One question that nags me occasionally is this: What is it that Bartoli has got that makes us put up with all the facial contortions, etc. - particularly given there are so many other good mezzo sopranos out there who don't have the same technical issues but who must be lacking something or we wouldn't bother with Cecilia.
I'd be interested in hearing what people think - both in terms of technique and artistry and musicianship - of some of the other lyric mezzos currently active in comparable repertoire/roles, and how Bartoli compares (in your opinion) to them, particularly in terms of what they might lack that she has got that keeps us coming back for more Bartoli "in spite of it all". For example:
Vesselina Kasarova Jennifer Larmore Suzanne Mentzer Anne Sofie von Otter Margaret Lattimore Kristine Jepson
Also interested in how people view Bartoli compared with some mezzos recently but no longer active in the same repertoire (or, in some cases, at all):
Della Jones Ann Murray Teresa Berganza Huguette Tourangeau Frederica von Stade Agnes Baltsa (early career) Tatiana Troyanos (early career)
And any others you'd care to mention.
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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