Nicholas Spanos:"L'heure exquise" by Reynaldo Hahn

[fourmy1060]

Nicholas's Reynaldo Hahn interpretations are the best I have ever heard. I LOVE this : it is so effortlessly controlled, so touchingly direct. Who else but Spanos goes to the core of the music with so little fuss and such piercing clarity? Un moment exquis .... Merci beaucoup. C'est merveilleux :)

[serenaluce]

@fourmy1060 I couldn't agree more with you here. I've created a playlist long ago "Nicholas Spanos - the best interpretor of Hahn's songs"!:-) Actually, because of him I discovered for myself such wonderful music. I'm just back from Russia, and even professional musicians have never heard such a name as Reynaldo Hahn! He certainly deserves to be more known all over the world! Vraiment un moment exquis! D'accord. Merci beaucoup!:-)

[carolineleiden]

In this reperoire I like his voice better than Jaroussky, who is lord and master when it comes to baroque and coloratures, but who sounds a bit too thin in these songs.

But I still dont think he beats Susan Graham.

[serenaluce]

@carolineleiden Dear, true gentlemen are not supposed to BEAT women, even Susan Graham. Why do you want Spanos to do it? LOL You are entitled to your own opinion, of course, and I'm entitled to MINE. No women can sing as beautiful as the best countertenors in the world, and Spanos is in the class of his own! Also, no need to compare this true, unique COUNTERTENOR again and again with that overpromoted POP FALSETTIST Philippe Jaroussky with POP COLORATURAS who has no idea what true BAROQUE is!

[ellisdp]

Just beautiful!

[UncleNathan]

My favorite Reynaldo Hahn song...beautifully and magically sung!

[543693The]

COMPLIMENTS PARTICULIERS AU PIANISTE ANASTASIOS STRIKOS !!!

[543693The]

EXCELLENT ! SUBLIME !!! la langue française convient parfaitement à la diction de N.SPANOS !!!! je suis émerveillée !!!

Marie K

[lipera]

Perfect!!!!!

[wowmom1976]

Even after repeated hearings, tears well up at this incredible sound.

[serenaluce]

@wowmom1976 The same with me:-). It's just incredible how he manages to do it after my listening to Spanos in the same stuff for more than a year:-). And every time I listen to it , it sounds like the first time!

[enriqueali]

Truly exquisite...

[543693The]

@serenaluce

Merci Yana pour ce doux partage !!!

Marie K

[serenaluce]

@543693The Mon plaisir:-) C'est vraiment exquis!...

[543693The]

exquis !!! oh que j'aime !!!

Marie K

[serenaluce]

@fourmi1060 Your comments are always better and more poised than mine and what suoidolem calls CLASS!:-) Eventially you are ALWAYS right!:-)

[arpeggio1358]

Once again, a beautiful performance by Nicholas Spanos. The voice, technique, breath control, and phrasing are all perfection. His interpretation is exemplary, as usual;.

[arpeggio1358]

@fourmi1060 I agree with you completely. Serenaluce's comments are always informative and founded on truth.

[Tobytib]

@fourmi1060 Haha ! I like very much your metaphor but that may sound stupid but I think it's too much hot in Greece for me. I am a lot more comfortable when it's not too warm and not too cold. I wont say Spanos is cold, oh certainly not but he's not warn more, be carefull I say : for me...

Do the gods breath ? I don't believe in them.

Bonne journée également dans un rayon de soleil Normand !

PS : to be exact "PJ" pleases me but not so much even if that's more than "NS"

[serenaluce]

You are such a prosaic person!:-) You don't believe in Greek gods, call PJ "music", but overall don't care much about any version. Greece is too hot for you but Spanos is not too warm. Well, his beautiful voice with an angelic timbre (but he is human, not an angel or god:-)) is very warm for those who can listen. Thank God that it's not TOO hot! Otherwise you could get sunburnt like under the hot Greek sun!:-) You don't want him to sound like Villazon, jumping out of his skin with passion, no?

[Tobytib]

@serenaluce bad connexion.. I am to write again -__- Since the beginning, you just want to prove I'm stupid (and I will be ! answering again and again !! isn't it nice ? lol) Now, nobody can prove the existence of any god, can you ?

You never tried to explain anything with objectivity.

If one day, someone says he deosn't like Bryn Terfel (for example, he's one of the SEVERAL singers I love), I will disagree but I won't care. WHY ? Because nobody is to like anything I love.

[serenaluce]

@Tobytib Please don't be that offended:-) It's just sharing opinions about the "beach in the rain", hot Greek sun and Greek gods:-). I don't want to prove that you are stupid. Let us not be so serious and try to prove "the existence of any god" either. By the way, we still have something in common - I also like Bryn Terfel. I don't disagree with you, but I always CARE! I care very much about TRUE ART! I just advise you with your "nice" attitude to listen to more Spanos's pieces. Have a nice day!

[Tobytib]

@serenaluce Such a philosophical question, what is true art.. In my opinion true art is different for everybody as no one has the same tastes. What a change of mind suddenly !

[serenaluce]

Well of course true art is different for different people and it's a philosophical question too. But as philosophical as "the existence of god". Again, it's just sharing opinions, not trying to find answers to all rhetoric questions. What sudden change of mind?! I still think that Spanos's singing is true art, and I'm still a big fan of his:-) If you find his voice "nice" I advise you to listen to his other pieces e.g. by Hahn L'enamouree, A Chloris, L'infidelite. Perhaps you''ll like them more.

[CountertenorJ]

@serenaluce Your arguments and arrogance will end up turning people off to your favorite artists via this platform. Be forewarned.

[serenaluce]

@CountertenorJ Please, what do you mean by that? What platform? What people did I chase off from my favourite artists? Can you be more specific who are my favourite artists? The argument on this video was that tobytib called Spanos=voice, PJ=music. Several people disagreed. It's just sharing opinions. How did I offend YOU? By prefering Spanos's versions of Cara Speme to Cencic's? If it's just about us please send me a mail. If I offended someone else I'm sorry, but it was only a discussion.

[CountertenorJ]

@serenaluce The manner in which you approach people by calling some things "True Art" (might as well trademark that one) as opposed to others not being. As if one actually holds any dictum or possession on what all should be considered art, let alone "true" art. Instead of trying to find the negative in something someone says, see if there is merit. That's all. You have not offended me. It however does make me less likely to watch Mr. Spanos's videos mainly because you will have posted.

[serenaluce]

@CountertenorJ Actually, the manner in which YOU approach people on Cencic's videos is rather harsh and direct too and you don't always only "see if there is merit'. Here you interfered into our discussion with tobytib and I expressed Spanos=TRUE ART as opposed to PJ=fake! It's MY opinion! I speak only for myself, not like you for the whole world! Are you suffering now for PJ or still for Cencic who is great but still I find Spanos's voice superior to his?

[serenaluce]

OK, come on! I make my mind about artists MYSELF and not "because you" or somebody else "will have posted" comments on YT. If you are infuenced by ME so much, opposed to my admiration for Spanos's art, my criticism of Cencic's breath control on that Cara Speme made you adore him MORE than before? "Mainly because" of ME? And if you see my other comments where I admire his velvet timbre you won't watch his videos anymore? I have such a power over you?

[Tobytib]

@fourmi1060 Yes, He is musician he's got a great technic but That's not my favourite version of this song because I don't feel so much thing that the fans feel. That's all and not a crime. Salutations de Normandie !

[Tobytib]

My last word.

Nice, just nice.

[serenaluce]

@Tobytib Yeah, nice. But you can't argue. You say that Spanos "fake" emotions but you just don't know who in your opinion doesn't fake them. That "Jaroussky=music", but he is not precious too you. Who is precious then? There is absolutely no logic in your reasoning. You don't know yourself what you really feel and want to say and just criticize somebody to show off how original YOU are! It's not about music, somebody's singing. It's all about YOU! I also understand French, but not everybody can

[Tobytib]

@serenaluce Oh please you're becoming particularly ridiculous. The only thing that explains your excentric reaction is you placed yourself as a (not to say THE) great fan of this singer. Going on your page to see your favorites is enough clear. I don't need to argue anything because "tout les goûts sont dans la nature". Ah, and about your favorites, do you know any other voice than counter-tenor or should I say Nicholas Spanos. Please, I am not the narrow minded one. ;)

[serenaluce]

@Tobytib I'm not a narrow-minded person either and you could see different male and female voices among my favourites. Perhaps for YOU all "music=Jaroussky"? If YOU want to know other voices send me a personal mail. But on this video we discuss Spanos's countertenor voice. You meant " THE great-est" fan? I am A big fan of this singer, one of MANY! Who can measure who is the BIGG-est fan?! YOU?! The LUCKI-est fans are those who heard Spanos live! So "excentric" reaction is YOURS, and not mine!:-)

[Tobytib]

@serenaluce You don't seem to be very calm, sorry the excentric one is not the one you think. I prefer another version that's all and you cannot admit.

[serenaluce]

@Tobytib On the contrary, I'm very calm. Hope you too. If you prefer another version happy listening to you then and have a nice day!

[CountertenorJ]

@serenaluce See? My point exactly. Thanks. My parting words are a quote, "It is better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt."

[serenaluce]

@CountertenorJ See? That's why I suggested we discuss it all in personal messages as it has nothing to do with this video, my other favourites... It's only about you and me. Thanks for your quote though. LOL You don't answer my questions, only accuse me of your inability to form your own tastes. What's you problem? It would be strange if on videos of their favourites TRUE fans didn't think that it's TRUE ART and didn't argue with those who declare this promoted image PJ is "music"!

[arpeggio1358]

@serenaluce As always, I agree with your comments. PJ is a singer and not a very good one. There's no technique or musicality. He is not an artist.

[serenaluce]

@arpeggio1358 And I agree with your comments too:-). But you see what PROMOTION can do nowadays. People are already so used to listening to such TRASH as PJ that they can't tell true, serious art full of soul and emotions from a FAKE and repeat only the promoters' words like a chant that PJ is "great, honest, sincere..." How brainwashed a person can be if he says that Spanos is only "a voice and PJ is music"?! Not to hear EMOTIONS in this version?!.. I've read somewhere that PJ is "demonic"! LOL

[arpeggio1358]

@serenaluce Promotion and hype really do a great deal for a performer, even if he or she isn't really very good. PJ is not an artist. Spanos is a true artist and always will be.

[serenaluce]

@arpeggio1358 Absolutely! There are still people in this world who can think with their own head and not that easily brainwashed!:-) I just don't understand how this mechanism as PROMOTION works: if I HEAR that PJ just produces empty, sterile, childish, immature, sweet, isolated sounds WITHOUT any soul, that it's a sugary, articial, false image of the "touching" boy-for-ever, NOBODY and NOTHING can convince me that it's a MANLY man, singing in MANLY voice, tells STORIES and shares his SOUL!!!

[spqrmor]

Orphean voice from ancient Greece

Which caressing like a summer breeze

So clear an' mild like morning dew

He's greatest artist that is true!

[arpeggio1358]

@spqrmor Another lovely piece of poetry. Thank you, spqrmor

[DDBconducts]

Le meilleur Hahn à ma connaissance et goût.

[Tobytib]

When you don't understand any answer is useless. I've never said Jarousky sings like an angel but almost said the opposite. I just really feel no emotion in Spanos's version. Spanos's voice is just easier to hear. In English : Spanos=voice, Jarousky=music. Is that clear ? You do not agree, ok. I don't care.

[serenaluce]

If you don't have ears to understand what true music and true voice is, you really won't understand my answer either! "Spanos=voice, Jaroussky=music"?! If you don't care about TRUE ART you should listen to something primitive like your precious PJ! Of course, he is no angel, he is just a fake singer, producing sweet empty sounds without sharing his soul, any human emotions. He is just a sexless creature! Is that clear? I fully agree with suoidolem. Spanos sings with human emotions! It's MUSIC!

[Tobytib]

@serenaluce Oh please !! I don't want you to like Jarousky who is not even precious for me. I won't chnge my mind, Spanos as Jarousky has human emotions BUT SORRY ! Where are they ??? you feel them that's nice nice to you, I find them fake in Spanos version.

[serenaluce]

@Tobytib I don't try to make you change your mind. It's absolutely useless. As you can't convince me that you are right and I'm wrong. It's only sharing opinions. But it's beyond me how you can not hear all the human emotions in Spanos's version and call them "fake"?! I can understand somehow that you don't like him timbre, but ask:"Where are his emotions"?!... You say that PJ is not precious to you, but I guess you are just used to fake singers like him and already can't tell what is TRUE!!!

[serenaluce]

@Tobytib How can you say that PJ is "music" and he shares somewhat more emotions than Spanos?! PJ is just a singing machine, an automation , producing sweet and empty sounds! It's an absolutely flat voice! He fakes everything - emotions, style, intelligence. All his gestures are false! But if he is not that precious to you, what names can you mention who you think have more emotions and don't fake them? I just want to understand your point of view. I think  NOBODY shares emotions like Spanos!

[suoidolem]

@Tobytib It was very clear at the first time, mr. Rude, thank you.

Hey, I think you misspelled the equation: The correct type is:

Jarrousky = voice(sound), Spanos=Music.

I can tell that you don't care, anyway. By the mere fact that Jarrousky's empty sound touches you more than Spanos' Music. But If Jarr. makes you happy, I suppose you deserve him... Enjoy! :-)

P.S. I understand French, but not everybody else does... hence, the english.

[Tobytib]

certes la voix est plus ronde que celle de Jarousky donc dans une certaine mesure plus agréable à entendre que ce dernier. Cependant le texte est peu compréhensible et la sensibilité me parait un peu moins grande chez Spanos. Les mots sont un peu forts mais pour moi spanos fait de la voix Jarousky de la mélodie... pour ne pas dire de la musique.

[suoidolem]

@Tobytib "Fait de la voix Jarrousky... et de la musique." ???? This is not possible, the two voices have nothing in common. Jarrousky's voice is empty and deprived of emotion. It's just high and "pure". Spanos sings like a human, not like an "angel". It's so frustrating to know that countertenors are supposed to be angel-like!!! They should be treated like any other voice, as human.

[senesino83]

this is what I call not only a beautiful person, but a beautiful artist. In an epoque where people forget about art.

[serenaluce]

I agree!

[amazonios]

yperoxossssssss

[andreasscholl]

And you did sing.....Reynaldo Hahn.

See the nature, feel the beauty of the text!!!!!

Its a story, and your the gifted storyteller.

Brava.

[felixskg]

Teleios, Nikola moy....Apla teleios..:-)

[mradaChris]

Beautiful vocals!

chris