Dear Vocalisters,
As you may have read, I have uploaded two files, in which you can
compare Katarina Karnéus, the mezzo with the asymmetric chords and Anne
Sofie von Otter, another good mezzo. To understand the frequency
analysis well, you should know that a tone consists of a basis tone and
a set of harmonics: multitudes of the basis tone.
A beautiful tone has a spectrum of harmonics that falls off slowly but
steadily. In Karnéus case, you see a very clear image: all peaks are
clear multitudes of the F5 and in between those peaks is almost nothing.
Note also the nice way her singer’s formant goes along with the other
peaks. Otter shows much more noise between the peaks and also at higher
frequencies; all this explains her rougher tone. The noise between the
peaks is not the orchestra or something else, it is Otter. Note also how
strongly Otter has changed her vowels, whereas Karnéus does not seem to
need that (not visible!).
One last remark:
BBC Music magazine says:
“It is sometimes said (by soprano’s?) that most mezzo’s are simply
soprano’s with no top. Great mezzo’s such as Katarina Karnéus disprove
this canard. Several of them may one day tackle Verdi and Wagner’s
soprano roles. Bellini’s Adalgisa is one of the transitional roles,
first sung by Giulia Grisi (1811-69), who went on to sing Norma. Karnéus
will sing Adalgisa in Houston in 2003.”
Best greetings,
Dré
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