In a message dated 5/26/00 9:11:05 AM Pacific Daylight Time, toda@m... writes:
<< IMO, any countertenor with a true CT instrument who trains for the operatic repertoire will start to sound more like a female opera singer, since he is using a phonational technique similar to that of a woman (fully adducted cords for a true head voice instead of falsetto). >>
What I don't understand is why is there any need for a man to sound like a woman. Aren't there more than enough women to play these parts ? What is the advantage of having female sounding men. Is it so that they can play drag parts, and if so, what are the drag parts ? Would baba the turk be considered a drag part because she has a beard ? What are the other drag parts in opera ? Or have I misread the use of counter tenors ? I don't particularly care for David Daniels. I think that there are too many real women that sound better. Why should a sopranoish sound be coming out of the mouth of Caesar ? Is the author trying to make some type of historical statement about his manliness of lack of testosterone ? I can understand if a character such as Caligula were protrayed in such a manner, but I have never read anything about Julius Caesar to justify this type of portrayal. I understand the use of mezzos to portray adolescent boys. It is easier to imagine youth with a sopranoish voice than a fully developed masculine voice. Also I believe the writers had an idea that they were giving their audiences a thrill by showing female calves and ankles in those days.
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