MEZZO and all that...
The cello is my favourite instrument.
The mezzo voice is my favourite voice.
Among the singers I really would have liked to see in live performances is Lorraine Hunt-Lieberson either in a recital or in a Handel opera, Giulius Cesare, or Theodora. The last CD (Her last recital in Ravinia), which ends on 'I am calling you ' from Bagdad Café, moves me to tears even more . Her deep subtle voice and beautiful phrasing make her outstanding above all the living mezzo artists I try to see in live performances.
Not long ago I found out why the Mezzo voice is my best choice. Among all the reasons is a striking one: because my mother was coloratura and she is still in my memory, this type of voice was not challenged, my Mum will simply be my best soprano and I keep her annoted scores like a priceless treasure. So my second choice is a deeper sound , nearer to the heart-beat when you put your ear on someone 's chest, of course the ones you care for, your intimate ones. So I am enclined to deeper voices either feminine or masculine.
Very young, I discovered this type of voice while listening to Rita Gorr, she was my mother's favourite mezzo and I have been told I heard my first Dalila with her singing. I followed her career, though I did not manage to see her on stage in the 80s or later. Rita Gorr is a marvellous artist who was on stage in Brussels not long ago, she is getting on! I have an old record, which was a present, it is a recital conducted by Cluytens, she sings Gluck's Alceste, Orphée 'J'ai perdu mon Eurydice' Berlioz's Marguerite serenade 'Il était un roi de Thulé ... All these arias are like jewels for me.
I do appreciate internet and youtube operafans who share these treasures with the musical community; I can so easily go back to my infant days, and all the dear memories.
Here is Rita Gorr, many thanks to the two opera fans for their dear videos of these two splendid mezzos who are enchanting my days.
Rita Gorr: je l'ai vue à Gand(elle est une fille de cette ville) dans "la dame de piques" de Tchaikosvsky en 2004(je ne suis pas sure de l'année)en faite c'était sa derniere apparition sur scène; après cette matinée elle s'est retirée définitivement.Magnifique vielle dame,avec une voix encore valable et une présence scènique incroyable.Après des mots élogiques et de grands bouquets de fleurs, elle quittait la scéne accompagnée par le alors directeur Gerard Mortier et d'enormes applaudissements.Beaux souvenirs.
ReplyDeleteI also like mezzo voice because of the deep sound ; it stirs something deep down inside you; I share with you, Yvette, the preference to deep voices;am not particularly keen on soprano.
ReplyDeleteDeep voice like Rolando's(not JDF or Pavarotti's) can make me melt. When I heard for the first time "cielo e mar" by Rolando I knew this was the singer not only "for all seasons" but for my whole life. Toujours amitiés rolandiennes
Lucky you! You had that joy of seeing her last appearance.
ReplyDeleteje dois me corriger. Marc Clémeur était le directeur de l'Opera Flamande; pas Gerard Mortier.Et l'année de "ma" dernière Rita Gorr était 2007.
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