The "Una voce poco fa" Contest: Jennifer Larmore (1st place)

I would like to apologize for the long wait, but they are here: the results of the "Una voce poco fa" Contest. I'm happy to announce the four (!) winners:

1st place. Cecilia Bartoli.
4,8/4,8.
9,6.

1st place. Jennifer Larmore.
4,8/4,8.
9,6.

2nd place. Maria Callas.
4,5/5.
9,5.

3rd place. Anna Moffo.
4,5/4,8.
9,3.

I still would like to add that all the versions are wonderful, so I'm also posting all the other scores for comparrison:

Agnes Baltsa.
4/5.
9.

Beverly Sills.
4,3/4,7.
9.

Luisa Tetrazzini.
4,7/4,3
9.

Marilyn Horne.
4,1/4,8.
8,9.

Roberta Peters.
4,4/4,3.
8,7.

Maria Barrientos.
4,7/3,6.
8,3.

Lucia Vallenti-Terrani.
3,6/4,4.
8.

Lucianna Serra.
3,6/4,4.
8.

Vesselina Kasarova.
3,9/4,1.
8.

Ewa Podles.
3,8/4,1.
7,9.

Frederica von Stade.
4,2/3,6.
7,8.

Vivica Genaux.
3,6/3,8.
7,4.

Sumi Jo.
3,6/3,7.
7,3.

Sonia Ganassi.
3,7/3,5.
7,2.

Victoria de Los Angeles.
3,6/3,6.
7,2.

Vera Firsova.
3/4.
7.

Mado Robin.
4,1/2,5.
6,6.

Lily Pons.
2,4/3,4.
5,8.

Graziella Sciutti.
2/3,5.
5,5.

I hope you have enjoyed the Contest :-). I'm leaving all the videos on Youtube, so that the Youtubers will be able to enjoy them.

P.S. I am going to post the results of the "Son vergin vezzosa" in a couple of days, so be on the watch :-).

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Rossini
• Una
• voce
• poco
• fa
• Cecilia
• Bartoli
• Jennifer
• Larmore
• Maria
• Callas
• Anna
• Moffo

[Richardclausen1]

As I look down the list of "contestants" I am stunned by the amazing wealth of talent that is listed (and omitted)and am so very grateful that we have lasting documents of these performers' individual and collective brilliance. How very lucky we are - not to compare, but to enjoy the amazing gifts that have been shared with us and remain to thrill others. How does one compare a Callas to a Sutherland to a Caballe'?  One just wastes time and loses chance to enjoy the beauty that they bring.

[jr1844]

Au contraire! Rosina is a mezzo role. Much of Rossini is anchored by mezzo roles -- Italiana, Cenerentola, Barbiere, Elisabetta, etc. Not my opinion, either. Facts.

[Dogaradodia]

Certified Intergalactic! Will you marry me?

[rlbella]

I am absolutely stunned that Teresa Berganza is not included in this list. An incredible oversight! In fact, many would say she is unquestionaly the best Rosina ever. Certainly she must be the best of all Rossini mezzo sopranos. And her version of 'Una Voce Poca Fa' (while she was in her prime) is the standard by which all other versions should be judged. Shame on you for leaving her out of the contest...!

[bottale]

This is excellent, but I absolutely LOVE Roberta Peters's rendition. It's all about fun, and showing off is a big part for the fun. Can't touch RP.

[madmaxx70]

bartoli first with larmore (best) and before callas? full of deaf people...omg

[dziady1]

Korjus is more fun and less screaming

[cincorn]

I do not Larmore in the role of Carmen so I never really listened to her in any other role. I like her as Rosina but she's no match for Teresa Berganza. She's kind of "screechy" in the higher notes of the coloratura passages.

[cincorn]

@gustopheles The lead in La Cenerentola was for a coloratura contralto. It is the rarest of female voice types..

[FrogCraw]

The genius of Rossini is that he wrote music that could give life to the talents of a huge range of performers, all of them with a unique "skill set" and physical talent. Most of the narrow minded critics are pedants and they only rob themselves of the sheer joy of listening to the best performers alive put their uniqueness to work with this masterpiece.

[LordHettrick]

@gustopheles Marylin Horne, after starting her career as a soprano, switched to a contralto colorature repertoire. Although these roles are kind of rare, L'italiana in Algeri by Rossini features a leading contralto role, Isabella.

Also, some baroque operas feature contraltos or use contraltos as replacements for castrati; Marie-Nicole Lemieux is one of the leading singers of this type.