Rolando Villazon - Eugen Onegin - Aria of Lensky

[pa0094]

i love Russian :P :D

[stellina96]

The pronunciation lessons are quite cute. :)) He pronounces quite well for a "beginner", and then he as to sing it. He's a genius this guy. What a voice he has.

Russian, or any other language, if you learn it in a short time, especially performing in an opera theatre is "Hell on earth". Even Hvorostovsky's pronunciation in Italian is far from perfect, and he's even married to an Italian woman, nevertheless, he is one of the best performers in the classical music world.

[operafan0anegnd]

I admire how well he has managed, attempting to grasp Russian pronunciation within a relatively short time frame.

Learning any language as an adult is very difficult for most people, especially not spending years in a country where it is spoken.

Few have the gift to be truly multi-lingual. My first language was Russian,

and I have often thought, better to hear all native speakers rather than

non-Russians, as Russian is difficult for others. But they are not always best singers. Must compromise.

[poliklid]

@Alizluca93 I am competent in singing! I am opera-reviewer (approved from and the member of the Union of german critics). It is my job to go to opera and make write-up after it. Rolando Villazon is a good tenor relatively, but his Lensky is ferocious. I was 3 time at "Eugen Onegin" with him as Lensky. It was really horror.

[Alizluca93]

@poliklid It's easy just watch the performance and criticise him...a singer, who knows how difficult it is, he/ she has right to turn his/ her opinion. It' s true , there are bad singers, who still sing in theathres, but he is not! You can say what you will.... and if " he is a good tenor in relatively", who is a good tenor? i' m so envious of you, that you heard him live, because i will never hear him in live. I'm from Hungary...so..good for you

[poliklid]

@Alizluca93 Live performances are not the same, as the recordings... Villazon's performing manner is matter of taste. His voice is good, but not for russian & german operas.

[Alizluca93]

@poliklid I know that live performances are not the same, but these videos in here are not just recordings, these were live performances, and he wasn't make a mistake in any of them. for exaple La traviata in Salzburg in 2005, it was so amazing watch it! and this was just a rehearsal. this lensky aria .singers need to practise, rehersal, prepare for him/herself to the role because it's more than just singing. it' s so composite.

[neelsdp1]

this shows the reality of  very hard work going into singing - thanks for showing us this dedicated humble enthusiastic spirited guy. i love him...and his facial expressions and incredible lively eyes - he can also be a very successful comedian...for black comedy...on my list he goes!

[operettentenor]

I do think so,,,it is really sad....and you are all very sad people !!!

[MrRossVit]

не то все это,это не его партия. Лемешев номер 1 был и остается

[VinylToVideo]

Bah. Splicing together snippets of hours worth of recorded material for a 5 minute aria. What ever happened to the singers who did the full aria in one take and with better results?

[velazquez2009]

such a wonderful video from so many points of view!!!

[alexaman61]

Браво!!!!

[dianis1969]

People can teach monkey how to ride bike.It is funny.

[TheInimitableKaka]

What the fuck is she correcting? He pronounced menya correctly. Jesus Christ. "Nicht 'menya', sondern 'menya'."

...

[agathosj]

mr Bean trying to sing... Sorry but this has nth to do with the art of music. Common example of nice voice but nth more... knock knock is anybody in there???

[conradsiebert]

Every instrumentalists gets to conduct themselves with their bodies and have all kinds of extra movements during performance that are considered 'expressive', everyone but singers... except for in a recording. Villazón is smart and knows how much it helps him. Besides he's hilarious and totally gripping at the same time. This is how amazing recordings are made! Despite the sterile conducting and sludgy orchestra, Villazón achieves here the most beautiful rendition of this aria I have heard yet!

[luisiege2]

That reminds me how beautiful music is, and working on it, great job Rolando.

[betylu18]

Sorprendente como aprende diferentes lenguas!!!...eres increible Rolando!!....ademas de talentoso, entregado, eres fascinantemente carismático!!....me caes de maravilla amigo Villazón!!!....te admiro muchisimo mas!!!

[Catoperatheater]

Oh, please take this off YouTube - it doesn't flatter him at all.

[Catoperatheater]

I think he is vastly overrated, although I am aware that Placido likes him, he will NEVER fill Placido's shoes. He is forcing his voice constantly and has no pianissimo. Hearing him and Vargas at the Met these days just shows me how fantastic Placido was and still is for a man his age!

[operagirl81]

HAHA he scares the crap out of that lady at about 1:43!!

[egegeg100]

I am from Russia. He's Lensky is the best. Bravo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!! Это лучшее исполнение арии Ленского из всего, что я слышала. Проникновенно, за душу берет.

[infuzoriy]

@egegeg100

Извините, вы Гедду слышали?

[egegeg100]

@infuzoriy

Гедда в этой арии для меня звучит невыразительно, уж сдержан очень. Сдержанные в чувствах мужчины хороши, но не в театре. Ленский ведь был молодым поэтом, восторженным, эмоциональным, влюбчивым. А у Гедды он, извините, старик.

[reinadegrillos]

A todos los que critican a Rolando en este ENSAYO, que se pasen a ver los de su actuación como Lensky en Berlín dirigido por Baremboim o en el concierto en París (Champs Elisées)

[lindenwont]

I love the way he moves the melody along. Yes, he looks like a muppet. And he gesticulates too much. But his timbre! He should take a note out of Wunderlich's or Gedda's interp though.

[nalib11]

bahahahahaaha!!! glad i'm not the only one who struggles at rehearsals...

[jaketaz]

People here arguing about pronunciation: what about the fact that he gesticulates like a stroke victim while singing, even in live performance, or the fact that he sings everything so covered and with inconsistent vibrato, and goes out of tune every time something is high or loud such as at 8:20? Less-than-perfect pronunciation is forgivable (most great European singers sound like a joke when they sing in English), but his crap technique isn't, and the current state of his voice proves that.

[reinadegrillos]

@generallyoffpitch Have you heard him in La traviata with Renée Fleming or L'elisir d'amore, with Nebrebtko or Bayo? (here in youtube can hear them). Then, return and eat your words!!! (said with a smilel!!).

[Alizluca93]

@reinadegrillos i'm agree

[reinadegrillos]

Rolando es Rolando. Es simpático y nada solemne. Puede gustar o no, pero canta precioso y mete gente joven en la ópera. No en balde lo patrocinan Plácido Domingo y el maestro Baremboim. Por algo será. Sus colaboraciones con Nebretbko, Fleming o Bayo hablan por sí solas.

[labambinajohnson]

@reinadegrillos canta horrible y a la unica gente que mete a la opera son a los ignorantes para que admiren su mediocridad. Ese es su publico.

[reinadegrillos]

@labambinajohnson Bueno, me cuento entre los ignorantes Baremboim y Domingo a los que les gusta Rolando!!!

Saludos.

[labambinajohnson]

@reinadegrillos Asi es reina grillo, ciertamente estas en ese grupo. La diferencia es que ellos pertenecen a un pequeno grupito que se ayuda mutuamente a alabarse, a darse trabajo y mantener su monopolio. Ellos obtienen algo de esto. Mientras que tu no. Tu eres simplemente la consumidora ignorante que se traga todo lo que le venden sin obtener beneficios.

[bodiloto]

@reinadegrillos a,ma domingo adora questi tenori che non hanno la voce ,cosi puo dormire tranquillo ...

[reinadegrillos]

@bodiloto Y si te parece así, por qué vienes a escucharlo?

Escapa a mi comprensión que los que no aprecian a Rolando vengan a destilar sus fobias. Si no te gusta, no lo escuches ni veas! Lo digo por tu salud.

E se non ti piace per che sei venuto a questo ñuoco? Non capisco la raggione.

Per la vostra sanità mentale, vi suggerisco di ignorare i video di Rolando.

[reinadegrillos]

@bodiloto Signore, si lei sei veramente curioso devrai cercare i suoi grandi tenori antichi no dalle grabazioni di studio profezionale ma dalla provatura (come questa) e anche, una provatura di arii russi.

Questo faria la luce diversa sopra i lui opinioni. (io penso).

Saluti!

Señor, si de verdad es usted curioso, busque a sus grandes tenores no en grabaciones de estudio profesionales, sino en ensayos como éste, y de arias rusas. Eso pondría luz distinta a sus opiniones.

Saludos!

[bodiloto]

@reinadegrillos cara Signora vivono tutti fans come Lei generosa,grande cuore e

fedele. Saludos !

[labambinajohnson]

@reinadegrillos ciertamente no es nada solemne. Es vulgar y patetico!

[MrGVTS]

very good prononsiation!

[labambinajohnson]

Este es un payasete sin mas...

[natbogd]

well. you can't compare in any way who Rolando is and who these orchestra people are, they would play as many times as it is needed, Rolando here is the major, not them, even if it seems pretty sad...

[543693The]

sympathique et très intéressant !.... : - 0 ==

de plus l'Aria est magnifique ....

[MrBeppeVerdi]

Bodiloto" you're just ignorant!

[Poleno2007]

Браво!!!

[MsTafta]

Похож на Мистера Бина!Смешной певец!?

[incandescentsmile]

Beautifully sung, as always. But i really sympathise with him - Russian is a really awkward language to pronounce!! I have a friend from Russia who tried to teach me...yeah, we gave up in the end. It's not the easiest of languages ;) That "iy" kind of sound he was making at the beginning is just weird - not 100% sure, but i think it's unique to the Russian language. Just one of many things that makes it imponderable to the foriegner!!

[BelNatalya76]

come on, Spanish and Italian people easily pronounce Russian words, because Russian is melodious too. That "iy" sound exists in other languages :) for example, in English word "near" this is perfectly heard. Check out Placido Domingo Queen of Spades, he sings Russian very well.

[Alizluca93]

@BelNatalya76 Then try it.....not just speak. he is speaking in 5 different language...how many language are you speaking can i ask?

[BelNatalya76]

@Alizluca93 Hello! Try what? Of course, you can. I speak 3 languages and read in 5.

Happy New Year!

[MsMesem]

@BelNatalya76 speaking a language fluently takes a lot more intelligence than reading an Italian newspaper. Deflate a bit.

[sibemolmajor]

fantastic video!

pitty for the cut before horn solo ends...

[ezev8logos]

y bue... el ruso es un idioma muy dificil igual tengo el disco y suena increible

[bodiloto]

dilettante .

[bugr88]

poor guy! not one word was understood.

hes more of a clown. lol but good for him for trying. lol

[Alizluca93]

@bugr88 Please! Sing it for us! I' m very curious for your version! If you were try it just once! , you wouldn't gird at him. He is a very very good singer, you know, with amazing voice. and he is speaking 5 language. How many language are you speaking?

[sparafucile2]

Es un payaso. Cree que está cantando Vesti la Giubba. Por qué no eswcucha a Lemeshev o Gedda para tener alguna idea de como se canta esa aria.

[labambinajohnson]

La commedia e finita??

I can only say: Good riddance!

[poliklid]

Oh my God!

He sings this aria so terrible!!!

[operettentenor]

those you can do better....cast the first stone !!!

[poliklid]

@operettentenor

You think, that i have to assemble a group of tenors for a public stoning of Rolando Villazon?

[Alizluca93]

@poliklid Are you a singer? Are you competent in singing? because if not, then shut up. it's harder then how looks like, and he is a brilliant singer with woderful voice. he is singing in the best opera houses in the world. it' s not an accident!

[guillecanaleja]

Bravo!!!

[amlirco]

Pagliaccio... Pagliaccio...

[Javaking9000]

.....I am a classical musician myself... and would just like to say.. relax, everyone.

[labambinajohnson]

@Javaking9000 People are beeing deceived by these media clowns. Clowns like this one do a disservice to the art form.

[Teqdor]

@Javaking9000 I think thet only musician are here:-)).

Becouse now body accept this music exept us.It is thery sad

[maxhansendk]

I think Villazon has one title in opera.

Most overrated and most hyped artist of all time!!

Nothing he has ever done sounds convincing to me.

[amballa]

hear hear!

he's a clown. The fact that he could not really sing in only echoed by his vocal problems now....

[Alizluca93]

@amballa You aren't know ANITHING about singing... because if you were know sg, you wouldn't say this. He sang all of the title roles in the worlds greates opera houses for many years, and this was the thing which racks his voice, not his technique. He brought cleanup for theese opera houses, and they gave for him more more roles...and when his voice became completely overdriven, they just throw away like a counter....

[marcomeatball]

please come listen to my version of this aria! I'd really appreciate it!

[jdtynan]

I am always astonished at the number of critics and the diminishing number of appreciative listeners...and for all who cherish their caustic tongues, remember SR Villazon speaks Spanish, English, French, Italian and German. Oh yeah, he sings too. And you?

[Alizluca93]

@jdtynan ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

[nobanish]

Сколько веселья...искусство не терпит излишней веселости ибо она влечет за собой небрежность...

Hell with russian, learn singing...and when you do, then use the french version, asshole....

DemisLian + 10 !!

[DemisLian]

Ridiculous person, humiliating Tcaikovsky's masterpiece and one of the most cherished and sacred characters in russian Opera (and literature!) Go back to screaming La Cucaracha, you are too little to sing russian!

[velocadart]

he is a freak of nature -and as singer too

[avefreud]

Yes, same to Mr. Bean singing opera in the film hehe...

[sopranoms]

It sounds great, though I could only understand one word "skazhi", then "on menia luibil' was very cute.

Padu li ya streloi pronzennyi was awesome, good work.

[rexeterna]

good lord.. i'd hate to be one of the members of the orchestra, sitting around while he learns how to sing the aria during the actual recording.

[Tugoles]

This is working rehearsal, done especially for that,..learning..

[Elried]

Oh my God hes really great here! Wonderful Instrument

[conciencia21]

Orgullo Mexicano!

From Baritone Jose Zurita in Canda

[djtsinopoulos]

He was incredible in Athens too last week, it really was an experience, watching the best tenor around performing live!!! Incredibly charismatic person he is!!!

[crazyaboutleo]

he is better practicing than live on stage...how come? he sang so softly and emotionally torwards the end...I fell in love with his singing-what a personality!

[MOe4g2]

On the 12th Rolando was amazing in this role at Berlin Staatsoper ! Amazing performance in this Achim Freyer 's setting . He had to refrain his overactive temparement and made an extraordinary Lenski ,beautiful singing in this kind of slow motion death-like procession enhanced by fantastic music from D.Barenboïm 'sdirection!

Great artist singer indeed !

[alkestaa]

He is loved in Russia too. Thank a lot for great please, you singing gives us. Wonderful Lensky!

[ottokees]

Wonderful version !!! He is loved in Argentina. Cheers!!!!, Sergey.

[dwrichy]

What a voice! He seems like he's in good hands with that diction coach. His Russian isn't bad. It helps that Tchaikovsky's music is timeless.

[Teqdor]

Ceaikovski is teh bestest compouzer,So touching.......Russin muzic cant sing only Russin people

[gumetachavezh]

and only Russians in Russia listen to Russian music

[spqrmor]

You're crazy, moron!

[pavoman23]

They do it in New York too.

[Herur22]

I would really like to know where you got that idea from.

[wobblatura83]

he is such a sweet and positive guy who loves to sing. I like how he uses his whole body to sing and is not self-conscious.

[huhas1]

June 6 Premiere London. "The pick of the cast was undoubtedly Rolando Villazón,in the title role. His first word - "Fontainebleau" - full of the passion and yearning suffused his entire performance.

This production is Carlo's story, a tragedy on a Shakespearean scale, and Rolando, in magnificent form, provided a charismatic centre.

His Carlo was a Spanish Hamlet, immature, impulsive and ruled by his passions...No restraint for Rolando, whose ardor ran unchecked in desire for Elisabetta

[ronbiz]

The title role of Onegin is a baritone role so I'm not pretty sure it's not correct in stating Tenor Villazon in the title role. What was the source of the quote?

[huhas1]

Source of the quote is "Daily Telegraph" important paper in London

and review on "Don Carlo" where Rolando was in the title role.

It clearly said in my comment.

[javierqatar]

You are right. Villazon is a tenor and the title role of Onegin is for a baritone. Lensky's role is for a tenor, and that is the role he sings in this clip.

[mltube]

I listened to this aria again, after a long pause, and can only confirm my highest opinion of this singer, and the performance itself. The voice is in a better shape, more focused than in his other Lenski video, and the artistry is unmatchable. Only the Vinogradov I like as much.

[smartsteve]

do you know how is he doing today and not then did he got his voice back?

[huhas1]

If you SMARTsteve you should know than he is singing for last 4 months and doing this better than ever..

[tomkellycartoons]

Why do you have to say,"If you are smart?" when a person asks a question. "Smart" does not mean how much information one has. Rather, it is a capacity for understanding and the gathering of knowledge. Steve was indeed smart to ask. What were you, with your answer?

[SelinaBorg]

i love hiiiiim! great personality

[bassbariton]

как же мы смешно поём на иностранных языках :)Вильясон-супер!!!

[urns100]

if you dont want him, dont watch the videos!!! :S

[Teqdor]

Ты предеш must be f(forte)

[maruxa23]

In my opinion, his ittalian Lenski' is very good interesting. Espescially, for as, russians.

[wwwoyzeck]

come on, he's just trying to be relaxed about it... and he's singing very beautifully, full of expression and musicality, and with a gorgeous voice.

i admit that he is rather in the domingo "tradition" of singing than in the, say, kraus one - meaning that it is a rather charged singing that emphasizes the darker, "chestier" aspects of the voice; but i find it lovely!

[alexninko]

he is making a joke of a very inportant and difficult tcaikovsky's song.he is an idiot

[Teqdor]

Hi must sing this aria more slower

[asisecanta]

And more PIANO!!!!

[isisclassic]

que idioma trata de pronunciar?

[cantanteporsiempre]

russian, it¨s tchaikovsky!, y esa última nota piano, se le va completamente de control, es cierto ke tiene problemas tecnicos, pero bueno, ha cantado en todos lados.

[emalag999]

He is an harlequin, just a huge clown which is in front of a camera constantly.

Not a singer, he sings making an incredible effort, I can't see him.. so painful.

Technical problems..

[triest12]

If Rolando Villazon is a harlequin, he's just devil's horseman, yet anyway a human being with more voice than thousands of us. You seem to be simply tasteless. Please keep away from Villazon's performances, you might only spoil our pleasure!

[emalag999]

It was not my intention!!

It's just called freedom of speech and expression... sorry lad!

[gallusman]

In my opinion, there isn't a tenor singing today who is able to sing both as beautifully and expressively as Villazon is able to, nor who has the extraordinary vocal control which Villazon has. During the Met season of 2006/2007, no tenors were comparable to Villazon, even if some were excellent in their own right.

To say that he isn't an able singer is simply to be ignorant or jealous. There is always someone in history who was better. In the case of this aria: Fritz Wunderlich.

[godlovesyou333]

Simply the best tenor! Bravi!

[Javaking9000]

Bravo! Il suo espressione e molto bello.

[Agorante]

I'm a bass. When I get to choose what to sing I always do "Il Lacerato Spirito" because it's so easy. I asked my tenor friends what was the comparable easiest tenor aria. They said Lensky's Aria. You think?

[huhas1]

Agorante

Your friends are wrong...

[vickersman]

Long time, no talk to Agorante-if I may butt in- There are many things that don't make this an easy aria.Obviously the language(a job in itself), the interpretation of phrasing, much of which is melancholic, hopeful, and then resigned.Here I find Vallizon tends to be too muscular, and pushy.Vlad.Atlantov and Gedda have great interpretations on YouTube IMHO Cheers.BTW there are no easy tenor arias-that's why we're tenors LOL!

[Agorante]

No easy tenor arias?

The hard bass arias include "Dal Futuro" from Nabucco (very high, leaps to the low notes and very loud) but "Il Lacerato" is easy (No high notes, an easy low note, no long phrases and a lot of places to breathe).

Hard tenor arias seem to me to include "Terra Amica", "Esultate!", and Tonio's Cabaletta from Le Fille du Regimente. Lensky's aria seems easy compared with these.

[meltzerboy]

It's always fascinating to watch rehearsals and the careful preparation involved both musically and linguistically. Villazon is a tenor of the old school with a beautiful tone, great technique (pure legato, mezza voce, etc.), and superb musicianship. He reminds me of Domingo, Gedda, and Bjorling.

[ChristopherAix]

Quelle merveille cet homme !

Rolando nous démontre combien l'art lyriue favrise l'expression de notre sensualité, de nos émotions.

Cett vidéo devrait avoir une fonction pédagogique, elle serait utile dans nos écoles françaises... parfois trop rigides. Rolando, un grand merci, tu insipires la joie !!

[AkuaMakahehi]

Russians are very cold... Mexicans are warm hearted... Villazon is an artist and his style is the greatest expression of the art of opera, yesterday's, today's, and tomorrow's. If you didnt realize that opera is basically theater, with the exception of it being sung, then you should go back to your coloring books and shut up...

[duaname]

This is a video of a rehearsal and what looks like a recording. You do what you need to do to make things come alive with out an audience and live performance. It is different in the theater! Come on people! He's the most fantastic younger tenor we have out there singing at his level right now and this video on shows more of why he's so appealing.

[adamfrandsen]

And since when did opera become great poetry in general? I'm not saying that this aria doesn't have fine lyics, but opera generally focuses on very banal subject matters, and often the lines are so bad that you can't help laughing. That is where the music and the musical interpretation of the aria enters the picture and makes it all interesting and worth while. Villazon is a superb singer, only really good one out there at the moment, if you ask me. Not a big voice though...

[mltube]

I am not sure if pupilique realizes that this is a rehersal. It is somewhat different Lenski, but still very convincing and wonderfully sung. Villazon is today's premier tenor, comparable to the greats of the past, and more versatile than many of them. Bravo!

[huhas1]

Pupulique did not understand what it means working rehearsal with a language coach mostly for text. Let me tell you that on performance in Covent Garden last year in London he was incredible. Audience did not breath during that aria. Some people were so touched and impress, they did not want to stay for rest of opera after Lensky was killed. By the way Kozlovsky was benevolent person. He would never allow himself to express such a malicious anger towards younger artist.

[motherussia]

this man is a clown. this peasant belongs in the circus, not in the opera. why cant there be modern day giacominis, corellis, and del monacos?? opera will never be the same without them.

[dominiclorange]

Since when having fun singing opera is a crime? Come on, don't be a stuck up!

[vickersman]

Strange that the 3 tenors you mention would be totally ill-suited to sing this opera role-it is a lyrical role, and not designed for Italian spintos.BTW this is a rehearsal-IT IS A TIME TO let loose, experiment, and YES- have some fun-it helps to reduce the tension.When with the orchestra, RV gets down to business, and produces, as he usually does, a talented and sensitive interpretation of Kuda, Kuda.

[pupulique]

This is shameful and ridiculous. Lensky is 10 minutes away from taking a shot in his chest. What the hell does this guy think he's doing? I don't wanna teach anybody but I would recommend all admirers to watch Ivan Kozlovsky.

[attittudelt]

he's too temperamental for this type of music (it's Russia in mid-19th century, they're not used to pouring their hearts out in this Latin manner). Otherwise, RV is great.

[steinwayalways]

AND HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?!? I'm from Slavic background and YES the Slavs do pour their hearts out!! They sing and they cry!

[dalferr]

Wonderful video! Thanks for posting.

[manu231080]

He's happy and is not afraid os showing it. Is that wrong?. He's an artist.

[picapin]

he is a clown on and off stage

[NATULINAN]

SO WHAT?

HE IS FREE

[picapin]

free from what?? The only thing I see free in this video is his stupidity on the loose

[picapin]

he's a clown

[302MarkVII]

Oh... by the way, I think the name of this aria is "Förbi, förbi" otherwise known as "Lensky's aria" Villazon is so great, I have a wonderful version of it with Jussi Björling I'll try posting it soon.

[dwaynejones01]

No, It's Kuda,Kuda....Forbi etc is the swedish translation.

[302MarkVII]

I stand corrected. Thank you for the info dwayne

[302MarkVII]

I really like this guy. He reminds me a bit of Domingo as he is similar in voice and seems to be more than your average tenor in wanting to put not just voice but some brain behind the interpretation. Thank you for sharing this.

[vickersman]

A very intelligent singer, who works hard to derive the best from himself and his art.Very interesting to see him prep for this very demanding aria-vocally and linguistically.I love the control he gives to the painissimo passages.

[ninawally]

As usualy, he did it with heart.

[plumbago]

Love rehearsal footage. He looks to be a very passionate Lensky.

[EmilyWilde]

Prikolno))))