Daniel Mobbs - Semiramide: "Quei numi furenti" [Part 2]

Daniel Mobbs sings the second part—the cabaletta—of Assur's mad scene from Rossini's 'Semiramide.' Recorded live at the Caramoor Music Festival in Katonah, NY on July 21, 2009. Critical edition by Philip Gossett. Orchestra of St. Luke's; Caramoor Opera Chorus; Will Crutchfield, conductor.

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I already know someone—or probably several someones—will say, "He's no Ramey" or "Listen to Samuel Ramey." For me, there's no comparison. I grew up on Ramey and still love him, but as I got older, I began to be bothered by his pressed phonation and his overdarkened, distorted vowels, especially in the upper quarter of his range.

For me, Mobbs's singing—in terms of function, evenness, clarity of vowels, diction, flexibility, legato, expression through dynamics/intensity, and musicality—is completely unimpeachable. It's dramatic without being fake or imposing; it's exciting without being treacherous. This is a bel canto voice in its elegant, natural, and essential form.

After hearing all the major and minor exponents of Assur since the beginning of recorded sound, it's my opinion that Mobbs is not only the obvious successor to Ramey, but the best-sung Assur I've ever heard and the finest basso cantante on the stange today.


More info on Daniel Mobbs: http://danielmobbs.com

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Text:

CORO
[sotto voce, osservandolo]
E che avvenne? - A chi parla?... ei delira...
Geme... smania... affannoso sospira...
Che mai turba, atterrisce quel cor!
[accostandosi a lui]
Ah! Signore!... Assur!...

ASSUR
[con voce sommessa]
Tacete.
[Nell'attitudine in cui rimase]
Oh!... fuggite -

CORO
Su, ti scuoti. -

ASSUR
Ei minaccia... lo vedete!...

CORO
Chi?...

ASSUR
V'è ancor? -

CORO
Tu sol con noi
Qui tu sei.

ASSUR
[a poco a poco girando lo sguardo]
Ma come? - e voi?...
[rianimandosi]
Là... finor - spari! - respiro. -
Fu deliro!... un sogno - ed io!...
Io d'un'ombra! - Oh! mio rossor! -
Se un istante delirai,
Se a voi debole sembrai,
D'un avverso Dio fu incanto...
Ma atterrirmi invan tentò...
Que' Numi furenti...
Quell'ombre frementi...
L'orror delle tombe
Vo ardito a sfidar.
De' Numi, del fato,
Dell'ombre, di morte,
Quest'anima forte
Saprà trionfar.

CORO
De' Numi, del fato,
Dell'ombre, di morte,
Un'anima forte
Saprà trionfar.
[Assur entra ardito. Il coro si disperde.]

Category:

Music

Tags:

• semiramide
• rossini
• assur
• opera
• bass
• baritone
• basso
• cantante
• coloratura
• bel
• canto
• florid
• daniel
• mobbs
• aria

[jerilyn616]

His Sir George in I Puritani last night in Knoxville, TN was spectacular! Bravo!

[InformedListener]

I heard Mobbs in Baltimore in a production of Cenerentola some years ago. This guy had some of the best coloratura I ever heard on a low male voice. I'm like, "Where is his line of solo aria CDs?" I hope that the recording companies get their act together quick.

[orthochrom]

go on

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