The "Son vergin vezzosa" Contest - Amelita Galli-Curci

Bellini wrote so many absolutely irresistible arias that it is very difficult to choose the best one. Many will remember the genius "Casta Diva", the gentle Amina arias "Come per me sereno" and "Ah! non credea mirati", the glorious "A te, o cara"... The list goes on and on. But one aria stands out in the list of Bellini's arias: the quite delightful polonaise aria for Elvira from "I Puritani" "Son vergin vezzosa", a gentle piece, almost Rossinian in its peaceful happiness. One of my all time favorite arias, "Son vergin vezzosa" can be a boring showpiece in the hands of an average singer, but an imaginative artist can work magic with it. This "contest" includes renditions from the following singers: the sublime Amelita Galli-Curci, the virtuosic Beverly Sills, the silver-voiced Joan Sutherland, the wonderful Lucia Aliberti, the intelligent Mariella Devia, the powerful Montserrat Caballe, the high-flying Mado Robin, the artistic Maria Callas and the exquisite Sumi Jo. I do hope you enjoy this contest (the system is the same: the marks range from 1 to 5; there are two categories: singing/characterization; so your mark (+ comment :-) ) should look like this: (*/*))! Also, if you have the time, listen to all the versions, I think it's interesting to compare them all to see what makes each rendition so special. Thank you all in advance for your comments and opinions :-) !

P.S. I'm using this opportunity to say that I have come across some new versions of "Una voce poco fa" for the Youtubers to savour, I hope that I will be able to put them up as soon as possible.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Amelita
• Galli-Curci
• Beverly
• Sills
• Joan
• Sutherland
• I
• Puritani
• Mariella
• Devia
• Montserrat
• Caballe
• Maria
• Callas
• Bellini

[SqueakyIri]

in comparing Galli-Curic and Pons, whose voice was bigger?

[LindoroRossini]

Interesting question, I think Galli-Curci's voice was just a hint bigger than Pons'.

[mariagalvany]

I really enjoy her voice its so soft ad velvet.Everything she tackled she sings it so beautifully and gives it a wonderful emotion. Though she had her faults,she was a great recorder. And posessed such a brillant

tone and a "ping" attack so wonderful.

She ends it with a long held trill. :}

[meltzerboy]

Or, even worse, Andrea Boccelli! I appreciate the compliment and feel the same way.

[jorgepda]

@hetoimasai i am probably one of the biggest Callas fans out there, but I completely agree. Gall-Curci's tone is exquisite and her technique impeccable.

[mptpopz]

She was my Grandfathers cousin.

[hetoimasai]

I am completely mesmerized by her. Despite the limitation in the technology that captured her voice, it sufficed to capture her range exquisitely. She ranks right alongside Maria Callas, Sylvia Sass, and Sumi Jo, IMHO. In fact, I place Amelita's performances above Maria Callas'.

[EdmundStAustell]

What an immaculate musician! You could set your watch by those tempi. She was offered a professorship of piano at the tender age of 23--and that pianistic proficiency is evident in her approach to the music. Perfect style, impeccable musianship, and a lovely flute-like voice; one very classy little lady! It doesn't get much better--if any--than this.

[LobsngDmchoi]

The controversial final trill -- someone should analyze it scientifically. Sorry, folks, I hear some b-natural, esp. towards the end. For me, in this repertoire, the brilliance & beauty of a trill is the goal, rather than its perceived "correctness." Consult Manuel Garcia's singing treatise -- does he say there is only one way to trill? In this style, the final trills are often unwritten by the composer, so are less subject to rules & more dictated by a performer's discretion & taste.

[1psoas9]

The lightness and ease of her voice are miraculous in hteir own right, but also have a rare ability to characterize a really young person. Virginity is a very difficult quality to evoke onstage -- Mary Pickford comes to mind , and Elisabeth Schumann and Mary Garden. Not many can make it both plausible and appealing. Galli-Curci really seems innocent.

[JessicaWise]

Wow.  Neat and I really like it - except for that fire alarm at the end. What is that!? ;-)

[AulicExclusiva]

It's an unusual, rare privilege to talk to somebody who actually knows what he is talking about, and doesn't think singing began with Roberto Alagna!

[meltzerboy]

Yes, I'm a record collector dinosaur. I'm surprised and glad you heard of him; at least I now know I'm not delusional!