Everybody transposes sometimes, even just a bit. Makes it just that bit smoother on your own vocal chords and thus on the listeners ears. And that's who they do it all for.
I heard Janet Baker sing this many years ago with Geoffrey Parsons at the piano. It must have been in the early 80s. We met for a moment after the recital. I have never forgotten it. Geoffrey Parsons and I became more known to each other over the years that followed. I feel equally blessed by this sensitive and so serene rendering of one of the most beautiful songs ever written. How you so simply eaves drop us in. Bless you Mr. Spanos!
I just listened and compared again several versions of this song. Baker's version is very beautiful but IMO 2 great tenors' versions Denis Korolev's and Fritz Wunderlich's are richer and more expressive. But when I heard again Spanos's interpretation for me there's no doubt that his version is the very best, the most beautiful and expressive one, full of shimmering, enchanting, from a better world BEAUTY! He is a unique artist and nobody can show this RARE beauty better than he can! Thank you!
I'm singing this piece for a concert in February AND I'm a countertenor. It's only the basis of natural evolution that the countertenor voice is looking for moments and venues to broaden the voice's horizon. I think this vocal category is capable of producing beautiful tonalities and expressions, thereof. Although, I am partial to Janet Baker's performance, I'm delightfully unopposed to this performance. Nice job Spanos ;-) .
The opposite, I would say that this kind of voice adds an unexpected colour to this very sensitive interpretation. I would call it "angel like" and I don't need to identify the angel's sex.
Very often composers wrote their songs to be performed by a specific singer . This doesn't mean they shouldn't be performed by anyone else as this would be a violation of the composer's intentions.
I think THIS is absolutely right. It's a version arranged for a countertenor's voice. I agree with the first comment and totally convinced too! Tastes differ. Female sopranos sound in a different way. Countertenors DO sound like men with high voices. Spanos's rendition is wonderful with his angelic timbre and unique colour! Bravo!
What you say is insulting... you may dislike the countertenor voice, but throughout history, it has ALWAYS been a MALE voice, and was appreciated as such, for its musicality and artistry, NOT as a trans-gender monstrous effect! Stick to the music and judje that, NOT the instrument. The vast majority of baritones posess falseto voice. Who is to say that it is unnatural? ... ...
Strauss himself, besides, has composed parts for falsettists in "Die Frau ohne Schatten" as well as "Salome", and it is written so in the score... I say, if a voice can make such music out of this piece, they are welcome to do so. I am sure by the way Spanos sounds up there, that he can do it also in the original key. If he chose to transpose, I guess it's for musical reasons, NOT due to incapability.
It sounds as if you have a wonderful rose and you refuse to smell it because of prejudice.
If you found Janet Baker's version "perfect", it's your own opinion. But there is no need for generalization how the others should sound. Countertenors have a specific colour which no other category of voices has. I agree that what you said is insulting.
Yes, but my argument was that Strauss meant this to be sung by a Soprano, which history documents. My distaste for countertenors has nothing to do with this argument, so about that we can agree to disagree.
"if a voice can make such music out of this piece, they are welcome to do so"
Call me a music purist, but I believe that the composers intents are the primary rules to follow for interpretations. About this too, I suppose, we must agree to disagree.
"if a voice can make such music out of this piece..." is not my comment at all. You can dislike countertenors' singing and prefer anybody else. It's your right. Tastes differ. But you said that "men should sound like men" and according to you countertenors don't sound like men. I agreed only that this is insulting. My argument was that countetenors (falsettists) Do sound like MEN with high voices and specific tone. It's just a different category of voices. Not only basses sound like men...
The male voice is not normally in that range (talking, etc.). It has to be manipulated. And since I think that art should reflect some of the beauties of reality, I find falsetto should be used rarely for effect (the high notes of a serenade, for example).
"Not only basses sound like men..."
I agree, but I prefer full voice tenors, so I guess that we are stuck on a difference of opinion. The only difference being you allowed yourself to be offended, and I did not.
A high A-flat is an average high note to be sung by a tenor in full voice? Have you ever heard anyone talking up there? Or does a coloratura order coffee on her high Ds? All operatic voices are "manipulated" in most of their range.
Falsetto in the high notes of a serenade normally "depicts the beauty of the reality" that the tenor cannot sing the high note in a satisfactory piano mixture. Sorry, but I couldn't resist this one...
@jth0134 I think a better question here is do you think the music is presented in a pleasing and artistic fashion, rather than "I do or do not like XXX voice type." People get so caught up in labels that they stop actually listening to the music.
Very good singing but the cello needs to improve...
MrKeithayu 2 months ago
Very nice emotional interpretation!!
Very touching
Greetings from Canada
Pierre
opera1232010 3 months ago
@opera1232010 What did I tell you?:-) Very emotional, full of shimmering beauty! And very very touching indeed!
Greetings to you from Canada too!:-)
Yana.
serenaluce 3 months ago
Everybody transposes sometimes, even just a bit. Makes it just that bit smoother on your own vocal chords and thus on the listeners ears. And that's who they do it all for.
carolineleiden 5 months ago
Beautiful performance, thank you for sharing!
Gala020471 11 months ago
COOL!
Durgakalim 1 year ago
A touch of heaven. Simply magic!
A.S.Angelo
ASAngelo 1 year ago
FANTASTICO!!!!!
cuoylyf 1 year ago 2
I heard Janet Baker sing this many years ago with Geoffrey Parsons at the piano. It must have been in the early 80s. We met for a moment after the recital. I have never forgotten it. Geoffrey Parsons and I became more known to each other over the years that followed. I feel equally blessed by this sensitive and so serene rendering of one of the most beautiful songs ever written. How you so simply eaves drop us in. Bless you Mr. Spanos!
Favourited with pleasure.
PhillipLWilcher 1 year ago
I thought I had heard the best until I listened to Nicholas Now I know I have heard the best.......
GLD7655 1 year ago
Wow! what a voice and what beautiful music!
OldRabit 1 year ago
Beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing... love and light to you my friend <3
PauseStation 1 year ago
Nicholas just keeps getting better and better, doesn't he? More polished as a performer. Purer sound. More sensitive interpretation. Lovely.
wowmom1976 1 year ago
Seulement magnifique. Merci de ce moment.
treblechoir99 1 year ago
Brilliant. Exquisite.
tamerlano236 1 year ago
Really stunning. Beautiful and definitely did the music justice. Gorgeous voice!
tinasjak 1 year ago
Very interesting, thank you for sharing.
Wonderfull music (:*+*+*
Vivaldifriend 1 year ago
OUTSTANDING!
satotakuhi 1 year ago
Very unusual for a countertenor! Beautiful rendition :-)
TrebleLover 1 year ago
What a beautiful & magnificent performance, this is really excellent. Thanks so much for sharing.
socrates640 1 year ago
Brilliant!
magpie4321 1 year ago
Bien joué, bien chanté
joanabanyeres 1 year ago
Very lovely!
mradaChris 1 year ago
Quelle pureté et quelle délicatesse... c'est superbe !
Beaucoup de musicalité, un pur délice ! Merci pour ce doux moment. Michèle
miguale 1 year ago
Beautiful music and wonderful performance music and beautiful voice, I loved it, congratulations to everyone.
Thanks for these good times.
MiCanaldeArte 1 year ago
Super!!!! Wirklich genial!! Weiter so :-)
5*****
ibe8pud 1 year ago
υπεροχο!!! Ευχαριστω παρα πολυ!!!! Καλο βραδυ 5*********!!!!!
ifigeniakatika 1 year ago
Excelente!!!!!
hugobearpiano 1 year ago
Exquisite !!!!!
thanks for sharing with me
G E J ♪♪♪♥♪♪♪
gladietita 1 year ago
awesome!
very expressive voice.
Thank you.
gracek703 1 year ago
I just listened and compared again several versions of this song. Baker's version is very beautiful but IMO 2 great tenors' versions Denis Korolev's and Fritz Wunderlich's are richer and more expressive. But when I heard again Spanos's interpretation for me there's no doubt that his version is the very best, the most beautiful and expressive one, full of shimmering, enchanting, from a better world BEAUTY! He is a unique artist and nobody can show this RARE beauty better than he can! Thank you!
serenaluce 1 year ago
@fourmi1060 Spanos does have a wonderful sense of pitch. I keep coming back to this version over and over.
arpeggio1358 1 year ago
magnifique par ce contre ténor!
La couleur ajoute au mystère de l'ambiance matinale!
Marice2223 1 year ago
I'm singing this piece for a concert in February AND I'm a countertenor. It's only the basis of natural evolution that the countertenor voice is looking for moments and venues to broaden the voice's horizon. I think this vocal category is capable of producing beautiful tonalities and expressions, thereof. Although, I am partial to Janet Baker's performance, I'm delightfully unopposed to this performance. Nice job Spanos ;-) .
vivomusique 2 years ago
The opposite, I would say that this kind of voice adds an unexpected colour to this very sensitive interpretation. I would call it "angel like" and I don't need to identify the angel's sex.
doktordrakator 2 years ago 3
Very often composers wrote their songs to be performed by a specific singer . This doesn't mean they shouldn't be performed by anyone else as this would be a violation of the composer's intentions.
doktordrakator 2 years ago
I think THIS is absolutely right. It's a version arranged for a countertenor's voice. I agree with the first comment and totally convinced too! Tastes differ. Female sopranos sound in a different way. Countertenors DO sound like men with high voices. Spanos's rendition is wonderful with his angelic timbre and unique colour! Bravo!
serenaluce 2 years ago 2
No, I do not think this is right. When Strauss wanted a higher register he put it in a soprano voice. Look at his operas.
But, it should also be known that I don't appreciate the countertenor voice at all. Men should sound like men, I think.
jth0134 2 years ago
What you say is insulting... you may dislike the countertenor voice, but throughout history, it has ALWAYS been a MALE voice, and was appreciated as such, for its musicality and artistry, NOT as a trans-gender monstrous effect! Stick to the music and judje that, NOT the instrument. The vast majority of baritones posess falseto voice. Who is to say that it is unnatural? ... ...
suoidolem 2 years ago 2
Strauss himself, besides, has composed parts for falsettists in "Die Frau ohne Schatten" as well as "Salome", and it is written so in the score... I say, if a voice can make such music out of this piece, they are welcome to do so. I am sure by the way Spanos sounds up there, that he can do it also in the original key. If he chose to transpose, I guess it's for musical reasons, NOT due to incapability.
It sounds as if you have a wonderful rose and you refuse to smell it because of prejudice.
suoidolem 2 years ago 3
If you found Janet Baker's version "perfect", it's your own opinion. But there is no need for generalization how the others should sound. Countertenors have a specific colour which no other category of voices has. I agree that what you said is insulting.
serenaluce 2 years ago 2
Yes, but my argument was that Strauss meant this to be sung by a Soprano, which history documents. My distaste for countertenors has nothing to do with this argument, so about that we can agree to disagree.
"if a voice can make such music out of this piece, they are welcome to do so"
Call me a music purist, but I believe that the composers intents are the primary rules to follow for interpretations. About this too, I suppose, we must agree to disagree.
jth0134 2 years ago
"if a voice can make such music out of this piece..." is not my comment at all. You can dislike countertenors' singing and prefer anybody else. It's your right. Tastes differ. But you said that "men should sound like men" and according to you countertenors don't sound like men. I agreed only that this is insulting. My argument was that countetenors (falsettists) Do sound like MEN with high voices and specific tone. It's just a different category of voices. Not only basses sound like men...
serenaluce 2 years ago 2
The male voice is not normally in that range (talking, etc.). It has to be manipulated. And since I think that art should reflect some of the beauties of reality, I find falsetto should be used rarely for effect (the high notes of a serenade, for example).
"Not only basses sound like men..."
I agree, but I prefer full voice tenors, so I guess that we are stuck on a difference of opinion. The only difference being you allowed yourself to be offended, and I did not.
Happy listening!
jth0134 2 years ago
Who is offended?! It's just sharing opinions. You expressed your opinion, I expressed mine. That is all.
serenaluce 2 years ago
A high A-flat is an average high note to be sung by a tenor in full voice? Have you ever heard anyone talking up there? Or does a coloratura order coffee on her high Ds? All operatic voices are "manipulated" in most of their range.
doktordrakator 2 years ago
Falsetto in the high notes of a serenade normally "depicts the beauty of the reality" that the tenor cannot sing the high note in a satisfactory piano mixture. Sorry, but I couldn't resist this one...
doktordrakator 2 years ago
@jth0134 I think a better question here is do you think the music is presented in a pleasing and artistic fashion, rather than "I do or do not like XXX voice type." People get so caught up in labels that they stop actually listening to the music.
CountertenorJ 1 year ago
I ADORE this piece, I never expected it of a countertenor, but I am entirely convinced!!!! 5 stars!
suoidolem 2 years ago 3