This afternoon on UK radio there were two recordings of Rosa Ponselle, singing Voi Che Sapete and An Die Musik. Since I don't recall ever really listening to her before (though I have probably heard her, not quite the same thing!) I was wondering what other Vocalisters thought of her sound and her style.
Callas thought she was the greatest singer of all, and Pavarotti held her up as an ideal; Marilyn Horne called her the queen of legato. I have to say that I didn't enjoy hearing her at all, and wonder whether this is a reflection of changing tastes.
Most phrases started with a portamento, often of as much as a third. I remember hearing this style of phrasing when I was a child in the 1950/60s and not liking it then; interestingly, it seems to have gone out of fashion these days in favour of an onset which is more directly on pitch. It was not only operatic and classical singers who employed it; British singers such as Vera Lynn and particularly Anne Shelton just during and after WWII were very fond of these big scoops, and my old recording of Kiss Me Kate has (I think) Katherine Grayson performing So In Love like a roller-coaster!
It's clear from everything that I've read that Ponselle was a musical interpreter par excellence and a superb actress, but I can't help thinking that this very swoopy style would have stand in the way of my enjoyment were she performing today.
Any thoughts?
Linda Fox
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