I heard Morris first as a bass but then he moved up. When I saw him in Macbeth he was signing the title part. I liked his sound better in the Helden Bariton or Italian bass parts. He got a little brittle when he sang Verdi baritone.
I'm glad to be reminded of how good Morris was at one time. His voice is indeed, as an Italian viewer remarks, "ugly" as far as its natural timbre goes; but he sings with great clarity and consistency. For comparison, listen to the recording of Burchuladze in this aria, which is like having a pot of mud dumped over your head. I did not think it possible to sing this aria so slowly. Knowing Sinopoli, I suspect that the tempo (which would give Verdi fits) was his choice rather than Morris's.
@BorisGodunov Yes, I think you're right - he should retire. I too heard him in Tosca and the Dutchman. He was quite wonderful but the last time I heard him live it was singing the title role in Macbeth. I walked out. He was also pretty bad as Iago on the Met broadcast.
@Agorante Morris is simply awful these days--he needs to retire. There's a video on youtube of him singing Ella giammai m'amo at the Met gala, and it's easily the worst professional version of it I've ever heard. It's a shame, as I saw him live in Dutchman, Boris and Tosca back in the 90s, and he was very good then. But, just like Roberto Scandiuzzi, he's derailed.
Splendid voice, bright sound!!!!
Morris è un grandissimo e lo era anche Sinopoli ma sfido qualunque basso a cantare quest'aria a questo tempo!
I heard Morris first as a bass but then he moved up. When I saw him in Macbeth he was signing the title part. I liked his sound better in the Helden Bariton or Italian bass parts. He got a little brittle when he sang Verdi baritone.
I'm glad to be reminded of how good Morris was at one time. His voice is indeed, as an Italian viewer remarks, "ugly" as far as its natural timbre goes; but he sings with great clarity and consistency. For comparison, listen to the recording of Burchuladze in this aria, which is like having a pot of mud dumped over your head.
I did not think it possible to sing this aria so slowly. Knowing Sinopoli, I suspect that the tempo (which would give Verdi fits) was his choice rather than Morris's.
@ElPiconeroalCognac
You're kidding right? Morris had and still has a huge voice.
@BorisGodunov
Yes, I think you're right - he should retire. I too heard him in Tosca and the Dutchman. He was quite wonderful but the last time I heard him live it was singing the title role in Macbeth. I walked out. He was also pretty bad as Iago on the Met broadcast.
Not really a bass.
bass - baritone....
@Agorante Morris is simply awful these days--he needs to retire. There's a video on youtube of him singing Ella giammai m'amo at the Met gala, and it's easily the worst professional version of it I've ever heard. It's a shame, as I saw him live in Dutchman, Boris and Tosca back in the 90s, and he was very good then. But, just like Roberto Scandiuzzi, he's derailed.
Che brutta voce. Sta miagolando.