The "Una voce poco fa" Contest: Anna Moffo (3rd place)

[ahimsainternational]

I am old enough to have seen Anna Moffo live. She was my favorite soprano in my college days. If there is a question of artistry, then I would weigh in with an anecdote. In the mid-sixties, I saw two performances of Lucia in the same week at the Met, same cast except Moffo in one and Sutherland in the other. The interpretations couldn't have been more different. Moffo was weak, overwhelmed by a tyrannical brother, truly tragic. I love her acting as well as singing.

[sopranistica]

beautiful voice, beatiful face : )

[billyflynn2]

Don't you people talk a lot of nonsense. All the people we support or prefer are of our own personal taste. Lets face it, the people we try and compare are all, generally, fantastic singers.

[SqueakyIri]

I like her interpretation here, but her upper passaggio sounds a bit strident to me as did Mm. Callas. The upper passaggio, especially the last held note, sounds like she took too much weight up there, making it sound somewhat strident and forced.

[kaleonani77]

Weight??? If she took too much weight she couldn't have sang that last note which (without looking at it) I belive is in the area of a D or E...

I think Moffo's high notes are beautifully sung in the core of her sound!

[BeniaminoGigli]

I don't like Cecilia Bartoli's,it's Demagogy.

[filfanmarfot]

and how can one judge an artist just from listening to a voice, with no vision of her? and finally, its only a matter of taste- so who is permitted to judge callas or anyone else for that matter? in opera, good singing is not only about excellence in technique and voice posture, but mainly about putting SOUL and feeling to the aria, not show off. so keep in mind that classical music isnt the eurovision contest. next time be respectful.

[filfanmarfot]

excuse me but who are you to do a contest on who is the best singer of rossinis aria? you are being totally disrespectful to these singers! how can one compair recordings that have taken place on different time periods, thus with different recording systems???

[Solecit00]

She looks beautiful in that picture! :)

[raigekimaru]

does anyone else think she's kinda cute?

[Kroaky]

Not kinda!! she definatly was!!!

Should have been first in my opinion!!

[branko1b]

@Kroaky definitely :) [is anything wrong with that word in American spell-checkers?! ] - i agree

besides it should be recalculated - or, done by somebody who can merely distinguish between an unpleasant noise (such as some) and a fabulous singing (such as this)! :)

[ArtAn0n]

I think that MAria CAllas just got on the top 4 cause just more people know her name and the myth that she was a great singer. She was an OK singer but a FENOMENAL stage presence that's what made de legend she is now but as far as singing is concerned Moffo is ten times better.

[tomzoricic]

Interesting. But where is Giulietta Simionato?

[PatriciaCarvalho0]

Callas and Moffo are amazing singers, they are both unique, what calls for our atencion is the "happiness" and the good mood on Anna Moffo's voice, and the life experience on Callas's, dramas, loves...a long curriculum.. you can see it even in her eyes..

[latraviata1853]

She has everything... a beautiful, youthful sound, precise coloratura, interesting ornaments, thrilling high notes, plus she sounds innocent and playful. Perfect.

[marioj34]

Assurément la meilleure de toutes. Pourquoi? tout simplement parce qu'elle allie un timbre "crémeux", lyrique, d'une beauté sans nom, à des colorature à faire pâlir toutes nos petites soubrettes actuelles. Du moins, c'est mon avis.

[RaspberryReich]

I Think That We're Missing Someone Here....Mrs. Berganza...

[BritoFranco]

Anna Moffo debia recibir el primer lugar.

[Greatfan]

Miss Moffo was the ' lyric Callas ' or the lighter Callas if you wish. Both singers are the most versatile in any language and style. Moffo was , however, a bit underrated because she had a short career and people censored her movie making and Hollywood style, her versatility was perhaps the biggest problem together with her beauty. I am glad that after her deatgh she has been re thought and re - valued. She had musicality, intelligence, charm, everything. Callas appreciated her a lot, they say.

[Chiliarches]

@Greatfan

You've got that right. I am continually astounded that one person could be blessed with so many gifts. She is probably my favorite female singer...certainly one of them.

[phirze]

quelle beauté ! à tous les niveaux ! c'est la plus grande....d'après moi.

[aynamaria]

Hi everybody, I don't care who's the best, better thank God that we have such singers as Callas and Moffo.Both are unique and elevating. That's what music should be about.

[Dogaradodia]

You're absolutely right! Just having a fun time here. :-)

[Dogaradodia]

And the winner is...

Anna Moffo, Miss Universe

[Acacallide]

No matter what you think. Anna Moffo is really amazing, but Maria Callas was the BEST Rosina ever (maybe not in this contest version). Miss Larmore? Simply a waste of time. Anyhow, my favourite soprano is Leyla Gencer with her passion.

[GitanitaMerche]

impresionante como juega con su voz y la colocacion de ella en su organismo!!

Que dificil es esa tecnica, yo tengo dos anos estudiando opera y aun no la domino al 100%.

Bravo por Anna Moffo

[operakolik]

Wonderful!

[FABRIZIO82]

I find amusing that some of you may be lacking so much references as to think of Callas as Rosina. Callas was by far one of the very worst Rosina ever, and it comes from a guy who has consented to listen to her after 1955...

Gorgeous Moffo, devine artist, what a shame she had such a penchant for self destruction....

[NEBESHIKU]

well, Callas will have to settle with being the BBC's number one soprano of th recorded era, so i guess whe watches from heaven and could careless for your opinion, while you have to eat you heart out since Moffo didn't even make it to number 20 on that list!

[edoru2007]

Fabulous choice of opera artist! Thanks for the effort of finding and posting !

[oPeRa1923]

i wonder why didn't maria callas got the first, or any of maria callas or anna moffo got in the first place?... her version is better than Larmore...

[kngiht84]

Well that is very subjective to your preference.

[helechik]

One of the most musical renditions I´ve ever heard.

[mezzosodiva]

does anybody else notice that this is a whole step up from bartoli's and callas'?

[wwonka2]

No, it's a half-step. And yes, that's by convention: the piece is traditionally sung in F when sung by a coloratura and in E when sung by a mezzo. Callas was unusual in that she chose the mezzo key but interpreted it as the coloratura role. Good that you noticed! ;o)

[viviananderson]

lovely voice!

[drdre333]

Can you explain the scores posted? I recall a rating up to 5 for both vocalization and performance... two scores. I'm not understanding the results I see here. Thanks.

[LindoroRossini]

I found myself facing an interesting problem when I was counting the results: I had to choose the winners, but many scores were dificult to evaluate: for example, Barrientos's was 4,7/3,6, was she a winner or not? So I decided just to add both scores, so it would be easier to find who won. Sorry for the confussion :-).

[drdre333]

Thanks. This helps!

[NannerlSullAria]

Personally, Anna is the winner for me, far away from la Bartoli. What about you?

[laurentius76]

Bartoli is a great singer but Anna Moffo with Maria Callas won because they are the best for this aria! :-)

[LindoroRossini]

The scores are as follows:

the singer

the overall mark

singing/performance.