Rockwell Blake, O Fiamma Soave by Rossini

Rockwell Blake singing "O Fiamma Soave" from Rossini's "La donna del lago". Live recording from La Scala (Milano), conducted by R. Muti.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Rockwell
• Blake
• Rossini
• Tenor

[seapoeg]

I was just in Milano and bought the DVD, was even discounted :)

[Tonioo84]

@TifosoBonisolli ....just because something does not fit into some forms it does not have to mean that it is unpleasant for there is probably just as many people who will say the opposite.

[Tonioo84]

@TifosoBonisolli Lets not forget who began with mean words...Me (no one) or you (well acclaimed critic) who spends time like this. I was just hoping to point out that i do not think it is OK placing comments like yours. As far as your bad teeth and hunch are concerned, they are none of my business, but thanks for pointing those out...It makes a rather clear picture of you. Regarding pleasant or unpleasant, once again, who are any of us to tell what is pleasant or unpleasant.

[TifosoBonisolli]

@Tonioo84

No need for me of being sarcastic since I don't know you, ok. And you know me well enough to know how much I've left? Bizarre!

But let's suppose Mr. online clairvoyant is correct, I'm a total failure, a homeless hunchback with bad teeth. Does that make Blake's sustained tones (as opposed to coloratura) any better, any less unpleasant? Does it add only one day to his (or Jadlowker's) ridiculously short vocal life? If you're unable to answer the criticism, just insult the critic...

[Tonioo84]

@TifosoBonisolli And what a lovely way to spend your retirement insulting some one's work a bit more... Unbelievable ! As if u were the only person who knows anything about anything cos that is what you present yourself for...As you do not know me there is no need for being sarcastic for i do know who Hermann Jadlowker and Miliza Korjus are and they have also left much more then you did or ever will...All the best.

[TifosoBonisolli]

@Tonioo84

I concur they're not - that's why it doesn't mean a thing that they applauded him at La Scala, or here on youtube. As far as writing opera reviews in important journals, that's what I actually did for many years (now retired).

To sum the Blake problem up, his coloratura technique was no doubt outstanding (as I wrote in my original post); the rest, completely mistaken, hence the early loss of voice. That's unusual, but not unheard of (cf. Jadlowker or Korjus, if you know them at all).

[Tonioo84]

@TifosoBonisolli more to go...I unlike you have more important things to do with my life then placing mean comments about some one and all that just because you will never do as much as that person did in its life. Even if sounding like a wreck as you say...If u are such an acclaimed critic as you are, start writing for some more important journal then. Nice interview with late Pavarotti here on youtube: the audience think they are the ultimate judge. Well they are not! :-)

[Tonioo84]

@TifosoBonisolli It is all about theory and one has to be better at least in theory about allowing some comments such as those...Literary critics are not novelists, however they do know about their Job much more then you obviously. Secondly, since singing and performing on stage is such a complicated profession, i presume You are extremely well educated. Yes, i did hear Mr. Blake in live performance. Once again using words like wreck does not suit some one who calls himself an expert.

[TifosoBonisolli]

@Tonioo84

Talk about nonsense... who told you one has to do better himself to be allowed to criticize? Since when do literary critics have to be novelists? (On the contrary, beware if they are!) So who am I to judge? An expert, in sharp contrast to you, obviously. And yet you're yourself pointing out an excellent proof for his faulty technique: longevity of voice. Blake's has been a wreck for 20 years now, and everyone knows (but on youtube). Did you ever hear him on stage? I did, alas.

[Tonioo84]

@TifosoBonisolli I just had to reply to this nonsense!!! I do not prefer his voice in terms of timbre but one thing is certain, without amazing technique one could not sing this sort of repertoire and still having a healthy voice which Mr. Blake most certainly does. So, you can or cannot like his voice, but who the hell are you to judge his technique? Once again, no one could sing this rep for such a long time if it were not good technical support behind it! Perhaps u could show us yours?