Re: Juan Diego Florez. Barbican, 12.vii.08

Steve Silverman wrote:
Apart from finding Florez's voice far more ingratiating than SJT, I agree with pretty much all of what he has written about last night's odd affair. The only thing I noticed during the number in which Florez first became aware of his problem was an attempted morendo on a sustained phrase that came to an uncharacteristically untidy end. It seemed to be that which unnerved him. His ability to subsequently pull the rondo from "Cessa di piu resistere" out of the hat (why in the name of all that is holy would CG want to stop him singing it???) indicates that it was sustaining a lyrical line that had suddenly become problematic. Anyway, full marks to him for soldiering on when others might have called a premature end to the evening.

I thought the programme as a whole suffered from a complete lack of variety, although I have to admit to still being a sucker for the William Tell overture after all these years. IT would also have been quite nice if the violins had not been consistently inaudible.


I had had quite enough of Rossini to be frank, and I've heard him do more interesting (to me) Donizetti. There's an aria from Linda di Chamonix, which I don't otherwise know, which I really love him singing.

As the William Tell started I had a brain process that went 'This music is very familiar, if it wasn't written down in my programme I might have guessed Tchaikovsky." Then towards the end I had a total brainfart which said to me "It's the 1812 Overture, really", which of course led to thoughts of that famous battle between France and Russia fought in the Swiss Alps
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: William Tell overture cartoon by Woody Woodpecker-copy available ?
    ... earlier of the Rossini William Tell overture as doneby Woody ... I recall seeing this once as a kid so my memory is foggy. ... WW cartoon and yet use his name as a headliner to sell the item in ... Ranger" section of the overture. ...
    (rec.music.classical.recordings)
  • Re: favorite vinyl
    ... singing, and Langridge did a marvellous BBC programme about Peter ... As well as Tales from the Stave, Langridge did a programme on Grimes ...
    (rec.music.opera)
  • Re: Enlightenment about Schubert
    ... test of class -- could you listen to Rossini's overture to William Tell ... and not immediately think of 'The Lone Ranger'? ...
    (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
  • Re: Article: "...Basic Power Orchestral Repertoire..." (What, No
    ... Nemo appears to have caused the following letters ... anyone who can listen to the 'William Tell' overture without thinking ... of The Lone Ranger ...
    (rec.music.classical.recordings)
  • Re: Enlightenment about Schubert
    ... test of class -- could you listen to Rossini's overture to William Tell ... and not immediately think of 'The Lone Ranger'? ...
    (rec.arts.sf.fandom)