Cesare Siepi- Vespri- O tu Palermo!

[Ariadne7710]

The Great immortal Cesare Siepi in one of his great signature roles. Phenomenal artistry, and the most amazing vocal control.

[sirenadellopera]

Phenomenal. Perfect singing and artistry. Of course the voice is one in a million, as well.

[sirenadellopera]

Phenomenal. Perfect singing and artistry.

[stevevandien]

One of the great singers. Siepi had a magnificent technique, including a very wide range, to support his huge sound, as beautiful as it was resonant:) --

[TheMaxColton]

He sounds like Homer Simpson @ 3:45

[OperafanBG]

amazing!!!thank you

[voce29]

A "basso cantando" par excellence!

[Baritenore]

Basso numero UNO!!!

[55werther]

¡¡¡GRANDIOSO ARTISTA, MEJOR, ESTUPENDO CANTANTE!!! UN BAJO CON TO-

DAS LAS CUALIDADES. UN ESPLENDIDO CANTANTE; DE ENTRE LOS MEJO-

RES.

[lido2008ve]

Grande Interpretazione, grazie per averla condivisa.

[Mumsilius]

Can someone please explain to me why this man isn't generally considered the greatest BASS of all time? I mean, are people deaf?

[arpeggio1358]

@Mumsilius Please listen to Jerome Hines, Samuel Ramey, Ferruccio Furlanetto who are all considered equal to or better than Siepi. I guess it all depends on persoal taste. Not everyone is going to like the same voices. Opinions differ.

[Mumsilius]

@arpeggio1358 Of course they do=) Still it's ridiculous to me that someone wouldn't prefer Siepi over those you just mentioned, especially the latter 2. Ridiculous=D

[arpeggio1358]

@Mumsilius I'm sorry, but I find Siepe's voice ponderous and plodding compared to any ot the three I mentioned. I especially like Ramey's exquisite beauty of tone, versatility, and wonderful flexibility and agility. But as we've agreed, opinions differ. There are many who like the heavy basses who don't have flexibility and agility, but I just donj't find them to my taste.

[Mumsilius]

@arpeggio1358 I'm sorry too, but saying that Siepi's singing wasn't flexible or agile is incredibly ridiculous! That's very unfair. He is known amongst other things for his remarkable range and flexible repertoire. Yes, he was a true bass with an unusually deep timbre, yet he could reach high enough to sing bass-baritone roles like Don Giovanni. Just listen. That is truly rare. An amazingly open and dark voice, with a vibrant upper register and a deep chocolaty BASS register. Powerful but soft.

[arpeggio1358]

@Mumsilius I guess we'll still have to respectfully disagree. Your description sounds like you're talking about Ramey. We just have a difference of opinion here. I've never found Siepi's voice to be particularly flexible or agile. Do you know if he ever sang Rossini coloratura bass roles or baroque repertoire? when I think of flexible, agile bass voices, these roles come to mind. Do you have any recommendations for recordings that show off his flexibility and agility?

[Mumsilius]

@arpeggio1358 Yes, Siepi and Ramey are surprisingly similar in many ways! I feel sure that I've heard that one of Ramey's biggest idols is in fact mr Siepi. But their voices are of course very dissimilar in many ways too, for instance Siepi is much more velvety while Ramey's is more direct, kind of akin to Pinza's voice and style. All three are great singers.

[arpeggio1358]

@Mumsilius I find Ramey's voice very velvety...also I've heard it compared to dark chocolate. I find Ramey's voice to be nothing like Pinza's thogh. For one thing, Pihnza had a dreadfully prominent vibrato, that Ramey certainly never had in his heyday.

[arpeggio1358]

@Mumsilius As for Siepi singing Rossini, I did find him singing Don Basilio, but that isn't really a coloratura bass role. I also found him singing Haly's aria from L'Italiana in Algeri, but Mustafa is the coloratura bass role in that opera, not Haly.

[Mumsilius]

@arpeggio1358 And yes! I do absolutely have a recommendation of a recording that shows off Siepi's brilliant voice and singing. This one is a must for any fan of great basses: amazon.co.uk/Schumann-Brahms-L­ieder-Quichotte-Dulcinée/dp/B0­00TKG35M/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qi­d=1295313204&sr=8-4 . It's pretty hard to come buy but you can buy it via this link at amazon.co.uk. It's his Salzburg recital when he was in his early 30's at his prime it has been remastered so it sounds like yesterday!

[Mumsilius]

@arpeggio1358 There's a song from this recording here on YouTube. Just type in: Cesare Siepi "Per questa bella mano" Mozart . It's a pretty flexible "song" for a bass I would say=) But there are many a lot better on the cd, including one by Rossini=)

[arpeggio1358]

@Mumsilius I listened to this. It does show a lighter and more flexible tone, but it doesn't (IMHO) show the kind of flexibility and agility that Ramey has. You might want to listen to Thomas Quasthoff singing this same piece. just type "Quasthoff Perquesta bella mano". I find Quasthoff's voice perfect for this piece by Mozart. The Rossini piece on the Siepi album is probably the aforementioned Haly's aria from L'Italiana in Algeri.

[arpeggio1358]

@Mumsilius Maybe we're not using the same definition of fexibility and agility. i'm talking about the kind of flexibility and agility needed to sing coloratura, as in the coloratura bass roles of Rossini or the role of Argante in the Handel opera Rinaldo. Ramey's version of Argante's entrance aria is on YT. Type in Samuel Ramey: Sibilar gli angui d'Aletto to hear it. His Assur from Semiramide is also on YT.

[AkhmedSync]

God, that's hot.

[looker768]

what a voice!

[jeanmolin55]

SPLENDIDO ! Grandissimo Cesare Siepi! ***** GRAZIE PER IL POST!

[francesca7564]

@jeanmolin55

GRAZIE JEAN !!!

[minnie888444]

@jeanmolin55 Grazie, Giovanni, magnifico!

[MarionCap]

OMG - I just discovered this glorious performance, had no idea that he just passed away. How lucky we are to have shared the world with such an artist! ( I agree with Manrico412, I have never heard anyone sing "O tu, Palermo" so magnificently.)

[MANRICO412]

Cesare Siepi è in assoluto il miglior interprete di O tu Palermo

Roberto

[juanmlleras]

This wonderful singer of astonishing voice gives here a sample of his art.

His voice left us for ever three weeks ago on the 5th of July in Atlanta. May his soul rest in peace.

[Jabbadabbadopera]

R.I.P fratello!

[BorisGodunov]

Siepi died 7/5/10. A loss to the world!

[Lactoris1]

Why can't we all sing like that!?

[WhiteProfondo]

@Lactoris1

Because he´s very, very special...

[WhiteProfondo]

To all basses in the world: Thats how it´s done!

[WhiteProfondo]

Best bass ever in my opinion; no one has more power and brilliance than him!

[viking1938]

@WhiteProfondo

I saw him perform several times at the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. in the '50s when the Met came to Calif. A terrible venue, cavernous, but he had no problems. Some of my best operatic memories!

[Dalmata1961]

Very much so......

[csiepi]

siepi 4shared com

[peppemacho]

insuperabile basso il maestro Siepi,sono anch'io un basso ma cantabile,vorrei un giorno essere un basso profondo anche se scendo fino al re b - re attualmente e sto lavorando per scendere ancora più giù e arrivo al mi naturale.Mi fa venire i brividi questa aria d'opera,troppo bravo einimitabile e difficile da raggiungere, appartenente alla vecchia scuola belcantistica.Un saluto da un umile ammiratore del maestro Siepi e della musica, viva la lirica

[ruffoite]

rovingdesertfox, you are mistaken, the aria is sung in the correct key, and quite beautifully i might add.

[rovingdesertfox]

Addition: Well, the recit. was a 1/2 step low;  he didn't sing the whole of the recit. and just went straight into the aria.

[rovingdesertfox]

Here's something all of you missed; this rendition is one half step LOW.

[mrantiquedealer]

One thing was the S I Z E of his voice in the theater. thanks for this. it is just perfect! Noone can do this today.

[bodiloto]

+ 100  !!! IMMORTALE !!! GRAZIE !

[VERSCHIN]

SUPER POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mbrtok]

¡ IMPRESIONANTE ¡ Siepi entre los 5 mejores

[montallio]

I like Siepi very much but this recording over-emphasizes the "buzz" in his tone. It sounds like an overdrive effect on his voice. Apart from that he sings it too bland and forte most of the time. I prefer Georio Tozzii's much richer interpretation.

[miamisms]

its true Siepi's voice is very "buzzy" as you refereed to it in this recording... but half of that is the technology. I am not taking anything away from the great GIORGIO Tozzi, but you must take in consideration the technology involved

[Nemorino11]

Che fenomeno !!!

[JackOperaMan]

A beautiful gift, thank you for posting.

[minnie888444]

Thanks for posting this magnificent video.

[ahtenor]

man he sounds.....a nasty and wild animal.....may be a creazy and "hungry" bull....or anything like that...where that sound has gone.......today tenor, baritones and basses sounds very differents.......and my guess is not a voice issue...but a technique one....may be and only may be old fashion singers use to in "close connection" with that "instint"....today we kknow too much about low larynx...and so more.....but where the great voices had gone....no more del monaco, corelli, stefano..etc...

[halurk]

SIMPLY THE BEST !!!!!!

[robertwbecker]

Absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!

[lhrlyc]

this is feral, bestial - but thrilling beyond belief!

[robertwbecker]

Absolutely,,, what it's all about,,, nobody lie him today!!!

[ahtenor]

we as singers should listen those masters from the past and learn from them....don't know what may be the difference in technique....but old singers as a general rule sounded more "animal"....he sounds like a wild animal....

[wotan3000]

Wow - great comment!

Truly the primal aspect is part and parcel of the will to use squillo and sing feelings.

Feelings that communicate - not masturbatory inward acting/singing - but singing with nobility, sorrow, majesty and having the technique to back that up. No whining - but actual singing.

This performance is a little too bottom edge oriented for vocal safety and ultimately hurt Siepi's voice, but it is so much preferred to a whimpering or swallowed approach.

That's my take at least.

[chrisibzu]

Yes!!

[1962mcomet]

Siepi: the best basso of all time!

[gallferi]

Hey "Wotanino 3000"!(Vollendet das ewige Werk) Please elaborate on the "slightly forced larynx". An ex-colleague, who has a vocal "institution" talks and "analizes" exactly like you! KWATSCH! Tongue, "breathing", "tight jaw" and the rest of the BS are all KWATSCH! The larynx automatically goes DOWN when you CORRECTLY prepare for singing, and the low larynx is ESSENTIAL for correct singing.

[wotan3000]

Well, the larynx does and SHOULD go down and be down for singing - except certain mezza-voce sounds. And it can and often does go down itself in coordination with the breathing apparatus and a relaxed throat.

BUT it can also be strangled down with throat muscles and forced down with the tongue. The back of the tongue is often used to force down thw larynx in overly brusque attempts at singing with squillo and dark sound.

Siepi sometimes does this. It's not perfect, but who is? He's close.

[gallferi]

Hey Wotanino!

Stop ANALYZING and start singing! "Breathing apparatus, relaxed throat, back of the tongue, squillo, excess tension" and all that BS! Your comments about Siepi ("great, but...") sound like a freshman voice student (which you probably ARE). Instead of making "all knowing" comments about the world's greatest artists, you should LISTEN to them and learn! In "So in love" with your "new technique" you swallow your tongue so deep, one feels like saying "bon appétit"

[gallferi]

Hi Wotanino!

I reiterate my first comment (apologies about the "So in love"). I've been singing opera since 1965, (since 1979 here in Europe) and have met countless "analysers" at Hartt College and Manh.Sch. of Music. They never have gotten anywhere! Who cares about Siepi singing out of one side of his mouth,(throat???) or his late wobble; the man has been a world star since 1948, and is one of the greatest still living basses of our time. Appreciate THAT, my friend!

[wotan3000]

Thank you for replying.

My comments started out because someone said that there aren't any people trying to sing like Siepi did. A common and sadly rather reasonable fear.

That is why it got technical in the first place. I wasn't trying to flex any kind of intellectual or analytical muscle. I was just trying to point out that people are trying but are often copying slight problems that the Garcia, Cotogni, De Rezke, Roemer, etc singers had, because the good parts are so very hard to emulate.

[wotan3000]

Also, I have now removed my prior messages in order to stop any misinterpretation.

Siepi was 95% right in what he did and accomplished more than 99.99999% of his contemporaries and predecessors, and NO current-day singers come close.

We are out here trying to emulate his strengths and some day hopefully we will get a renaissance of singers who used the technique of Caruso, Stracciari, Pinza, Siepi, Hotter, etc.

Here's to hoping!

[minnie888444]

I agree!

[jdeslauriers]

I disagree. He's singing in Limpido. It's not a forced larynx. It's just very relaxed and loose. But it worked for him. It's great teaching the limpido to students, but you have to add the other stuff as well.

[joanabanyeres]

Do you know that some people have some dificulty to speak R:

I don ' t want to speak of english singers, but many of them do not know how to sing well in italian, and the sound R is not correct. You may read the book written by Pierre Bernac he explain how to do it . Anyways I do not understand why some peopele explain the way of Cesare's singing He was great with a good looking, what Don Giovanni!

[Baritenore]

Wotan 3000,1. You dont know NOTHING of singing:) Siepi sang over forty years in high level, that is only thing what you must put in your head. Addio!

[wotan3000]

Can't believe I missed this comment after this many years.

For the record Siepi is one of my top 5 basses. That doesn't mean he was perfect.

Siepi is amazing, but it is undeniable that there was excess tension which got in the way. Listen to early recordings compared to later recordings. Age is not the only factor.

In the end he was STILL better than 99% of the others, but it did degrade and there was a technical reason for this. In the beginnign he was at 100% (that sound better). I <3 him.

[BorisGodunov]

There isn't a single bass--or even single opera singer--for whom the voice doesn't degrade in quality over decades of singer. Siepi's voice at 80 was is better shape than other basses who enjoyed far shorter careers. So his "lesser" voice quality in his old age isn't proof of your claims of "excess tension."

[ah332]

what a monster. this man set a standard for basses

[sorbino9]

Maybe it has something to do with pollution and moderns diets. Though I reckon the root cause is poor training / lost knowledge.

[billyguns2]

Some of the greatest singing I ever hope to hear. One of the singers interviewed in Lanfranco Rasponi's THE LAST PRIMA DONNAS speculates that we have become genetically weakened; that is why we will never hear singing like this again. Interesting thought. Siepi was not alone in his resonant magnificence and power in that era.

[jdeslauriers]

I think that is silly... genetically weekend. But, I do think that much vocal technique has been totally bastardized. And that we are now relying on the "wunderkind" syndrome. Students use to work with their teachers 5 or 6 days a week for up to two hours a day. Now students are relegated to 2, 45 minute lessons a week, if they're lucky.

[robertwbecker]

I agree and they are over manipulating placement and registers in these short 45/60 minute sessions. Too much left brained activity goes on with little allowance for the intuitive right side of the brain to participate. The human voice is like a horse, think "Seabiscuit", it is too often over bridled and broken by too much rational control and manipulation and it forgets how to run with and in the force of nature. I believe singing is the harmony of the left and right brain working together.

[sorbino9]

His voice was so amazing and so individual, that you being to wonder if he was, vocally, some kind of genetic freak.

[robertwbecker]

To me Siepi belongs in that class of singer that far outreaches the norm. He is in a class with Corelli, MacNeil, London, Nielsson,Caruso,Ruffo etc. These voices were so extraordinary as to no longer be limited by human resources. This is truly Great Stuff!

[stevevandien]

Exactly right about the "buzz." Even one who never heard Siepi in person (like me:)) can tell how well the voice carried. And as always, its sheer beauty is enchanting --

[profondo7]

Wasn't that a low F?

[IceMasterEasthamJazz]

Low D-flat. Nice.

[jdeslauriers]

no, it was an F.

[IceMasterEasthamJazz]

No, man, it's a D-flat.

[IceMasterEasthamJazz]

No, take it back. Misheard it. No doubt he was capable of it, though. There's a clip from a recording of Les Huguenots which I have been unable to find with a low C. I don't know if that was a personal touch, or if it's written. Either way, incredible.