Ella mi fu rapita/Parmi veder le lagrime - Rigoletto (1977)

[coreTenore]

Lo bueno de placido, que hace de director, del Mantova, y hasta de Rigoletto....jajaja.. todo con lo justo...un DIREC BARI TENOR (regular, a mi gusto...)

[fra1979it]

in questa tessitura è inadeguato.

qui si deve andare su kraus e .... sul più grande SCHIPA.

mi dispiace ma la performance è terribile!

[42sheela]

Che bei ricordi.....La Scala e lui

[bodiloto]

tenore?

[tusepagliacco]

How I wish I could have seen Domingo in an opera live

[onotuoedaul]

Ele era tão bonito............... hehehe

[Lovelytenor1]

The role was generally too high for him but this aria, one which many tenors consider more difficult than the other two, he sings wonderfully well. Its sits right in his range & is beautifully done.

[enricodicapri]

La gfran dificultad del si b qu se suele hacer por tradición al final de este aria estriba en cómo se ha llegado a lafrase "le sfere a gli angeli, per te, per te.. le sfere a gli an(aquí iría el si b)ge li..." y a mi parecer Placido canta esta frase con gran comodidad. el salto del fa al sib no debería haber sido un problema. e spor eso que creo mas que fue una decisión artística que una busqueda de "facilitar" el aria.

[avalokiteshivara]

mas cade o posente amore??

[Cavaradossi89]

W Domingo!!!! The best Tenor of the world!!!!!!

[qqppwoeeii]

creo que placido domingo es un excelente tenor, pero el si bemol del final es el climax del aria, suprimirlo es un poco como matar la interpretacion y, sobre todo, la carga emocional del acto. en su descargo decir que escasos tenores logran culminar este aria sin algun tipo de problema tecnico que requiera el uso de determinado truco vocal. esa tesitura... krauss, cristiano ronaldo y un par mas...

[santivocals]

Ese si b no esta escrito en la partitura originalmente...y te lo dice alguien que no es realmente (o para nada) fanatico de Domingo.

AHORA....CRISTIANO RONALDO?....AHORA CANTA EL DELANTERO DEL REAL? jajajajajajajajaja

[enricodicapri]

Placido ha hecho carrera a fuerza de tener un estupendo sib (ya si natural y do eran no tan seguros y bastante mas feos)asi que si optó por respetar lo escrito debe haber sido por algún otro motivo, no incapacidad. Aparte ese es un Sib que no viene muy incómodo para darlo.

[MrAngeltoledano]

@enricodicapri y he cantado este aria más veces seguramente que el sr Domingo mismo y te digo que ese sib es el más difícil de la historia de la ópera y mas para una voz de lirico spinto como la de Placido.

[jbrown91287]

Bicker and argue all you want, but is doesn't change the fact that not a single one of you has successfully put 130+ roles on your resume, and not only still singing at the age of 60+, but singing none-the-less Wagner.

All of you need to get off your high horse, sit back, enjoy art, respect the artist... oh yeah, don't forget that not a single one of you have had remotely close to his success.

[Pavarotti4eva]

i agree. we live the lives of gods. lives that the kings of england couldnt have dreamed of. we can listen to the greatest singers in the world at the click of a button, over and over again. remember how video games used to be awesome and now suck in comparison? the same thing happens with great singers. they get compared among themselves and as such, the peasant, the layman finds even exceptional talent average in a way.

[tagliavini]

Thanks jbrown for talking sense.

[sirinferno]

count how many professional food/film/music critics have success behind their name...

[DTGeek155]

So I thoroughly enjoy Domingo. And I like all types of music... he's actually the reason I got into opera. Thank you Domingo.

[dolicimani]

What are you all talking about, the ignorance is quite astounding. He did not specialise in the Bel Canto roles because for men this type of music requires lighter higher voices. The tessitura a lot of times lies very high and this is not suited to spinto or dramatic singers. Particularly Castorp278 your ignorance of voice types and what they are naturally suited to is quite amazing for someone who has so much to say on the matter.

[quis178]

Indeed his voice was placed lower than lyric tenors.Altough he wasn't a bel-canto repertoire singer he had some vocal virtues associated with the bel-canto singing like excellent legato,mezza voce and agility.

[Mooorhe]

Domingo's legato was not good, he not only broke it due to badly integrated registers, but the same thing you criticise Tucker for: overarticulated consonants, which are not compatible with a flawless legato line.

An example is this video, in many spots he overpronounces his R 'farrrrrrti quaggiù beata' instead of adopting the correct R for a flowing legato line. This is a very basic musical flaw in his singing, which does not qualify him as a singer with good bel canto style.

[exackerly]

You're assuming this role can only be sung by a lyric tenor! In fact Verdi made no such distinction. I think Domingo is terrific here, although he obviously sounds different from the other tenors who sing this part. He replaces some suavity with virility, it works just fine for me.

[gonzalordm]

What Moorhe says is almost funny. Domingo´s legato was not good?... haha... so stupid comment...

[quis178]

Bel-canto composers hated belting-they wanted a mixed voice emission of notes above the high A.Taking this into consideration,some fanboys should revise the significance of belting as a quality of a singer.BTW Domingo produced many beautiful high notes during his career.

[castorp278]

Why did not he sing belcanto ? Because he knew he could not sing belcanto and he would be inferior to true belcanto tenors and that is why he gave his best in more dramatic roles.

[castorp278]

''BTW Domingo produced many beautiful high notes during his career.'' Most of the people would not agree with you for he is very well ''known'' for his high register. He did sing some beautiful high notes, but not many.

[castorp278]

''Taking this into consideration,some fanboys should revise the significance of belting as a quality of a singer.'' What does it mean ''revise'' ? I don't think that ''belting'' is the only essential quality of singing but it is essential for one simple reason : most of the operas require ''belting'' and some singers ''belt'' decently and some don't. P.S. I find your ''belting'' for high register and full-voice singing.

[Mooorhe]

Yes, belting really spoils music, it's part of what spoilt this rendition.

[quis178]

He had a great line and legato which is essential in bel-canto.Some people bash Domingo for not singing the unwritten high notes.

[castorp278]

''He had a great line and legato which is essential in bel-canto.'' I think you are very wrong in this. ''His vowels are not darkened at all.'' Are we talking about the same Placido Domingo ? As I said before compare him to distinguished belcanto singers, male or female, and you'll see he lacks vocal capacities to be one. Finally, with his appetites he probably would have sung belcanto but as you probably know he did not.

[gonzalordm]

So ignorant yur commentary Castorp278, absolutely ignorance in it.

[nclysander]

Oh please, opera is not all about high notes, especially optional or unwritten high notes! Because this work owes some to the bel canto tradition, it's completely fine to add them, but not necessary. That Domingo doesn't is no cause for bashing or quarreling. If you prefer it with the B-flat, go listen to a version with the B-flat.

[castorp278]

''0pera is not all about high notes''. True but some singers can sing high notes decently and some can't. Domingo very often can't. Is singing high notes required in opera performances ? Yes, very often. If someone can't sing high notes decently does that ruin his performance ? Not necessarily but it's less complete. If someone wants to be as much as possible a complete singer would it be usefull for him to sing high notes ? Yes.

[castorp278]

By the way, I don't think that high notes are Domingo's only deficit, strictly vocally speking. Very often he does not sing in full voice, his pronounciation of vowels is inferior to some other tenors because very often his vowels are not opened, he sings like swallowing them which, in my opinion, makes his singing less beautifull and finally, to be little abstract, his vocal substance lacks equality which is probably matter of his technique and mainly stringent sound.

[quis178]

His pronounciation of vowels is great he doesn't cover his voice even in the passagio .He had an excellent mezza voce up to high B-flat and used it seldom.

[castorp278]

Please compare his performances (you can take this 1977 recording, it's on youtube) with Pavarotti's or Kraus' and you'll probably hear the sustained pronounciation of vowels. My experience is that singers' quality become more clear through comparison.

[quis178]

His vowels are not darkened at all.Wanna hear covered sounds?Check Bergonzi and del Monaco.

[castorp278]

All this would probably make Domingo very bad belcanto singer.He probably realised this and avoided this kind of repertoire giving his best in dramatic roles where one can ''disguise'' these vocal deficits because the vocal expression is different.And as far as ''Rigoletto''is concerned I believe the role of Duke per se suits much more belcanto singers (Pavarotti, Kraus) because of it's high tesstitura and the caracter is not very profound,dramatically speaking (strictly vocally probably yes).

[LordMoe9]

a beautiful voice, but not the right type for this role.

[tena2]

that´s what a always mean, half of his over 125 sung roles were not suitable for him, just put it this way, he does not sings the B-flat here in 1977, so do people see then why he transposes half or one tone most of his operas? there were all wrong choices and then he cant sing in key even his suitable roles, and yes, this is not for him, hi needs turandot, otello, radames etc

[Nater389]

Listen to the verison on Youtube posted by GermanOperaSinger to hear a real version of this song.

[Nater389]

WOULD have taken place at 4:27, instead nothing.

[Nater389]

Again, listen to Pavarotti in the 1960's version. Domingo here doesn't even attempt the Bb, which is arguably the most beautiful part of the piece...shame, he just didn't quite have what it takes.

[Mooorhe]

There's no need to be abusive. Domingo wouldn't have been allowed to take the B flat at this performance, James Levine preferred to conduct it as written. I don't know if you are familiar with the story, but four years later when the Met did this opera, James Levine insisted that Pavarotti would sing it without the interpolated B flat. Pavarotti wasn't keen on this, but sang it as Levine wanted it until opening night when he let rip with the B flat, James Levine was absolutely fuming.

[LordMoe9]

LMAO, that's awesome. Pavarotti sings for the audience, not for the conductor.

[Nater389]

Didn't intend to be "abusive" Mooorhe, and no I didn't know that story, great! Is that performance on youtube? To be honest, I just can't hear Domingo even doing the Bb. Is there a performance where he includes it?

[Operafiend22]

This strikes me as odd...Levine is a very singer-friendly conductor, I'd think he'd be in favour of whatever the given tenor is comfortable with, especially since the interpoled B-flat is an established tradition. In any case, Domingo handles himself well here...he had a glorious sound in the late 70's.

[Operafiend22]

Moorhe, I didn't intend my previous comment to sound as a snipe...it just surprises me is all :-)

[tena2]

James Levine does not necessarily allows to sing what its written, I would actually point out the other way round, he does allows to most of the tenors and sopranos, just take a look at every single time he conducted Luciano Pavarotti, Luciano did what he wanted, whenever he wanted and in the way he wanted, and if that makes a successful night James Levine would remain quite, James and almost all conductors of course.

[karlfriedrich]

from 2.05 on i think he goes out of tone half pitch up. am i right?

[karlfriedrich]

i mean from 2.05 until the orchestra comes back some seconds after. I am not sure because i dont know the score, but it sounds to me that he went half tone up. Lo chiede il pianto. Deeeee (switch tonality) eeeee la mia dileeeetta. Orchestra back in tone, par mi veder le lagrime in tone.

[Nater389]

Listen to the 1971 Pavarotti in Tokyo here on youtube for a perfect example of a young Pavarotti hitting a wonderful bflat.

[ChristophGF]

I disagree.... I have not seen any tenor not performing the bflat so far on stage, nor do I have a recording where the tenor does not include it. In order to show felling and sentiment I would recommend

"Ned ei potea soccorrenti, Cara fanciulla amata"

or

"E dove ora sarà quell'angiol caro?"

Chris

[Ragnaroekk]

You are a cretin with no clue about singing.

[ChristophGF]

1) Domingo is not a dramatic tenor

2) The only Tenor of his reputation not singing the bflat in this aria. Lauri Volpi, schipa, di stefano, pavarotti, gedda, kraus, etc.... they all did it

[DetektorWahrheit]

What absolute bunkum by Christoph Gassauer

[operabitch77]

yes, singers occasionally sing the B flat at the end of this aria but as i stated before, it is not written and therfore NOT tradition in the traditional sense. the creator of this tenor role had an adaquate voice capable of singing high C's all night long so verdi obviously wrote the ending cadenza with a feeling and sentiment of longing at the end of this aria. therfore. EVRY tenor should sing the cadenza and NOT the self glorified B flat at the end. cheers

[lavoreano]

I can't understand why when a dramatic tenor (such as this example of Domingo) takes a lyric role is oftenly well received, and when a lyric takes a dramatic role is oftenly bad received. Every tenor should be a bit more like Kraus, just singing what you are great at, and that's it. Just my opinion...

[Tsaraslondon]

B flat or no B flat, this is glorious singing. And he looks pretty good too.

[55patri]

Me gusta mucho y aunque el papel del Duque no es el más adecuado a la voz de Plácido, lo canta como todo francamente bien. Grandísimo artista

[Jussi1946]

Are you kidding me? where is the B flat? I mean its a B flat not a High C. Why cant a tenor sing a B flat which is tradition in this aria?

[operabitch77]

tradition?? its NOT in the score! go and oick up a score and SEE what verdi wanted!!

[ck80801]

I think the _tradition_ is to sing the high note. But, yes, definitely not _written_ in the score.

I think Jimmy Levine, and other conductors at the time, were in a "note-for-note, stick to the score" phase.

He also wanted this from a Pav performance of Rigoletto; but when the time came, Pav simply turned his sight away from Jimmy and belted out the high note -- much to the delight of the audience -- but Jimmy wasn't too happy afterwards.

[operabitch77]

yes, singers occasionally sing the B flat at the end of this aria but as i stated before, it is not written and therfore NOT tradition in the traditional sense. the creator of this tenor role had an adaquate voice capable of singing high C's all night long so verdi obviously wrote the ending cadenza with a feeling and sentiment of longing at the end of this aria. therfore. EVRY tenor should sing the cadenza and NOT the self glorified B flat at the end. cheers

[acalanesman22]

@ck80801 I'm surprised more singers don't take the cadenza. and MILK it for all it's worth.

haha

[DetektorWahrheit]

Bravo Jussi1946 has no clue

[headsno2]

Thanks SO much for posting this!!! I'm so glad I get to see this version. If you have any more of this video, and you're bored, you can post that too! ha.

[operabitch77]

i find this to be evidence that placi WASN'T EVER a baritone. this is one of the highest written roles that verdi composed for tenor! NOT only wouldn't pd be able to get thru this role but he also wouldn't be able to make such beautiful music. phrasing is so elegant and perfect for the character. many people who dont know about the voice blah blah all the time about himbeing a bari/tenor but really!! and what a bout singing edgardo in lucia at 19??no pushed up baritone would even attempt it!

[elsavbrabant]

Exactly! Besides, he had never gotten through 50 years of non stop singing if he had the vocal technic he sometimes is wrongly accused of!

[MetropeJocelyn]

Placido Domingo was in his vocal prime at the time and,despite the high tessitura of the Duke's part,one which he despises owing to the blatant cynicism of the character,he fared quite well in this production.For those interested, several arias from the same 1977 performance are also available on Youtube.

[MetropeJocelyn]

Many thanks for posting this video Ursey! Could you please add the "La donna e mobile" aria as well as the famous quartet: "Bella figlia dell'amore", since "Questo o quella" and the Act 2 love duetto from this production are already available on Youtube. Cheers in advance!

[ursey39]

Hi Jocelyn, La Donna e mobile posted as requested. I will post the quartet tomorrow. Enjoy!

[Arbus2]

Fantástico Plácido como siempre, impresionante la fuerza dramática y todo su lirismo que se conjugan para darle a éste rol un tinte casi inusitado. Bravisimo!!

Please URSEY39, can you post the cabaletta "La donna è mobile" from this presentation at the Met?

[ursey39]

As requested Arbus2 La Donna e mobile is posted!

[tena2]

I do thank you too.

Very greatful indeed.