Tenor high note: Roméo et Juliette - act iii finale

[lydiaguarro]

Después de Thill y Vanzo el mejor Romeo, Alagna.

[Agorante]

I enjoy these types of comparisons but they are not really fair. Villazon sounds best here but he has the best recording. I imagine that live Giordani would have the biggest voice or maybe Cupido but you can't really tell. Cupido live had a much bigger voice than Kraus but it was kind of crude. Most of these tenors are mainstream Puccini-Donizetti-Verdi singers. Kraus was a high note specialist like Fillipeschi or Kunde.

[Agorante]

It's odd that Kraus today gets all this praise. Angel Records hired him to replace Simoneau as their Mozart tenor. That was a dark day for Mozart. He then came to the US to sing mostly Bel Canto operas. Critics liked him, I liked him but in spite of his acidulous voice not because of it. He never sang properly IMHO. Worse yet he led astray a generation of singers who sang "in the mask".

[KnoedlerNummerEins]

Kraus and Sabbatini are my favorites, thanks for this compilation!

[bpicaud1]

In TOULON, I' ve heard Gran WILSON singing this top C during 25 seconds ( until the orchestra stops ! ) . Very big OVATION ... he WAS Romeo !

[guilhem32]

Thanks for this compilation, very good job ! I love that ! What about Alagna in 1995 at the covent garden ? It's true that Kraus was really amazing !

[DragTas]

I'd have to go Sabbatini, Giordani, and the two Kraus recordings.

[VolverOpera]

Why didn't you include Alagna doing this note in1994 in ROH? that was seriously cool. he is the best.

[guilhem32]

@VolverOpera Yes I agree, that's what I wanted to say ! Muezzab put the video with this aria "ah jour de deuil" from 1994.

[gmmix]

How fortunate we are to have video clips of these impressive performance- highlights.  Thank goodness for Vitaphone that captured some of the luminaries of the opera world of the late 1920's. Seeing great singers in action adds so much to the appreciation of the music and the singer. Thank you for this compilation.

[sbranami]

ALFREDO ROLANDO GIUSEPPE MARCELLO OTTIMI ORRIBILE MARCUS!!! E KRAUS è COMUNQUE UN GRAN MITO!

[ubedajils]

Fantástico



[aguacun]

Not just for the high note but for all notes before (specially): KRAUS!

[TheCraigMann]

Kraus and Giordani.

[bradleyjenks]

Best I have ever heard was William Burden at the Lyric, maybe 8 or 10 years ago. Saw it live. It was beautiful, clear, well acted, sung while nearly doubled over, stumbling backwards offstage. Not something I'll soon forget.

[spizzell1]

Sabattini, Krause.

[DonPaolissimo]

Franco Corelli, though unconscionably omitted, would have left them all in the dust!

[tena2]

bravo bravo Kraus kraus

[lenastaffan]

Lovely posting! Thanks! Some strong candidates. However, needless to say, Björling 1947 tops them all... (but not in live fotage)

[omvelde1]

@lenastaffan Amen to that!! :)

[InformedListener]

I tell ya, Kraus had something going on there that just wouldn't quit!!! May he rest in peace, but live on in our fondest memories. Thanks for this thrilling post.

[moorfan1]

One glaring omission in this compilation is Corelli. DarioFrancoCorelli has the live 1967 audio of Corelli singing this incredibly...

[fabiantenor]

Kraus at almost 70 years of age slapping in the face everybody else!!!

[Agorante]

@fabiantenor I'll be 69 in a week and I'm working on a new aria to post here on YouTube. My feet, my back, and my heart are all too old to go on stage anymore but my throat is just fine. There are still a lot things I can't do vocally but I couldn't do those things when I was young either (coloratura, soft top notes, etc.) Domingo is two years old than I am. Pavarotti sang well into his seventies. Claude Heater the HeldenTenor sings at 80.

[billyguns2]

Kraus 1985 and Alagna are the winners for me.

[krajncrocky1]

and rolando

[tena2]

Joder joder es que la interpretación de ese bello francés de kraus junto con su bello gusto por cantar y su poderosa voz lo hacen en lo más alto.

[lllmozartlll]

Magnificent! Also many thanks for your frequent uploads!

[TheAleph74]

Wow! Kraus no contento con un Do se echo otro! BRAVO!!

[HenriMesquida]

J'ai beaucoup aimé le montage et là c'est Kraus le meilleur.

[novice1959]

Very fun compilation! I will have to give it to Kraus in 1985, but I think Sabattini does a really good job too.

[aaronsande]

Kraus was awesome, that's for sure. But what about Neil Schicoff? He did it down on one knee! =D

[Wotan123456789]

Kraus is technique is beyond criticism...

Giordani was also very good. Thanks Coloraturafan!

[tena2]

I agree, Kraus was far beyong anyone on earth .

[Agorante]

@Wotan123456789 Not beyond my criticism.

[Wotan123456789]

@Agorante Well, you are mostly alone there

[Agorante]

@Wotan123456789 Kraus has described in detail his vocal technique. He does not seal the velum. This is a controversial issue. Many voice teachers think this is a an error in technique - not just me. Kraus obviously had a good throat but he would have been better yet if he had sung in a better way.

[albertogrilo]

Welcom back coloraturafan.

Great compliation here. I thimk Kraus in 1985 is the best one. The crescendo is amazing...

Second best - Kraus in 1995

[tena2]

is the Kraus 95 here on youtube??? please please please

[mrluistena]

@albertogrilo Spot on.

[tenorman123]

What a great comparison . . . and Kraus in 1995, amazing!

[jpstenino]

coloraturafan..... this is a grand study and a great listen....thank you for work!!!!