Ivan Rebroff - Rolf Harris Show 1969

Ivan Rebroff appears on The Rolf Harris Show in 1969. Ivan Rebroff (1931-2008) had an amazing vocal range of almost five octaves.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• ivan
• rebroff
• rolf
• harris
• russia
• russian
• folk
• songs
• 1969
• 1960s
• sixties

[Medusa49]

Many thanks for this posting. Like you, I was only made aware of this incredible singer after watching the fairly recent vintage R Harris show. Does anyone know the title of the second piece (that follows Kalinka)? Is there a CD recording of it. His vocal range and power is simply staggering.

[GrahamLondonUK]

Thanks for your comment. I watched the show to see Barbara Windsor in her Carry On days but was mesmorised by Ivan Rebroff!

[1oldgit]

Astounding range of his voice -- he was actually German [wikipedia] Hans- Rolf Rippert

[GrahamLondonUK]

Thanks for your comment. Wikipedia is an invaluable source of information!

[notdeadjustlazy]

Wow this is super rare, I thought I was the only Ivan fan in the U.K, many thanks for this GrahamLondonUK :)

[GrahamLondonUK]

Thanks for your comment. This must be the only television programme to feature both Ivan Rebroff and Barbara Windsor!

[cameratamaestro]

Wow! What a singing machine!

[DunkleWaldElfe]

Bravo Vanja!!!!

[mariaseniuta]

stunning ..wish i had 'found' him when he was still alive...

amazing ...

[180523]

@Medusa49 Odnozvuchno Gremit - the Little Bell

[MATTMUDORCK]

O Pavaroti do baixo!.

The Pavaroti of bass!.

[420billion]

Simply amazing how many octaves he can sing in. Oh did i mention the effortless change in octave and pitch. Pity most of his work i have found is mainly folk as it would be amazing hearing him do arias, like Joseph Schmidt.

[donaldrose]

@Medusa49 After the medley he sings Vechernye Zvon which became a signature song for him. Later in his life his technique improved tremendously and this allowed him to move more seamlessly from chest tone to his falsetto for the high notes.

It is quite common for well-trained singers to have a 3 octave range with perhaps an half an octave added in the falsetto. Rebroff could extend his falsetto far higher than normal though.

[donaldrose]

@Medusa49 It is a Russian song called by various names since it does not seem to directly translate. Try Softly Rings the Lilttle Bells but the word softly can be replaced by monotonously. He finishes with a third song in this medley.

On this he starts off quite flat but finds correct pitch after a few bars. I am certain it was not intentional since adds lilttle. The later fireworks wipe out the memory of the flat notes.

[IvanRebroff1]

Gewaltig 

[BaronVonPenguin]

@Medusa49@Medusa49 I'm gambling here as your post is over a year old but the piece he performs after Kalinka is called Odnoswutschno Gremit. Not to knock the version he does here but the original recording is jaw droppingly brilliant.

[Radimum]

I used to watch Rolf Harris, why did I miss this one with this most amazing man :(