Part II - Your Favorites: JUAN DIEGO FLÓREZ

THIS PART IS FOR YOUR FAVORITES! Please discuss this artist with your comments!

Juan Diego Flórez, Tenor (born 1973)

Gaetano Donizetti - La Fille du Régiment
Ah, mes amis - sung in italian -

My personal opinion: "The best Rossini-tenor of all time!" said Rolando Villazon - and it means, he ignored Valletti, Alva, Palacio, Araiza, Matteuzzi and even Wunderlich. Another critic wrote, for the voice of Flórez "gravity doesn´t seem to exist!".
Flórez breaktrough came at the age of 23, when he stepped in for Bruce Ford, singing the difficult role of Corradino in "Matilde di Shabran". His performance caused a sensation. The same year 1994 he made his debut at La Scala in Gluck´s "Armide". One year later he came to Covent Garden - again stepped in for another tenor (this time Sabbatini) in last minute. The Guardian wrote: "By the end of the evening it was clear that Elisabetta - an overlong, picaresque sprawl of an opera - was no rediscovered masterpiece; yet everyone was convinced that a great tenor had arrived. Flórez looked a little nervous on the platform, but the audience cheered him on as aria followed aria with staggering ease. The reviews were ecstatic." Since then, Flórez has appeared in most of the worlds great opera houses, and earned many prizes. I confess, I have my little problems with Juan Diego Flórez. They wrote, his voice is warm and virile with a sensuous quality that one doesn´t often hear in Rossini tenors. Could be, but in my opinion Florez is only a light Rossini-tenor, quasi a tenorino (Just compare his rendition of "Ah, mes amis" with those of Pavarotti, Kraus, Merritt or even a strained Alagna). I miss sensuality, volume and resonance. The voice is light with an amazing top register, but at the same time the voice is thin without the qualities of a charismatic sound (If you´re looking for a tenor in the same league, but with more substance, just turn towards the wonderful underrated John Aler). For me, Flórez singing is monotonous - he never thrills me. One high note after the other one! He´s a fabricant of such perfect tones, but be honest, is his singing really warm and virile? And where is the sensuous quality that we have for instance in Wunderlich´s rendition of Almaviva´s first aria? Flórez never sounds masculine... For me, he´s an ideal exponent for the music of Monteverdi, not Rossini! But we are living in a world with far too little great tenors, and we should be grateful for every single star that shines. One of the most favorably lines about Juan Diego Florez: "His performances are musical versions of the Tivoli Fountains!" One YouTube-user wrote: "High notes and good looking isn´t all what makes a great singer!" and I agree with this. I would like to present you a special italian version of Tonio´s great aria with piano accompaniment.
Unquestionably you like him: With 49 nominations Mr. Flórez reached position 16.

THE COMPLETE OVERVIEW: GO TO ALL SINGERS IN THIS LIST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBsScnQWVlU

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Juan
• Diego
• Flórez
• Belcanto
• Rossini
• Bellini
• Donizetti
• Pavarotti
• Generation
• Opera

[meltzerboy]

Like the previous commentator, I fully agree with your evaluation of Florez. When I heard him in the role of Tonio, the term "tenorino" came to mind immediately. If this performance is compared to Pavarotti's version when he was young, the difference is quite clear in terms of sensuality, virility, and charisma. To my mind and ear, Florez is no Wunderlich, Valletti, or Alva, not to mention Schipa and De Lucia. Still, he does have a pleasing voice, great agility, and an energetic, athletic style.

[tenorvoicefan]

Herr Florez ist das Paradebeispiel eines überbewerteten und falsch eingeschätzten Sängers. Denn außer hohen Tönen und einer sehr leichten Stimme hat er nur noch sein Aussehen zu bieten. Musikalität und Gesang im Sinne des jungen Pava oder gar von FW-keine Spur. Seine Stimme klingt wie die eines 14jährigen, nichts männliches, nichts dramatisches, kein leiden, kein schmachten, nichts. Nur Höhe. Wiener Sängerknaben Gesang! Nicht mehr, aber eben auch nicht weniger. Daher sein Erfolg.

[Kenshin22able]

 TOO OVEREATED TENOR

[bramoditrionfar]

John Aler more substance? But he never sings with full support! And he never had such brightness of sound and such brilliance in coloratura as JDF.

[PEAinSwe]

For me he is not first and foremost the high notes. It's his energy and sense of humour that shines through in his singing. Listen to his recording of Ferrando in Cosi.

[phatphace]

His contemporary, Lawrence Brownlee, absolutely outshines him in my opinion, not to detract at all from Florez's vocal ability. I was very disappointed not to find him on this list, yet it seems even the operatic world is susceptible to commercialism (*ahem* Erwin Schrott).

[StevenLivesay]

Y.U.M.M.Y.

[operalio]

esta version esta en italiano?

......cre que si

se escucha diferente jajajjajajaja

[TenoresDeHoy]

UAU!!!

[gotthelf100]

@tenorvoicefan 100% einverstanden!!!

[vully70]

Funny list of "great Rossini-Tenors":

- Valetti: yes, off course, but a less attractive timbre. A great artist, a singer's singer.

- Alva? Rossini tenor yes. Great no (timbre! technique - aspirations!)

- Palacio? O. K., good second league.

- Araiza? Yes! Beautiful voice, but I prefer his Mozart and Donizetti.

- Matteuzzi - off course, but a less attractive voice.

- And Wunderlich??? A wonderful singer, but not Rossini

- But Maxim Mironov, hmm, yup, a good alternative - very similar vice, too.

[James88keys]

This is not a song where his voice shines. when compared to pov in this role something is very much lacking but in say.....Zelmira? OMG his agility is wonderful and you just cant find many voices who can sing that many e-flats in one night. its a totally differant voice type than the lyric tenors the public tends to love. His voice is small, light, and fast so stop comparing him to spintos and big lyrics. rate him against ppl like lawrence brownlee. someone who at least sings the same rep.