The "Una voce poco fa" - Roberta Peters

After numerous requests for new versions of "Una voce poco fa", I spent some time looking for new renditions and I'm happy to annonce that I'm adding this month seven new renditions of the famous air. The singers are: the stunning Jennifer Larmore, the virtuoso Luisa Tetrezzini, the high-flying Mado Robin, the warm Maria Barrientos, the lightning-fast Roberta Peters, the wonderful Sonia Ganassi and the sweet Victoria de Los Angeles. I do hope you enjoy this contest (the system is the same: the marks range from 1 to 5; there are two categories: singing/characterization; so your mark (+ comment :-) ) should look like this: (*/*))! Also, if you have the time, listen to all the versions, I think it's interesting to compare them all to see what makes each rendition so special. Thank you all in advance for your comments and opinions :-) !

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Rossini
• Una
• voce
• poco
• fa
• Coloratura
• Contest
• Survey

[clairefalvey]

This was the first version I heard of una voce poca fa and prefer it over all others.

[KathrynBoussemart]

Dazzling! Polished as bright as a diamond! Flawless! Her ringing, floated top F, her equalized scales from top to bottom, her characterization, her amazing agility, her slancio, her rubato, her dimiuendo and mezza di voce, her control over her dynamic range . . . 5/5. This performance should be the primer handbook for EVERY aspiring coloratura soprano. AMEN!

[8Goldie]

@Poet2916 Have you heard Joyce diDonato's version? And yes Callas is great too... I like this version but originally Rosina is a mezzo so better stick to the mezzo version in my opinion..

[Poet2916]

I'm a lyric mezzo. Does anyone know a good arrangement of this song for my voice? A version I could possibly listen to for practice for an upcoming variety show?

[hoibie]

@clairefalvey I must admit that it is lovely. Although personally I enjoy the more tragic sung aria's. but styles do differ a lot and she has a amazing, gentle and pure voice. she is one of my favourites as well.

have you ever heard the live version of Maria Callas? type in Maria Callas- Una voce poco fa, and its the first one: 6.25

it is also amazing and the crowd cant almost contain themselves. It does seem like its a bit more sung from the heart, but of course the taste can differ. enjoy.

[bud21s]

All the elements are in place ... PERFECT phrasing , timber ,pitch , exuberance ! This is how it should be done . Is there anything higher then a five ?! :)

[FrogCraw]

I suppose you can argue her interpretation, and argue how Rossini intended the music to be sung. But it is impossible to argue the sheer physical talent she had. The performance is unequalled on the internet as a result. Just listen for a minute to what an incredible voice she had and marvel at what training did with it. Then get pedantic.

[jetta101]

Ms. Peters owns this song!

[uranoinpesci]

Amazing!

[mmbriggs]

duscussions about modern voices fitting the definitions of bel canto voices from the early 19th century, need ot accept that as those voice definitons and categories are so foreign from late 19th and 20th and 21st century vocalize and voice tecnhique, we don't really know how those voices sounded , and marilyn horne as stated that she believes the contralto music she has so triumphed in--as no other singer in recording history---sang without modern vibratto and with broken reigisters. !!

[WynnCreasyFineArt]

though really face it ... the role was written for a contralto... not a coloratura... it was written for a fuller, richer voice. Still, I love her facility. She was always such an incredible performer.