The "Una voce poco fa" Contest - Vivica Genaux

[MrHbc3]

Interesting that some folks think Dessay should sing this. Is this something suitable for her new richer, lower pitched voice of the last few years? I'm a big Dessay fan and it's hard for me to imagine her in this role (all her characters have affairs with tenors and then die), but she has surprised me before. That bit about having affairs with tenors and then dying is from Vivica, BTW.

[7inga7]

She's really quite wonderful!

[bbbartolo]

I am totally smitten with Genaux's Rossini. The warmth, sensuality, flexibility, dizzying agility and choices of ornamentation dazzle me beyond Bartoli or anyone else I can think of. And the characterizations I've heard are just right!

///// singing

///// characterization

[GoBogi]

Agree. 5/5

I don't think any coloratura exists that this woman cannot sing (provided its in her tessitura).

[heartofsorrow]

talk about fast and furious. she sure has a talent for that, though it's not my favorite version of the song, she still does a pretty good job.

[edrahl]

The best recording (that I have) is Edita Gruberova. It is amazing.

Genaux sounds good, though. If I had just another octave, I could sing this (even though it is not really a man's role).

[forallyouknow]

Don't we all wish we had another octave? Haha.

[JuillHope17]

sorry for spamming there for a sec lindororossini, i just had to set a record straight. i love and have always loved your videos, and thank you for being such a dedicated member of the youtube community. all your hard work makes us opera fans and singers alike so grateful that we have your resources to draw from. all the best :)

[ThPaw]

3/3

[stingabe]

yeah, this is not one of her forte's...flat and amazingly boring. sad, because she is a great singer.

[FraLaFra90]

good performance, but I don't feel nothing listening to this version of "una voce poco fa". only technique and not emotions!!

[FABRIZIO82]

Extremely ugly. Faulty singing. Faulty tone production. A soprano corto IS NOT a mezzo. This IS NOT coloratura. This is vomited yugayaguyya yodeling. Not sul fiato pearl like Garcia-Lehmann coloratura. Buuuuuuuhhhhuuuu!!!!

[puccinilover]

you buffoon

[JuillHope17]

no he's right. her technique is shit. look at her when she sings. if i paid 300 bucks for front row met tickets and she was singing, i'd want my money back

[DrGarri]

By reading your posting I doubt that someone with your education even makes enough money to enter the met, much less to pay front row. Then again, just another CD-opera lover who fancies to know about this art form.

[JuillHope17]

in 151 letters and 4 punctuation marks you can tell all that about a person? well i dunno if i have your skills, but from what i can tell of your comment you're an arrogant know-it-all bastard who thinks they know someone off of ONE comment. well fyi fuckface: i AM an opera singer, i'm an opera historian as well since i've been raised on it since i was 3, my first met opera was at age 5, and my aunt in ny has season tickets in the 1st and 3rd rows. see? you don't know me, so back the fuck off.

[Kermancalvo]

I like her and I certainly admire her technical command. But I agree with some of the previous messages, in the sense that I hardly feel touched when she signs. To my mind she is too cerebral a singer.

Thanks for posting these arias

[Heartlessiceboy]

I love vivica , she's almost a coloratura machine , and i love her singing Farinellis arias , but some reason i dont love her in this role, as rossina i prefer a la Bartoli or Teresa Berganza

[niklausse]

Not a beatiful voice but a great singer 4/5

[GalambBorong]

3/2. Decent, but didn't excite me at all.

[LindoroRossini]

Keep going! I love your comments!

[GalambBorong]

Thanks! And thank you for posting these arias.

[HappyHounde]

4/3

[DarienFithos]

4/4

Her coloratura is surprisingly clear for a mezzo, and I like her interpretation (where she chooses to elide, etc). I also enjoy hearing non conventional ornamentation.

[tanynzh]

I think's she's ok in her high notes. She sounds more a lyric soprano. I will give her a 3/3.

[gransasso101]

I love this singer in her usual Baroque mode with Farinelli arias, Bach, Handel, even most Rossini but not this one. This aria shows nothing but her weaknesses.(could be that it's because it's a super famous aria and we heard too many greats sing it) Everyone knows she can ornament the crap out of this music with coloratura but her voice is totally shrill above G and her legato kinda shaky. Still love her tho.

[selrahc48]

i saw her sing this live and she was splended

[Louisacat]

4/3 It's great to hear this aria sung by a real mezzo rather than a soprano and I love her warm, slightly dark sound. I didn't get very much character from the sound alone

[Orbazzano]

Mi sembra impossibile!! Qua si critica la grandissima Grazziella Sciutti e si elogia questa pessima cantante!!

[Operaphile]

Oh, so many to compare!!! Need to add Joyce di Donato, Jennifer Larmore, Olga Borodina, Susanne Mentzer and hopefully Elina Garanca soon. Older greats of the role: Teresa Berganza and Victoria de los Angeles. Interesting recordings: Erna Sack, Mady Mesple, Dame Joan, Kathleen Battle, Grace Bumbry, Renata Scotto, Angela Gheorghiu. I'd like to see Natalie Dessay have a go at the role on stage too - she'd be really fun!

[puccinilover]

I tottally think that dessay would have a hoot with this role

[civileso]

My vote is a bit lopsided: 4/3.. 4 for singing 3 for characterization. I love her voice and her interpretation but don't think much of her characterization judging only from audio.. She doesn't have that excited but fiery young Rosina feel.. But the singing is I think as good as it gets though it lacks some dynamics...

[pautalux]

4/5. I like Vivica, expecially in Haendel.

[petelovesbevsills]

I have never heard of this singer but will award her at least 4/5. nice and easy sounding voice... more info on her please !

[drdre333]

First, I'm glad I stumbled on this. I love comparisons. I find them challenging. However, without actually seeing the performers, it diminishes the ability to really grade on characterization. However I'm gonna give it a whack. I like the low notes, but her top is stressed. My vote is 3/4