The thing that strikes me here despite the restricted early recording techniques is just how direct and natural the tone production of these two singers is. There is a centre , a focus to the sound that many contemporary operatic stars struggle to achieve because they are on a quest for a big powerful voice.
It's hard to imagine two artists singing on this level today. As much as I'm hoping to be proven wrong, I can't help but think so. Stracciari is one of my great favorites. Not only did he have a beautiful voice which he used with taste and feeling, but excellent rhythm and intonation.
Amen. In my Riccardo was the best ever. I wish he could have been born 50 years later where the recording techniques could truly capture his magnificent gift. Will we ever have another baritone like him?
Two fantastic singers at their best. It's only a shame that to get the whole duet on one side cuts were made. With singers such as these, every note is to be treasured. I love that Stracciari never has to "put on a baritone sound". He keeps the voice in a high placement, and it has all the baritonal darkness one would want without any "woofiness". Can you imagine what they sounded like NOT filtered through recording techniques of the time?
Ah straciari was one of the very best along with battistini,granforte,de luca,tagilabue,ruffo,danise,as for ponselle it does not get much better,fantastic recording considering how limited the technology was,but in this instance the recording is probably better and more true sounding than anything we could produce today,without all the gimmickery,filters,we get stripped back honest sound and excellent singing that has not been aided by technicians
Singers today are more taken with "ready for my close-up Mr. Demille" but don't understand the fundamental, elusive truth that great music is but a moment, which is their only chance at leaving an impression for posterity. Ponselle and Stracciari knew this, so did Olivero, Stich Randall, Callas, Sutherland, Gencer, Price, Corelli, Nillson, and a small handful of others. The rest of them are just making mud pies while warbling.
De Luca and Ruffo also do it on their recordings! It was the done thing in thoses days. A lost Tradition as they say, Schlussnus the German did it as well.
One of the reasons singers of today cannot make the same emotive impression that some of the great singers of the 20th century did is that no current conductors are willing to risk such fast tempi because they really are on repetiteurs rather than conductors. Perhaps the last true operatic conductor was Levine. The tempo here is Verdi's and it produces a sense of emotive passion and risk that the situation demands.
Martinelli said that Stracciari was the best in Voice that he sang with, that included Ruffo Amato and De Luca and not forgetting Sammarco and many others as well. It is a pity that Caruso could not have recorded with him as well, they sang together a lot especially in London. including in Huguenots and Puritani . His voice was extremely virile but NOT with the Vocal force of Ruffo but his voice lasted better than Ruffo's, I would opine that Stracciari who like Ruffo was also an Excellent Actor as well, was with Ruffo the greatest of all Italian Baritones.
The thing that strikes me here despite the restricted early recording techniques is just how direct and natural the tone production of these two singers is. There is a centre , a focus to the sound that many contemporary operatic stars struggle to achieve because they are on a quest for a big powerful voice.
It's hard to imagine two artists singing on this level today. As much as I'm hoping to be proven wrong, I can't help but think so. Stracciari is one of my great favorites. Not only did he have a beautiful voice which he used with taste and feeling, but excellent rhythm and intonation.
Amen. In my Riccardo was the best ever. I wish he could have been born 50 years later where the recording techniques could truly capture his magnificent gift. Will we ever have another baritone like him?
Two fantastic singers at their best. It's only a shame that to get the whole duet on one side cuts were made. With singers such as these, every note is to be treasured. I love that Stracciari never has to "put on a baritone sound". He keeps the voice in a high placement, and it has all the baritonal darkness one would want without any "woofiness". Can you imagine what they sounded like NOT filtered through recording techniques of the time?
La Divina Ponselle.
Perfection.
Ponselle, when asked about Stracciari, "Now that was a baritone!"
IMO the best recording of this duet.
Thanks for posting-John
hard to beat, but you might listen to Raisa and her husband's version
ciroalb3 Raisa has more personality Ponselle has more voice it’s hard to choose 🤣
I recall Ponselle describing RS's sound as "like a shower of diamonds" --
Sensational! Bravo! Brava.
Dobrib-TY for this gem.
BRAVI!!!!!!!!
Marvellous!TY
thanks!
Ah straciari was one of the very best along with battistini,granforte,de luca,tagilabue,ruffo,danise,as for ponselle it does not get much better,fantastic recording considering how limited the technology was,but in this instance the recording is probably better and more true sounding than anything we could produce today,without all the gimmickery,filters,we get stripped back honest sound and excellent singing that has not been aided by technicians
This sounds like an acoustic recording. Hence 1925 or earlier.
Singers today are more taken with "ready for my close-up Mr. Demille" but don't understand the fundamental, elusive truth that great music is but a moment, which is their only chance at leaving an impression for posterity. Ponselle and Stracciari knew this, so did Olivero, Stich Randall, Callas, Sutherland, Gencer, Price, Corelli, Nillson, and a small handful of others. The rest of them are just making mud pies while warbling.
Stracciari almost sings the written trill on FUror. I have yet to find a baritone who does
@@donjose8250 no...
De Luca and Ruffo also do it on their recordings! It was the done thing in thoses days. A lost Tradition as they say, Schlussnus the German did it as well.
What's the date of this recording?
One of the reasons singers of today cannot make the same emotive impression that some of the great singers of the 20th century did is that no current conductors are willing to risk such fast tempi because they really are on repetiteurs rather than conductors. Perhaps the last true operatic conductor was Levine. The tempo here is Verdi's and it produces a sense of emotive passion and risk that the situation demands.
The Singers today are more like Pop Singers, I am sure some like Florez and Vogt have Microphones up their arses!
Tempos might also have to be fast to fit the music onto one side of a 78 rpm disc.
Martinelli said that Stracciari was the best in Voice that he sang with, that included Ruffo Amato and De Luca and not forgetting Sammarco and many others as well. It is a pity that Caruso could not have recorded with him as well, they sang together a lot especially in London. including in Huguenots and Puritani . His voice was extremely virile but NOT with the Vocal force of Ruffo but his voice lasted better than Ruffo's, I would opine that Stracciari who like Ruffo was also an Excellent Actor as well, was with Ruffo the greatest of all Italian Baritones.
Hvorostovsky y zondra radvanovsky hacen pedazos a este dueto. Sorry..
Ten en cuenta el año de esta grabación. Eso influye.