French Basse Chantante Pol Plancon ~ Vallons de l'Helvetie (1904)

[mayatatyana1]

Doug, beautiful voice! Wonderful photo. Thank you. Maya

[AulicExclusiva]

Listening to this supreme disk again, I must say that this must be the finest reproduction of Plançon's voice I have ever heard. Wonderful post, Doug!

[meltzerboy]

Plancon has been described as a basso profondo with respect to range and a basso cantante in vocal texture. He was also reported to have sung Dinorah's "Shadow Song" at parties and social gatherings, and certainly had the florid agility, including trills, to do it justice. Apart from the beauty and nobility of his tone and his clear diction, I think Plancon's most striking vocal feature is his immaculate and elegant vocal line, smooth as silk. Thanks again, Doug, for this fabulous posting!

[vstasov]

Thank you so much for this beauty.

[titaruffo2]

Je n'ai rien à ajouter à ce que mes prédéceseurs ont écrit.

Ce genre de chanteur n'existe plus.

Superbe transfert, le disque original doit être neuf

[CurzonRoad]

Indeed, can anyone sing like this today? Thank you!

[mayatatyana1]

@CurzonRoad Evgeny Nesterenko-Russia

[DinDanMee]

@mayatatyana1

No way, not even close. This is old school. This is THE technique. Something like this can't be found in theaters, operas and concert halls since the 40's and the 50's after what singing such as this just died out. Especially today. Listening to this just leaves a person speechless. And that from an old bad recording. Imagine this voice in full ring in an acoustic space, where you can hear all the delicate phrases, ring, tones not captured on gramaphone...Maybe in dreams. :)

[andyrawn]

DOUG ~

Of course, this is one of the GIANTS of Caruso's day (they escaped the San Francisco earthquake together).

Besides he sang correctly ~ it's good to hear a basso produce the voice in the more NATURAL way ~ thinning out to preserve its focus!

~ ANDY

[genia106]

Douglasio,

He is Wonderful!

Thank you for this Glorious GEM!

[Shabannie]

Beautiful music! Thank you for sharing.

-------Ellen

[AulicExclusiva]

One of the great Plançon disks. Great reproduction, Doug!

[Kievest]

Plancon should have been called the man

of many voices. Some bass voices sound

as if they are "dead." Not so Plancon's.

His supple, "alive" voice allowed him the

freedom of virtuoso ornamentation and

beautiful legato. His was a sophisticated

and dapper presence which can be

heard in this historic example. Thank

you, Doug, for sharing this fascinating

moment!

[musique0308]

Thank you, one of the best french bass.

[Bivolari]

Not an example of good singing but an example of the best singing. No overweighted tone here. Thanks Doug for posting this required listening for all basses and all singers of the French repertoire.

[paulostroff99]

Beautiful! A wonderful addition to my favourites.

[parlophonman]

How beautiful ... !

and what a great sound! Thank you for sending !

[meltzerboy]

Rich and sonorous tone, smooth and pure legato, elegant and agile coloratura, and clear and refined diction are the hallmarks of Plancon's singing, as heard in this air. Thanks so much for posting, Doug.

[CurzonRoad]

Hello Stasov: And thank YOU! Cheers, etc. Doug --

[vstasov]

Beautiful.  Thank you. And such good sound......