Emmy Destinn -Suicidio - La Gioconda by Ponchielli

Emmy Destinn (February 26, 1878 January 28, 1930) was one of the greatest dramatic sopranos in history. In my opinion she had the most coordinated vocal registration of any woman I have ever heard sing. Ponselle being a close second. Her middle range in particular shows what fabulous balance she had; it almost sounds like a tenor. Her chest voice was amazing and the top was full and dark with the whole voice having very little constriction. We should all know these great singers!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Emmy
• Destinn
• Suicidio
• La
• Gioconda
• Ponchieli
• Bel
• Canto
• balanced
• vocal
• registers
• soprano
• opera

[65attila]

This is an exciting performance but the voice itself IMO is not partifulary beautiful pr round. There is a bit of a braying sound which I find unpleasant and in this aria, I prefer Ponselle and Milanov.

[MrCafiero]

@65attila Did you hear her live? Of course not and it is very difficult to judge a voice like this based on such limited recording equipment.

[papoocanada]

what a horrible accent she has , makes me roar

[MrCafiero]

@papoocanada That isn't an accent as much as it is a language called Italian.

Also, she was fluent in 5 languages and was a great translator. Admired by Caruso, Toscanini etc.

[blktenor]

I actually like her voice. I like how she approaches that high note at 1:38.

[rosaponselleart]

beautiful - thanks!

R.

[paulostroff99]

Awesome! TY.

[mariasarda]

Superbe voix ! Mais je n'adhère pas au maniérisme de la plupart de ses fins de phrases. Les notes tombent souvent. Mais bon... c'est toute une époque !

[maldoror26]

1914.

M.

[lewashcliffe]

MrCafiero, thank you so very much for sharing your wonderful collection of singers from the golden age. In that period there were basically 2 types of singers: parlor singers, and opera singers. The great singers had not only beauty and balanced registers, but tremendous power capable of filling an opera house over a huge orchestra. Singers today are spoiled by microphones that allow them to get by with poor vocal technique. These recordings are critical to understanding great singing.