Thomas Hampson Sings at Volpe Gala

Thomas Hampson sings Korngold

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  Music

[peacelovejoyharmony]

He is a fabulous singer, no question. it is a moving and beautifully sung rendition of this aria.

[chiara54324]

His voice is like liquid gold,

sliding on our senses.

[musicalmeier]

The english subtitles are horrible and at times plainly wrong. Why do they not hire somebody who speaks German to tranlate?

[Richard Williams]

just go listen to the Herman Prey version of this same 'song' which is a real aria. I have not heard it better, possibly equal. Prey stays on the vowel sounds appropriately and uses the consontants for articulation and diction. Hampson is also painfully slow in an already slow version. The backward looking (over ones' shoulder) at what one has just sung, is a huge rule that Hampson breaks throughout his rendition. Search Herman Prey Tanzleid des Pierrot.

[antsee]

In the context of the opera...isn't this song supposed to sound like "crooning"?

To be fair, though, I've never heard Hampson sing before, like you have.

[Richard Williams]

His singing has become so backwards looking it is unbelievable. He does, though understand the German poetry very well. I heard him in the early 1990s do a mostly German lieder concert in Herbst theatre in SF early in his career and he was great then....too bad....what happened to him.

[Richard Williams]

I agree with the lingering on the consonants, absolutely painful and reminds one of crooners. Absolutely agree with the idea that he should sing on vowels, then articulate them breifly with consonants, not the other way around. he lingers on the consonants (closed sounds) interrupting them breifly with brief vowel sounds.

[Richard Williams]

This is so mannered and overstudied in every sylable that it is painful to watch and listen to. He used to be a very nice singer, I heard him live, in the beginning of his career in San Francisco. Now he has just distorted the voice and become incredibly mannered. Where did the clean vowel sounds go? they are smashed by consonants and squashed cover.

[kgarmaker123]

I am sorry this sounds like crooning to me.. and it is not very steady either.. it needs more focus and support(air)...

[sonqualnave]

No it's not sad, it's just simply human!

yes singers get less fresh with age as every single humain being and so what!

the artist never dissapear

[jonathanstinson]

And I'll give you that he is an amazing artist :) I just personally think this isn't his best. There are recordings of his that I worship

[lilibetp]

Okay.  I'll give you that.