What a great comparative video. Some good comments, too. They’re all astonishing, but I think I most clearly heard the bell with Dessay, Mesple, Sutherland and - surprisingly - Callas until the very end, where she strains. Dahl was very good - she sounded like she still had room above that high E. Also enjoyed Pons, which surprised me, and did not much like Sumi Jo, who seemed like she was working too hard.
But then again - this is a tremendously intricate and difficult aria, so any woman who can pull it off respectably is already doing something impressive.
When I was 5 or 6 years old Lily Pons appeared in Cleveland and was scheduled to sing (among other things) the Bell Song. My mother wasn’t hopeful because, as you probably know, Lily Pons’ voice was extremely fragile. Well as luck would have it, that night Mdm. Pons was totally healthy and in exceptional voice. Though 60 years have passed, I still remember that night and remember the impact of that music sung in that voice! Just simply Wow!
Oh my word, that is the strangest feeling….to hear a MALE soprano. I would think that the would be doing Female roles, but no, they are all male roles on his website. Amazing.
July 31st, 2008 at 3:07 pm
When I was 5 or 6 years old Lily Pons appeared in Cleveland and was scheduled to sing (among other things) the Bell Song. My mother wasn’t hopeful because, as you probably know, Lily Pons’ voice was extremely fragile. Well as luck would have it, that night Mdm. Pons was totally healthy and in exceptional voice. Though 60 years have passed, I still remember that night and remember the impact of that music sung in that voice! Just simply Wow!
July 31st, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Wonder how this MALE soprano would do with it?
http://www.robertcrowe.com/
Check him out - he’s beyond remarkable!
July 31st, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Oh my word, that is the strangest feeling….to hear a MALE soprano. I would think that the would be doing Female roles, but no, they are all male roles on his website. Amazing.
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
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