Anita Cerquetti sings ''O re dei cieli''

The great soprano Anita Cerquetti in one of her best recordings ever: "O re dei cieli", from Spontini's Agnese di Hohenstauffen. An early-bloomer diva, Cerquetti had a very brief career (she retired at 29), but her gleaming voice and refined phrasing are still remembered and praised.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• opera
• spontini
• cerquetti
• bel
• canto

[unotenore]

It's important to remember that this great artist was a mere 29 years old or less at the time of this recording, and retired from singing there sooner than some other artists mentioned in comparison. Fleming and Georghiu are different voice fachs than Ms. Cerquetti, a true dramatic soprano. Maestra Cerquetti also possessed a body to aid her vocal gifts .

[Homoclassicus]

Yes, you're right. Cerquetti did belong to a fach that is very rare nowadays (I'd say perhaps nonexistent), which is the dramatic soprano whose voice sounds youthful and flexible enough to be convincing in the Italian heroine roles. Fleming and Gheorghiu IMO are great lyric sopranos, just as amazing as most of the lyric sopranos of the past, but they can only be vaguely compared to Cerquetti - not that they're less good, but it's that they're too different.

[johndlabella]

Here's the deal, though - none of the contemporary singers mentioned has a technique that can approach Cerquetti's. For example: Fleming breaks the vocal line *between* phrases much of the time. it makes it difficult to appreciate the good the modern singers DO offer, when they are lack fundamentals of the aesthetic. I suspect these modern artists would have sung better in an earlier age because they would have been nurtured by people who understood better what singing should be like.

[Homoclassicus]

I don't notice that problem in Fleming's technique, only slightly from her middle to the high notes. The older singers weren't also perfect, we could arguee Gheorghiu or Fleming have much better tops than the majority of the lyric sopranos of older generations. As for your later comment, I do agree: technique seemed to be even better nurtured, discipline seemed to be easier to attain, and there were really a greater number of great singers, what doesn't mean we don't have amazing artists today.

[henrifrombarcelona]

i do believe, even in the best callas recordings that i love over everything else, that this recording of this aria by Cerquetti is one of the most beautifull interpretation ever. The voice fits so well with that music, she is completly involved in a Callas'way....

i can listen to that aria by Cerquetti over and over.......

[Homoclassicus]

I agree with you. This is one of the best opera recordings I've ever heard. Cerquetti's voice, its rich colors, the dramatic intensity, the squillo and metal of the timbre, everything fits the aria perfectly. And the tempi chosen are just the right ones, enhancing the thrill and drama of the music (I've heard to other amazing version, the one from Caballé, and even that one can't beat Cerquetti here).

[bizmailnow]

Physical beauty as a measure of ANYTHING is to totally negate what is truly alive and beautiful within. I find Anita Cerquetti beautiful because she is vibrant and full of years, regardless of some kind of visual measure that is of no import to those whom cannot see(blindness) or to those who live beyond looks.

[PIPZZZ02]

The current obsession with physical appearance in opera singers throws an interesting light on the history of opera.If this stricture was to be applied retrospectively you'd have to remove about 90% of the great singers of the past.For my money it's about as daft to insist that opera singers are good-looking as it would be to restrict the Olympic Games to beautiful people.Great talent and physical beauty are not automatic bedfellows.

[heavensjewels1]

This singer is astounding. A very great voice and such a rhapsodic line. The world was deprived of this great talent, for the most part.  What a pity she was not longer on the stage. I don't think there has been a dramatic soprano quite like her.

[MrPipposiculo]

Rimarrà negli annali delle migliori interpretrazioni .

Grazie Anita.

[MrSkylark1]

Anita Cerquetti was far superior to Fleming who covers her tone to simulate a Dramatic Soprano sound thus losing the brilliance that could be hers as a Lyric.

There is no one on the operatic stage who can compare to Cerquetti who would have eclipsed the wobbly Callas, had she continued with her career.

[2001donnie]

Gorgeous singing of a beautiful aria. I find her looks compelling and agreeable, but as others have pointed out, it is the warmth, intensity and richness of her sound that makes her one of my all-time favorite singers.

[Turand0t]

@papoocanada You have it? I have not been able to find it anywhere! I really want to have this aria. The entire opera if possible, obviously. Could you help me? I would really appreciate it.

[Turand0t]

@Bivolari I have been to Berlin now. I couldn't seem to find the score. If you happen to stumble upon it, please let me know. Thanks again for your help. :)

[papoocanada]

just buy the piano/vocal score

[papoocanada]

old Spontini helped too after all............ !