Thomas Stewart as Porgy

Thomas Stewart and Evelyn Lear sing "Bess You Is My Woman" at the Metropolitan Opera Centennial Gala, 10/22/83

Category:

Music

Tags:

• thomas
• stewart
• metroplitan
• opera
• Bess

[majorcana]

Gad, what a mess, and worse than I remember. Stewart is stiff as a board, dull and unimaginative, with no feeling for Gershwin's idiom and unresponsive to the text. He might as well be singing listings fom the Manhattan phone book. Lear at least has some feeling for the sense of the music, but she swoops and scoops shamelessly, and produces some of the most bizarre vowel sounds I've ever heard. And to top it off, she gets derailed and ends on the wrong pitch altogether.

[gslazar]

Being a non-technician you may well be right. But, there is so little available of Steward, I'm glad to have at least this. I remember him as Wotan in Walkure and Siegfried and for me, he was just as I always envisioned the role.

[basenjidiva]

I was privileged to meet and hear Mr. Stewart on several occasions, years ago. His voice was richer and smoother than butter, and he was one of the most charming, self-effacing gentlemen and uber-talented stars ever to shine in the operatic galaxy. His immense, Wagnerian voice was full and vibrant, and he was an outstanding interpreter of both music and role.

Mr. Stewart is greatly missed. Thank you for this wonderful posting.

[BastardfromtheBush]

@majorcana I have an LP of the 'Porgy & Bess' opera that was made in the 30's with the original negro cast and they sang it in the same format as Lear & Stewart.

What you're hearing here is the version as Gerschwin himself would have envisioned it because he wanted to write a real opera not another stage show like "Of thee I sing" I admit though, if the duo were made up and made it more into a dramatic piece rathe than a 'recital' with a stage backdrop; it would have had a greater effect..

[bangwezl]

@majorcana Gee, Maje; why don't you really tell us how you feel?! Don't hold back, now...

[operadawg]

This is supposed to be a love duet, but Thomas Stewart sounds like he's inciting a Wagnerian attack. And the ending is straight out of Lulu. Yikes!

[stevevandien]

Please name some singers whose vowel sounds you don't consider "bizarre." Please describe Lear's vowels and why you believe they are "bizarre." Please describe where and how Stewart is "unresponsive to the text." Also how he (or anyone else in this role) might become more responsive to the text, in your judgment. And please explain why you believe Stewart here has "no feeling for Gershwin's idiom." Please describe such "feeling" in detail, and why Stewart lacks it --

[stevevandien]

No great feel for Gershwin? Good heavens, I pity you. Please give him another chance; his best music is terrific:) ---

[dougmott]

I don't know much about opera, but I know what I like. I wish I had such a voice as Thomas. Evelyn on the other hand, not only has a great voice but is also pretty to look at. ok...so I'm a little superficial...so what.

[songsofscarlet]

you're both dumb now shut the hell up and respect the music, not the singers.... especially these two... they suck!

[wedidntknow]

that was only the staged opera! but in concert versions and excerpts its anyones ball game. But that may change in the next ten years!

[baricoop]

I don't know about Ms. Lear, Tom Stewart still sounds phenomenal in this. Such a big, brilliant, resonant instrument. Truly a Giant in the opera world.