Her voice is similar to the type of mezzo found on the old wax gramaphone recordings - lighter than the modern mezzo. More of a soubrette type. A good interpretations.
Admirable attempt by a dramatic coloratura soprano :) I have to wonder why no dialect? A lot of American vowel sounds. Did your Richard Dauntless attempt a Bristol dialect?
I have to say very good job dealing with an incredibly spartan set.
Thanks for your comments. It's always hard to give tips to someone you've never seen or heard perform, but in general, I can tell you that my portrayal was determined by how the lyrics and the music compliment each other. There are so many little poignant musical moments, which you will see me react to. A lot of people only react to the words, but in G&S, BOTH words and music are equally important, and were written as if by ONE mind.
I don't know what the play is about but your acting and singing is great. And as for being a coloatura soprano, it seems perfectly clear to me from hearing your smooth, flowing soprano voice, even without hearing very high notes. And this was your chest voice not head voice. I'm sure you can sing high ranging soprano opera pieces, and in your real voice.
What are you talking about? In the song she shows pathos and sadness, while the dialogue shows her madness, being very funny. and it takes a great artist to achieve all those emotions. Not up to the song?
I presume your comment implies you intend to audition when I next direct Ruddigore. I look forward to your interpretation - loving as I do a flawless exhibition of the Queen's English, which I presume from your comment you can sustain perfectly for an entire two hour performance.
By the way, I don't usually have to say this to our applicants, but my panel and I do take the view that people should know how to spell "madness" before they can sing about it.
Look I don't mean to sound horrible but I've been trying to find an example of this song sound well, and I can't on YouTube. So I'm beginning to think maybe it's just a rubbish song. I like 'Glitter and be gay' because it has a story arch and high bits and low bits, and shows off the singer's voice and has comedy in it too, but this song is a YAWN-FEST. Search 'Some People' by Liza Minnelli, and tell me you wouldn't rather watch that instead.
I think the reason you don't like it is that you don't understand the background of the song.....you have no emotional connection to the character and what she's going through.
I know what you mean about the range not showing off anything (I'm a coloratura soprano and know all about that...check out my other videos), but that's not what the composers were trying to do here.
Maybe when you learn the whole opera it will illuminate this character for you, as it did for me.
Wonderfully put Rossini, i will certainly do more research into the show, as I like a lot of G&S, and was dissapointed at how much this song bored me. Thanks again for your lovely reply.
Now when next I see this song performed I'm sure it will be lacking when compared to this incredibly touching performance of Elise. Thank you for posting.
I made a more detailed review of this entire show on my blog, but I will say this much here: Elise's Margaret is assuredly one of the best three I have ever seen or heard. Out of courtesy to the three ladies involved, I have never attempted to rank these three against each other, so no one of them can claim to be the best; all three are excellent. Now... What was the name of the poor doll that you beheaded?
My absolute favorite song, not only in this opera but in all G&S operas, together with "He dies!" from Iolanthe. (And I am not a bit morbid!) Beautiful production and perfect characterisation of Mad Margaret, or so I think...
Sullivan's sad sopranos always get the best music. (Alright, so sometimes they're mezzos, but that breaks the alliteration, so I'll stick with sopranos.) Elsie's "Tis done! I am a bride" and Lisa's "The die is cast" are also beautiful pieces of music.
Standard principle of theatre. You let the soprano take the lead, but she gets punished by having to take the tenor at the end. The mezzo gets to be nearly as big a part, but she can take a bass or baritone. I'd much rather play second fiddle than Second Trombone.
In this show, the mezzo has the best part of the ladies BY FAR! I'm a soprano, a high one, and I chose this role instead of the soprano one because it's so fulfilling to perform. Of course, it was a little low for me....
Her voice is similar to the type of mezzo found on the old wax gramaphone recordings - lighter than the modern mezzo. More of a soubrette type. A good interpretations.
susannahmcdnld 1 month ago
This is a very difficult bit to pull off, but very beautiful when done right. This was a very good version.
LWall2000 8 months ago
Admirable attempt by a dramatic coloratura soprano :) I have to wonder why no dialect? A lot of American vowel sounds. Did your Richard Dauntless attempt a Bristol dialect?
I have to say very good job dealing with an incredibly spartan set.
tommyopera 2 years ago
Fantastic portrayal of mad Margaret! I like the use of the baby carriage. :)
racehorse87 2 years ago
So it's like: "I want to sound superior so I'll make some sort of negative comment so obscure as to be irrefutable".
She's good.
rwexelblat 2 years ago
Thanks, Oke! There are videos on Youtube of me singing my usual high repertoire....very high!
RossiniSoprano 2 years ago
I think this is a fantastic portrayal. Well done! Such an emotional portrayal.
This part has got to be the most fun to play from Ruddigore.
I'm auditioning for this part in October - Any tips Rossini?
drama1980queen 2 years ago
Thanks for your comments. It's always hard to give tips to someone you've never seen or heard perform, but in general, I can tell you that my portrayal was determined by how the lyrics and the music compliment each other. There are so many little poignant musical moments, which you will see me react to. A lot of people only react to the words, but in G&S, BOTH words and music are equally important, and were written as if by ONE mind.
RossiniSoprano 2 years ago
I don't know what the play is about but your acting and singing is great. And as for being a coloatura soprano, it seems perfectly clear to me from hearing your smooth, flowing soprano voice, even without hearing very high notes. And this was your chest voice not head voice. I'm sure you can sing high ranging soprano opera pieces, and in your real voice.
okebaram 2 years ago
ah! you understand!
rwexelblat 2 years ago
What are you talking about? In the song she shows pathos and sadness, while the dialogue shows her madness, being very funny. and it takes a great artist to achieve all those emotions. Not up to the song?
jackpoint188 2 years ago
I presume your comment implies you intend to audition when I next direct Ruddigore. I look forward to your interpretation - loving as I do a flawless exhibition of the Queen's English, which I presume from your comment you can sustain perfectly for an entire two hour performance.
By the way, I don't usually have to say this to our applicants, but my panel and I do take the view that people should know how to spell "madness" before they can sing about it.
gobyrail 2 years ago
Look I don't mean to sound horrible but I've been trying to find an example of this song sound well, and I can't on YouTube. So I'm beginning to think maybe it's just a rubbish song. I like 'Glitter and be gay' because it has a story arch and high bits and low bits, and shows off the singer's voice and has comedy in it too, but this song is a YAWN-FEST. Search 'Some People' by Liza Minnelli, and tell me you wouldn't rather watch that instead.
aminmontrose 2 years ago
I think the reason you don't like it is that you don't understand the background of the song.....you have no emotional connection to the character and what she's going through.
I know what you mean about the range not showing off anything (I'm a coloratura soprano and know all about that...check out my other videos), but that's not what the composers were trying to do here.
Maybe when you learn the whole opera it will illuminate this character for you, as it did for me.
RossiniSoprano 2 years ago
Wonderfully put Rossini, i will certainly do more research into the show, as I like a lot of G&S, and was dissapointed at how much this song bored me. Thanks again for your lovely reply.
aminmontrose 2 years ago
Really? I thought it was pretty entertaining just because she seems so crazy. I don't know anything about this show.
MichelleKenobi 2 years ago
Now when next I see this song performed I'm sure it will be lacking when compared to this incredibly touching performance of Elise. Thank you for posting.
jackpoint188 3 years ago
Thank you for understanding.
RossiniSoprano 3 years ago
I made a more detailed review of this entire show on my blog, but I will say this much here: Elise's Margaret is assuredly one of the best three I have ever seen or heard. Out of courtesy to the three ladies involved, I have never attempted to rank these three against each other, so no one of them can claim to be the best; all three are excellent. Now... What was the name of the poor doll that you beheaded?
rosuav 3 years ago
My absolute favorite song, not only in this opera but in all G&S operas, together with "He dies!" from Iolanthe. (And I am not a bit morbid!) Beautiful production and perfect characterisation of Mad Margaret, or so I think...
harunrathore 3 years ago
Sullivan's sad sopranos always get the best music. (Alright, so sometimes they're mezzos, but that breaks the alliteration, so I'll stick with sopranos.) Elsie's "Tis done! I am a bride" and Lisa's "The die is cast" are also beautiful pieces of music.
rosuav 3 years ago
I think its unfair - why don't the contraltos or mezzos get to play the heroine?
EmilyGreene1984 2 years ago
Standard principle of theatre. You let the soprano take the lead, but she gets punished by having to take the tenor at the end. The mezzo gets to be nearly as big a part, but she can take a bass or baritone. I'd much rather play second fiddle than Second Trombone.
rosuav 2 years ago
In this show, the mezzo has the best part of the ladies BY FAR! I'm a soprano, a high one, and I chose this role instead of the soprano one because it's so fulfilling to perform. Of course, it was a little low for me....
RossiniSoprano 2 years ago
Hahahah. She acts like the old cat lady on my street!
urbild 3 years ago
This is perfection of Mad Margaret's role.
lizarddavid 3 years ago
Good stuff Elise...
DickWiseman 4 years ago
I liked it.
elisesvideos 4 years ago