It's fun to see a baritone sing this in a really humorous way with lots of original interpretations, different from what one might usually hear and see!!!
@MyFactotum you're talking as if Roddy Williams is some unknown singer with amateur opera companies who works a desk top during the day. He is in fact one of the leading baritones of today. And sure, he may not have a voice to match the great baritones such as Hampson, Sir Tom Allen, Sherill Milnes etc, but he does possess a very beautiful voice. We may forget, like all the great stars of the operatic stage, he had a very intensive conservatoire education. What he possesses, which many fantastic "vocalists" don't, is honesty, humility and conscientiousness that is absolutely invaluable to any musician. That is why I used the term "vocalist" instead of singer to describe these soulless superstars with no sensitivity. Many of the finest opera stars (without naming names) had world-breaking voices but not an inch of musicality, yet with good direction and a solid vocal technique they have rightfully gone down in history. Roderick Williams has musicality, sensitivity and an unbelievable amount of intelligence to make him more than just a vocalist, but a true singer.
I agree entirely, but just to add to your point, not to argue with it, he is a lyric baritone - he has a very different vocal style to baritones like Thomas Hampson, in that what makes his voice stand out it the tone rather than the volume. He was also not in his best voice on the day of this performance, which is why he doesn't sound perfect on the top notes - it happens to every singer sometimes, and it's very difficult for them when they end up on youtube, especially since they didn't ask his permission to put it up.
It's fun to see a baritone sing this in a really humorous way with lots of original interpretations, different from what one might usually hear and see!!!
@MyFactotum you're talking as if Roddy Williams is some unknown singer with amateur opera companies who works a desk top during the day. He is in fact one of the leading baritones of today. And sure, he may not have a voice to match the great baritones such as Hampson, Sir Tom Allen, Sherill Milnes etc, but he does possess a very beautiful voice. We may forget, like all the great stars of the operatic stage, he had a very intensive conservatoire education. What he possesses, which many fantastic "vocalists" don't, is honesty, humility and conscientiousness that is absolutely invaluable to any musician. That is why I used the term "vocalist" instead of singer to describe these soulless superstars with no sensitivity. Many of the finest opera stars (without naming names) had world-breaking voices but not an inch of musicality, yet with good direction and a solid vocal technique they have rightfully gone down in history. Roderick Williams has musicality, sensitivity and an unbelievable amount of intelligence to make him more than just a vocalist, but a true singer.
I agree entirely, but just to add to your point, not to argue with it, he is a lyric baritone - he has a very different vocal style to baritones like Thomas Hampson, in that what makes his voice stand out it the tone rather than the volume. He was also not in his best voice on the day of this performance, which is why he doesn't sound perfect on the top notes - it happens to every singer sometimes, and it's very difficult for them when they end up on youtube, especially since they didn't ask his permission to put it up.
AMAZING !
I don't understand the debate below, but check out his singing to Mr. William's Britten CD on Naxos if you enjoy his singing-- beautiful.
sum1 please link video of his performance as papageno. I'd like to see it
He's good. Who is he?
To be fair, it's all fantastic apart from the top Fs and Gs being to open and shouty.
fine Figaro but without descent high notes? What's up with that???
not the best but pretty funny