Operatic SUPERSTARS: of all that have achieved this status, which do you think is the most impressive?

Question

There have been many superstars of the past and present: Caurso, Lehmann, Flagstad, Maria Callas, Pavorotti etc., etc..

Whose career for whatever reason, do you personally consider to be the most astounding, most impressive?

Whether it was for the incumberances they had to overcome, the longevity of their career, the sheer glory of their voice, persoanl charisma, for whatever reason(s), which three do you feel were the greatest, most illutrious of them all?

Please don't choose more than three(3); and substantiate, state the reasons for your choice. More if you must, but no more than the "magic number - 7".

Alberich

Answer 1

Placido Domingo -For pure quality as a singer and an actor, of corse. Also for the amazing nunber and range of his roles. I first heard him in the 70s as Don Jose oppisit Regine Crispin's Carmen and most recently in the title role of Tan Dun's The First Emperor. In between I have heard him in things as dirverse as Wagner(3 Parsifals and 3 Sigmunds) to Danelo The Merry Widow. His Otello conducted by Carlos Klibeiber was perhaps the best night I ever spent in the Opera house.



Hildegard Behrens - She not only sang with true meaning her acting raised the bar for acting in Wagner operas. Her Bunnhilda in all three operas were of a dramatic whole, what the Ring should be. Her Senta as very moving. In Strauss she was a great Electra and Empress in Die Frau Ohne Schatten. After Ms. Behrens just standing there and singing was never enough anymore.

Answer 2

The most impressive in my opinion is F. Shalyapin.



It has been said about him that ". . in Russian Art Shalyapin is an epoch like Pushkin". His immense profound voice, his stage presence have been unique according his contemporaries. It is said that in "Boris Godunov" when he has performed the scene of the Boris' Vision of the killed Prince ('There, in the corner'), the impression has been so awesome, that some of the audience has gone into trance. I have listened many famous basses performing Boris' role, but even the poor quality of 1930's recordings cannot suppress the feeling I have listening his pronunciation (I understand almost all in Russian) - the libretto of this grandiose opera (by Mussorgsky himself) is so perfectly matching the music, that no other performance has sounded to me so genuine Russian - maybe it is somewhat difficult for me to explain that feeling, not being a professional, only a music lover.

We can only regret that the sound recording technique has been in such primitive state at that time.

His personality, his attitude to the events in Russia, his behavior as a human and a citizen, deserve a profound respect.



My next choices (limiting to 3) would be Caruso and Maria Callas.

Answer 3

Maria Callas because her life story is fascinating. Kiri Te Kanawa because I love her music and she is the queen. Aside from Dame Commandeer of the british ..I forgot. Oh well. I like Sumi Jo Only three I have so many more...

Answer 4

a million. CarmeloRajon Rondo 2. Rajon Rondo 3. Lebron Honorable point out James Harden(perfect 2 scoring), Kobe(probable the main perfect kobe we've sizeable and intense 2 scoring), CP3(incredible document)

Answer 5

I don't know if I can pick apart the great and glorious gods and goddesses of singing to that extent. We all have our personal favorites. I'll just draw your attention to the fact there are thousands more excellent singers who never have been or ever were recorded, and our window into this fascinating activity is of necessity limited to what we can procure.

Many of our less fortunate colleagues who were spurned for: race, religion, looks ( of all things), or other personalia all add up to our collective loss.

A case-in-point: the late great Birgit Nilsson once told a story about a contemporary of hers, a woman who was not created in the image of media beauty, but who could sing.

Nilsson said that she wished she could sing as well as her colleague. As a matter of fact Nilsson was chosen for a lead role, because she was the "pretty one". ( I'll get back to you with the other soprano's name, I don't have it at finger tips) but think, if the other soprano had sung, would we have heard of Nilsson? think of how many other stories of the people who have jumped into deep water for an ailing colleague, and built their career from there.

One more thought- the baritone Thomas Quasthoff. He knows he doesn't belong on the operatic stage, and my hat is off to him for all of his vocal qualities, as well as his courage in overcoming his handicap. He sets the bar very high for the rest of us, indeed.

I leave you to your favorites, with the request that you continue to keep your ears open for all the folks that have put in the time and training to try and achieve their dreams.

Tschüss,

Lynn

Answer 6

Caruso, of course.For years the Met was built around his performances,what he did, what he said. His recordings are still be collected. But, he is not my favorite, Martinelli is number one with Gigli right behind. Sopranos? Toti del Monte, Claudia Muzio.