And how exactly would you have a Spaniard portray a Moor if not with some make-up and your imagination? Opera bookings and choices have to do with the ability of the singer, not the sensibilities of the puportedly "left out"
Beautiful film but I wish Zeffirelli had chosed a better Desdemona- Riciarelli isn't bad but there were other more worthy sopranos-Te Kanawa, Freni to name a few. But will always be rewarding watching.
Beautiful BUT opera believes in "traditional casting" except this. C'mon. I hope blackface went out with the last century. They are lipsynching - it's a film. Pith can be changed and tempo kept the same btw.
I don't understand why the pitch was taken down. Not only does it sound unnatural, it makes it seem like they're lip synching. It's sounds like Katia Ricciarelli can't hit the top notes (which I'm sure isn't true). It's really ashame because visually this scene is beautiful.
@potomusicfan4ever It's at normal pitch on the soundtrack album. And there is nothing cut from the opera on the album. But on the album, the voices sound far away, while the orchestra practically blasts you out of your seat.
I have a feeling that it was sung by Domingo and Ricciarelli in the proper pitch, but that the sound engineers actually altered the pitch down by a tone. That's my only hypothesis. Strangely, though, the tempo seems to be in tact.
If so, then why? That's what I can't figure out. Besides, Placido sounds much lower than a tone. He sounds like he's singing baritone. And la Ricciarelli is singing mostly within my own range (lyric tenor - but don't tell Jose Carreras!).
I questioned this on rmo about two years ago and was told It certainly shouldn't have been transferred in 4:3 ( ie 1:1.37) as it was shot in 1:1.85, which should more-or-less fill a 16:9 TV. The thread is called 'Otello DVD problem' on rec.music.opera, which is on Google Groups
Why? The position of the genitalia has nothing to do with voice production. No, our Placido is a good Catholic boy, maybe was even an altar boy in his youth.
Hah! She should LIVE so long! No, he's a staunch family man and wouldn't dream of stepping out on Marta (his wife). Besides, he has too much to lose, especially career-wise. There are a number of wannabe bedmates. None of them is real.
The thing that throws me off is the fact the sound is REALLY out of pitch. Domingo sounds like a baritone, Diaz almost like a basso profondo, and Ricciarelli like a mezzo. I wonder how they let the film out with the pitch so far off.
Placido himself says that synchronization is the problem here. A propos nothing, Placido really IS a baritone. He built his tenor voice on a natural baritone base.
You're correct that Domingo was originally a baritone, but he actually sounds bass-baritone here, in my opinion. Some alteration definitely occurred int the transfer.
The acting and the directing is absolutely astounding, though.
I love this scene (and a whole film as well) but I can't understand the need of cuts, especially in Otello-Jago duet in the second act - for me these cuts spoiled a little this wonderful film!
Me encanta esta ópera de Verdi y Plácido Domingo está soberbio con esa voz ocura
zambombazo0 3 months ago
porque esta un tono abajo???
TheBasilio 1 year ago
@TheBasilio Toda la pelicula es asi. Pero en el "soundtrack album" suena mas normal, y no cortan nada.
al1936ful 9 months ago
ZEFFIRELLI. THE GREAT.
MickaelBest 2 years ago
One of the most beautiful moments of the opera and of entire Verdi's output.
iamalittlespy 2 years ago 5
Dear chubs,
And how exactly would you have a Spaniard portray a Moor if not with some make-up and your imagination? Opera bookings and choices have to do with the ability of the singer, not the sensibilities of the puportedly "left out"
sashka6666 2 years ago
I love this scene (and a whole film as well)
54spiritedwill54 3 years ago 6
Beautiful film but I wish Zeffirelli had chosed a better Desdemona- Riciarelli isn't bad but there were other more worthy sopranos-Te Kanawa, Freni to name a few. But will always be rewarding watching.
domi2020 3 years ago
Beautiful BUT opera believes in "traditional casting" except this. C'mon. I hope blackface went out with the last century. They are lipsynching - it's a film. Pith can be changed and tempo kept the same btw.
sonicesocool 4 years ago
Hm... Black face. I am surprised this is acceptable in opera...
chubsoffire 4 years ago
The pitch is a half step low.
pericopemeister 4 years ago
I don't understand why the pitch was taken down. Not only does it sound unnatural, it makes it seem like they're lip synching. It's sounds like Katia Ricciarelli can't hit the top notes (which I'm sure isn't true). It's really ashame because visually this scene is beautiful.
potomusicfan4ever 4 years ago
@potomusicfan4ever It's at normal pitch on the soundtrack album. And there is nothing cut from the opera on the album. But on the album, the voices sound far away, while the orchestra practically blasts you out of your seat.
al1936ful 9 months ago
Verdi's music at its very best here! this scene is a masterpiece!
PieterdeRooijHolland 4 years ago
No wonder he sounds like a bass-baritone... they altered the pitch down by a full tone.
VivaCallas 5 years ago
You think? But he sounds so much more like a baritone than a full tone ought to make him, IMHO. And Katia sounds like a mezzo.
tahirih163 5 years ago
I have a feeling that it was sung by Domingo and Ricciarelli in the proper pitch, but that the sound engineers actually altered the pitch down by a tone. That's my only hypothesis. Strangely, though, the tempo seems to be in tact.
VivaCallas 5 years ago
If so, then why? That's what I can't figure out. Besides, Placido sounds much lower than a tone. He sounds like he's singing baritone. And la Ricciarelli is singing mostly within my own range (lyric tenor - but don't tell Jose Carreras!).
tahirih163 5 years ago
I questioned this on rmo about two years ago and was told It certainly shouldn't have been transferred in 4:3 ( ie 1:1.37) as it was shot in 1:1.85, which should more-or-less fill a 16:9 TV. The thread is called 'Otello DVD problem' on rec.music.opera, which is on Google Groups
LaDonnaMobile 5 years ago
Those were the days when they knew how to costume opera... BANG!
Caskader 5 years ago 2
this voice was changed with the pc
ErnestoPetti 5 years ago
YO guys, you forget that singers need to keep it in their pants, so stop the bulsh...t talk, we're not in hollywood!!!
dustmondo45 5 years ago
Why? The position of the genitalia has nothing to do with voice production. No, our Placido is a good Catholic boy, maybe was even an altar boy in his youth.
tahirih163 5 years ago
Boy wouldn't I love to have been Katia when doing THIS scene! What a yummy man!
tahirih163 5 years ago 2
Apparently so. My girl friend about twenty years ago confessed to me that she was also sleeping with Domingo.
Agorante 5 years ago
Hah! She should LIVE so long! No, he's a staunch family man and wouldn't dream of stepping out on Marta (his wife). Besides, he has too much to lose, especially career-wise. There are a number of wannabe bedmates. None of them is real.
tahirih163 5 years ago
The thing that throws me off is the fact the sound is REALLY out of pitch. Domingo sounds like a baritone, Diaz almost like a basso profondo, and Ricciarelli like a mezzo. I wonder how they let the film out with the pitch so far off.
jws2718 5 years ago 2
Placido himself says that synchronization is the problem here. A propos nothing, Placido really IS a baritone. He built his tenor voice on a natural baritone base.
tahirih163 5 years ago
You're correct that Domingo was originally a baritone, but he actually sounds bass-baritone here, in my opinion. Some alteration definitely occurred int the transfer.
The acting and the directing is absolutely astounding, though.
VivaCallas 5 years ago
I love this scene (and a whole film as well) but I can't understand the need of cuts, especially in Otello-Jago duet in the second act - for me these cuts spoiled a little this wonderful film!
Jolantabuk 5 years ago