he was invariably a towering presence on stage but one who respected and worked harmoniously with his fellow singers and actors. His staging of Boris's death fall was heart-stopping. To that, I was fortunate to be a witness at the 40th Street Met on two occasions.
People complain about lack of voices, but the truth is that voices like Hines are arrogantly put aside in auditions and contests, for they think they lack delicacy. It is a stupid fashion that is lasting far too many years and has stopped many careers. But people want to READ opera, not to HEAR or LISTEN TO IT. Also a man of his age here would not be hired for there is an adoration of youth and slim bodies. Absurd, for these voices last a lot. Sad and stupid !
Great singing from one of the greatest basses, but the stage director should never have let him take a tumble like that down the steps! That was just plain dangerous! Mighty effective, though...:)
Falling down the staircase is actually in Mussorgsky's stage directions and so it is always staged that way. Often the staircase is much longer and it is almost always covered with an inch or two of padding under the painted surface which is canvas. The heavy costume also protects the performer.
Read Hines book This is My Story This is My Song. He talks all about his tumbling! very interesting book. There is a whole very interesting thread that runs throughout book regarding the tumble.
Я не преувеличиваю. У нас никто почти (кроме пары старых мастеров, включая Шаляпина, разумеется) не пел так мощно и свободно. Вокальная школа скверная. А по материалу рядом с Хайнесом так точно никто рядом не стоял. Здесь же из-за качества не слышно и половины его голоса.
Great drama and beautiful singing. I'm new to the artist and the music. It would help newbies like me if you would provide some background info. Thanks for posting the video. cg
I don't know if this might interest you, but you can find an extensive series of invu's with both J.H. and Franco Corelli...go to Stefan Zucker's Bel Canto Society Webcasts.These are lengthy discussions with both artists about career, technique and opera personalities...great stuff. Hines is on par with the very best of basses George London et.al.
Jerome Hines was a superb musical artist, an excellent actor, and a gifted athlete. At 6 feet 7, he was invariably a towering presence on stage but one who respected and worked harmoniously with his fellow singers and actors. His staging of Boris's death fall was heart-stopping. To that, I was fortunate to be a witness at the 40th Street Met on two occasions.
blather99 10 months ago
Comment removed
55werther 11 months ago
As an Orthodox Christian . I find that because of his mundimentilism. His Boris lacked a certin ethos. Tremendous voice presence what an artist
tenorismo 1 year ago
Looks & sounds healthy to me!
coryisawake 1 year ago
As Russian I want to say that he is the best "non Russian" Boris I've ever heard.
Amazing singing and performance, a real Bass, a rel Boris!
Bravo!
RADAMES1983 1 year ago
just fabulous - che voce, che presenza, che Boris - I could listen to it over and over again.
carotamia 3 years ago
I saw him do it. Awesome. The audience as one gasped in horror. But, as Tosca says, you have to know how to do it.
lloyd24t 3 years ago
People complain about lack of voices, but the truth is that voices like Hines are arrogantly put aside in auditions and contests, for they think they lack delicacy. It is a stupid fashion that is lasting far too many years and has stopped many careers. But people want to READ opera, not to HEAR or LISTEN TO IT. Also a man of his age here would not be hired for there is an adoration of youth and slim bodies. Absurd, for these voices last a lot. Sad and stupid !
Greatfan 4 years ago
Great singing from one of the greatest basses, but the stage director should never have let him take a tumble like that down the steps! That was just plain dangerous! Mighty effective, though...:)
stefakamelpash 4 years ago
Falling down the staircase is actually in Mussorgsky's stage directions and so it is always staged that way. Often the staircase is much longer and it is almost always covered with an inch or two of padding under the painted surface which is canvas. The heavy costume also protects the performer.
Sparafucile11 4 years ago
The tumbling down the stairs is not a direction from Mussorgsky. But it is a pretty common practice for the part, definitely.
BorisGodunov 1 year ago
Read Hines book This is My Story This is My Song. He talks all about his tumbling! very interesting book. There is a whole very interesting thread that runs throughout book regarding the tumble.
paldrich1 2 years ago
Bravissimo...bellisma voz de bajo y una gran interpretacion del que tal vez sea el rol mas complejo de esta cuerda.
otello31 4 years ago
One of my favourite basses. Thanks for sharing this.
Tenderness6 4 years ago
Incredible power of voice and good Russian. The best Boris I ever heard - better than russians singers. :)
dorje1975 4 years ago
ну пожалуйсто, не надо преувеличивать!
sorbino9 4 years ago
Я не преувеличиваю. У нас никто почти (кроме пары старых мастеров, включая Шаляпина, разумеется) не пел так мощно и свободно. Вокальная школа скверная. А по материалу рядом с Хайнесом так точно никто рядом не стоял. Здесь же из-за качества не слышно и половины его голоса.
dorje1975 4 years ago
Great Hines, and his Russian is quite good too.
francotenelli 4 years ago
Flying straight from the chest!
dustmondo45 5 years ago
Best... death... ever!
BaronSciarpa 5 years ago
Way to ham it up there, Jerome. :-) I like how Prince Shuisky looks like Count Dracula, too. This is a nice treat for us Boris fans.
BorisGodunov 5 years ago
Great drama and beautiful singing. I'm new to the artist and the music. It would help newbies like me if you would provide some background info. Thanks for posting the video. cg
cgabster 6 years ago
I don't know if this might interest you, but you can find an extensive series of invu's with both J.H. and Franco Corelli...go to Stefan Zucker's Bel Canto Society Webcasts.These are lengthy discussions with both artists about career, technique and opera personalities...great stuff. Hines is on par with the very best of basses George London et.al.
tenorrman 5 years ago