I prefer not to make a definitive opinion of a singer ever, because singers have a strange way of changing - improving, deteriorating, discovering what they should be doing and should not have been doing (and vice versa) and doing it.
I've seen Bartoli "close up" in recital, and what struck me about her (as it did about Kathleen Battle when I saw her in similar circumstances) was the following question: "How can such a beautiful sound be produced *in spite of* such weird facial and body contortions.
As a soubrette, Bartoli is definitely a charmer, albeit she comes from an old school of operatic acting, in which extreme facial expressions seem to be the primary technique for conveying emotions; this works just fine for comedy, which seems to be Bartoli's specialty on the opera stage - no doubt because she has enough self-awareness (or directors do) to know her acting style would not translate well for serious/tragic repertoire.
Her singing has never offended me, and sometimes has created some truly beautiful singing and truly affecting interpretations. I find her coloratura less-than-fluid for my tastes, but it's certainly more fluid than Ewa Podles' and I still admire Podles greatly. I only mention this because Bartoli's repertoire includes so much coloratura, so it's a significant part of what she does.
If I had to sum up my feelings in one sentence, it would be: If only I didn't have to look at her, I could REALLY enjoy her. Which is so strange, given she is a very pretty woman...when she's not singing.
KM ............................ NEIL SHICOFF, TENORE SUPREMO http://www.radix.net/~dalila/shicoff/shicoff.html
My Own Website http://www.radix.net/~dalila/index.html
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + I sing hymns with my spirit, + + but I also sing hymns with my mind. + + - 1 Corinthians 14:15 + +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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