I've always been a fan of Janet Baker's - seems to me hers is a much more
flexible voice, with more tonal variety. And Maureen Lehane. Also
considering flexibilty, the counter-tenor voice has much to be said for
it -- and no, Patrick, no weak knees! or very few, anyway. Drew Minter, for
instance.
Clearly these male altos can't feasibly sing Dido's Lament, but they make a
brilliant, and I use that word advisedly, showing in the Birthday Odes for
Queen Mary, and are far preferable. (Don't like the Dellers though, rather
too hooty.) However, I think that in the Brahms Alto Rhapsody the use of a
contralto is an important part of the effect, where the contrast in timbre
between the solo female voice and the male choir is carefully orchestrated.
Baker again has my vote here; or Christa Ludwig, though I suppose that
strictly speaking hers like so many others is a mezzo-soprano voice.
Joanna
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Weiss" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2003 7:02 PM
Subject: Re: A Note on Kathleen Ferrier (was Re: Minimalists...)
> To be scientific about this, it would be good to know, from you and from
> Chris, which contraltos singing this repertoire you really like.
>
> Mark
>
>
> At 01:06 PM 12/15/2003 +0000, Joanna Boulter wrote:
> >snip>
> > > Patrick's comment ('voice so warm knees still shakey') is another
point
> > > altogether. There is clearly a quasi sexual charge to Ferrier's voice
> >(that
> > > is, I've heard that this is so from others) which I simply do not
feel.
> > >
> > > CW
> >snip>
> >
> >Is this perhaps why she leaves me cold too?
> >
> >Joanna
>
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