Working Lensky's Aria in lesson

My first lesson in 2 months! This is a long one, I'm sure you won't want to just listen from beginning to end unless you're really interested in her teaching style as well as my development.

I'm a little disappointed, I had quite a few bad first attempts at some of the high notes. I can do much better, and have done much better at home, but oh well.

For those who know Russian (or how to sing it), how am I doing on this one? What do you think of her comments about how to sing Russian (almost mumbled consonants)?

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Eugene
• Onegin
• Lensky
• Lensky's
• Aria
• Kuda
• vy
• udalilis
• Tchaikovsky
• opera
• tenor
• dramatic
• helden
• Aaron

[JEBtnr]

I would be curious to know how long you have been studying with this teacher? There seems to be a bit of confusion between the two of you, and more so, you question her a lot, which conveys a lack of trust. I don't really buy into some of the things she said. This role was written for a light tenor? Has she ever heard Act I Scene IV?

[aaronsande]

@JEBtnr That's my nature. If I didn't trust her, I wouldn't be studying with her. No teacher is right about everything, and if I had to say her biggest weakness, it would be fach identification in singers of the past and in assigning the right roles to the right fachs. She's solid with women in that regard, but not as much with men.

Listen to my Ich Grolle Nicht, if you would. This one isn't a good example of where she's taken me in 2.5 years, which is all the training I've had.

[aaronpolitical]

@mradaChris I think you misunderstand her. She is referring to the physical structure of the male larynx, and commenting that male operatic tenor singing (in full voice obviously, not falsetto) stretches that physiology past the point it was naturally intended.

Surely this is the case, or every one of us who had a higher male voice would be able to naturally sing operatic tenor high notes with decent quality =D

Thanks for the kind words!

[mradaChris]

Men were never meant to sing that high! Is that what she said!?!?!?! Grrrrrr, she and I would butt heads! I can just see it, two screaming sopranos! LOL

I think she is a great teacher and she seems to understand how to coach you. She would not be able to coach me as she has a preconceived idea about male singers!

I do believe you have some pretty tones there when you go light and not pull back your tongue (as she indicates in this recording). Lip placement is important.

chris