Derek Lee Ragin sings "A dispetto d'un volto ingrato," from Handel's Tamerlano.

The return of the male alto to the world of classical music is a happy event, spurring the return of many fine operas written prior to 1800. This lovely aria is a great favorite of altos, both male and female. I think it very likely that the male altos (and even the occasional male soprano) of today are far superior to those of two or three hundred years ago. I suppose it could be called the absolute triumph of technique over butchery.

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Category:

Music

Tags:

• Derek
• Lee
• Ragin
• countertenor
• alto
• opera

[brangreen85]

Wow! Where is he now? This is the first time I've heard of him. Absolutely amazing! I won't name any names but his voice is far greater than any of the popular countertenors out there these days.

[EdmundStAustell]

@brangreen85 He certainly is wonderful....no doubt about that! You might check the web to see if he has a website...I believe he does. That might give you information about his current activities.

[Gary2837]

Simply amazing!!! Thanks for posting.

[EdmundStAustell]

@Gary2837  My pleasure; thank you for commenting!

[lara777ize]

This version Tamerlano is the best.

[EdmundStAustell]

@lara777ize Thank you! It certainly is very good....no doubt about it.

[galapagosecuador]

HE IS AN EXTRAORDINARY COUNTERTENOR !!!! :)

[EdmundStAustell]

@galapagosecuador Thank you very much! I certainly agree with you. It would seem that he has many fans out there. I have received nearly six thousand hits on this video, which is very high for a countertenor. He's very, very good!

[unpodimusica1]

@NaterSkates It would depend on the standards then and now, and the way the countertenors/male sopranos came to their voice. I'd say if they had their b... cut off their voices might be temporarily purer, but today's high male "falsetto" voices are definitely healthier and in the long run probably better. And owing to far more competition, I'd believe standards are generally higher, no matter whom the aria was written for.

[NaterSkates]

"I think it very likely that the male altos (and even the occasional male soprano) of today are far superior to those of two or three hundred years ago."

So the person who this aria was written custom-tailored for his voice is is a worse singer than this singer who has to change from falsetto to tenor to sing it is an is running and sliding his notes into each other? Styles and preferences change, but the chance that he's better than a castrato is slim to none.

[thealessio60]

dolce morbido volluttuoso

[serenaluce]

@lara777ize Da,plokho u vas s chuvstvom yumora:-)Ya govoryu,chto ya ne fanatka, a na English fan - poklonnitsa.My i obmenivaemsya mneniyami:esli po-vashemu nichego osobenno, to po-moemu shedevr! Esli by ya tak boyalas', chto kto-to dast moim favourites negative rating,ya by voobshe novym lyudyam ne posylala:-)Eto prosto small talk. A ya vot obychno PJ dayu otritsatel'nyi rating, potomu chto eto vsegda tak plokho, chto trudno emu nichego ne dat'!LOL Spanos tut prichmem,t.k.ego versiya DOSTOINAYA!

[lara777ize]

@serenaluce И еще, говорите теперь, что не являетесь фанатом Лемоса или Спаноса, если бросились разыскивать того, кто посмел дать отрицательную оценку Вашему любимцу. Вы же сами говорите, что мы здесь лишь обмениваемся мнениями, почему же такая реакция? Я вообще весьма лояльно отношусь абсолютно ко всем, том числе и к PJ, и если бы Вы не втянули меня в эту дискуссию, я бы даже не упомянула ни о Лемосе, ни о Спаносе.

[lara777ize]

@serenaluce Как Вы верно заметили, я даже PJ не даю отрицательных оценок, хотя его откровенно не люблю. К Lemos же просто равнодушна, стала бы я это делать? К тому же в личке я Вам писала, что "это не плохо". А "шедевр" это лишь по Вашему мнению.