O Matilde - Kunde and Pertusi

This is one of three versions of this great duet I am posting.

- Kunde and Pertusi
- Fisichella and Salvadori
- Giordani and Hampson


Why is William Tell less often done than say La Traviata? One reason is the part of Arnold. Arnold is a literal killer part.

Kunde is a famous high note specialist. He makes the tessitura sound easy. Here he is also revealed to be the Lawrence Olivier of tenors. He can move and he can convey his character's emotion. Sadly this is quite rare.

Pertusi is usually heard in bass parts although he's a bass who always seems to add in a high G. His rich low voice adds gravitas to Tell.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• William
• Tell
• Guillaume
• Gregory
• Kunde
• Matilde
• Michele
• Pertusi

[prosdocimo]

Is this available on audio CD or DVD? Pleas say yessss

[Agorante]

I'll be be glad to say yes. Most of the opera video excerpts on YouTube are from the House of Opera website. Their DVDs cost $5.00 each. I recently bought four complete Don Carlos for twenty dollars (Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, and Giacomini). I had earlier bought three William Tells and posted a couple excerpts including this one.

[prosdocimo]

OMG! - I can't stop listening this version. Pertusi and KUNDE are AMAZING!!!!! Kunde makes. Arnoldo sound easy and its not at all! Can anyone post the version at La Scala with Muti Directing and I think Zancanaro as Tell and Merrit as Arnoldo? I just fell in love with this Opera! And Rossini though he did not have any romanticism in his veins! Hail Maestro!

[Agorante]

I'd be glad to oblige. I've rented the Muti La Scala DVD of the 1989 performance from NetFlix. I'll post some excerpts next week.

I heard Merrit sing this part in the theater a couple times.

[girardje70]

Kunde is very good, amazing

[Agorante]

Opinions seem to be divided on Kunde. I'm not sure I understand why and I don't understand why you are amazed.

He is about as good as it gets in a "High Note Tenor". He looks good and moves well on stage. He's a sensitive musician. His basic voice is very attractive and he has that increible high extention. From what I understand from his recent appearances at Pesaro the voice has grown too.

Earlier High Note Tenors like Esclais, Duval, and Fillipeschi were much less musical.

[asdfopera]

@bobrideout

The first criticism of Kunde I have ever found. Awful as usual, how so?

[asdfopera]

@Agorante

This is the next DVD I must by. Thanks. I really can't describe how beautiful Kunde's voice is. He's an amazing tenor. He sings with such ease throughout his entire range, especially in the highest part of his voice.

[ghostreh]

best part of the opera!!!

[Nanguyalai]

I think that Pertusi is incredible in this role. His bass voice added weight to the character, plus he has the upper extension for the part (he has an extraordinary G). The Economist wrote of this performance that it was likely to "become legendary in contemporary opera chronicles".

[prosdocimo]

KUNDE is AMAZING!

[rillo1978]

August 1995 Pesaro!Palafestival...maybe