Vocalist.org archive


From:  Margaret Harrison <peggyh@i...>
Margaret Harrison <peggyh@i...>
Date:  Mon Dec 4, 2000  3:13 am
Subject:  Re: [vocalist-temporary] Re: purity of expression


"Lloyd W. Hanson" wrote:

> I also believe that the music of opera, Traviata in this instance, has all
> the needed emotion within it and it does not benefit from "adding" or
> "showing" emotion over and above that found in the music. If this premise
> is true then the singer/actors have a most primary responsibility to sing
> and act the role well and no responsibility to add non-singing elements or
> vocal inadequacies to the music.

> I look for the opera singers to never let me loose the presence of the music
> even if it is tempting to want to create an "emotional moment". I want to
> hear more of Verdi and less of the singer.

I was fortunate recently to hear just the sort of performance I think Lloyd is
talking
about. I heard the Italian tenor Fabio Armiliato sing Manrico in Verdi's "Il
trovatore"
at The Washington Opera a few weeks ago. Most of his acting was in his voice.
He stood
there and sang, beautifully and powerfully, and let Verdi's music pass through
him, but
phrased the music and used his voice in a way that all the emotion anyone could
want was
in the voice - one could close one's eyes and get 90% of the acting. His
person was
consistent with the emotion being expressed, but he never "emoted". I found
myself very
moved by his performance, and found myself not at all caring about any
improbabiliies in
the plot of the opera, because the music was so well-realized.

Peggy

--
Margaret Harrison, Alexandria, Virginia, USA
"Music for a While Shall All Your Cares Beguile"
mailto:peggyh@i...

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