Audition
This just the recit. I'm still learning the aria. Many modern performances have the bass do this little recit and the alto sing the aria. I'll post the aria next week.
I've never been a Handel singer. I am beginning to understand Ramey's remark that Handel runs are harder than Rossini runs. But it gets better with each practice run. I figure this will be pretty good in another week or two. I have to post now. To beat the Christmas season.
All my MIDI, ENF, WMV, WAV and PDF files for this and any other musical video I have posted are available free upon request.
There are two characteristics of the best bass voices where I fall short: fioratura and soft high notes. My voice has range and size. I am also decent actor but of course while that helps in opera it does nothing much for you in oratorio.
I believe that vocal agility is a function of the size of the fossa in the base of the skull that passes the nerve bundle to the vocal cords. Training helps but anatomy is destiny.
Agorante 4 months ago
Nice voice, but production sounds tight/rigid and as a result you are slightly under pitch and behind the beat in the melismas. I'm sure you are aware of these things but I am never sure how to respond to these types of videos. I don't know you, nor do I mean to offend...I have enjoyed your posts and every singer can be critiqued and enjoyed with differing subjection, but none of this matters so long as you enjoy singing. In the end that is all that matters. Best, Clancy
Operafiend22 4 months ago
@Operafiend22 Well facts are facts. I hear all the same faults that you do. I never considered myself a Handel singer. I'm trying to fake it. My voice just doesn't move from note to note quite fast enough. I can't sing Why do the Nations at all. But I am good and loud. I would like to sing these arias at Christmas somewhere. Somewhere that can't afford a real professional who specializes in this repertoire.
Agorante 4 months ago
@Agorante :) Merrill use to say "When in doubt sing louder!", it has served me well :) I hope you have a wonderful Messiah season this year.
Operafiend22 4 months ago
@Operafiend22 Since this isn't my natural element I listened to a couple others for ideas. I tried to sing like the best current Handel singer Teddy Rhodes. But it didn't work. He's a sensitive baritone sort of like Thomas Hampson or Fischer Diescau. I was killing myself trying to shape the dimuendi and then sliding off pitch from fatigue. I then listened to Jerome Hines. That's more like it. Full voice - not squeezed to try to be artsy.
I need some more practice yet.
Agorante 4 months ago