That's great John, thanks for listening, I've done quite a few McCormacks so I'm sure you'll find others that you like. He's been one of my top favourites since I first heard him about 60 years ago.
Thank you for this beautiful (technically enhanced!) recording...! John McCormack‘s light voice and lyrical approach lend unexpected softness and freshness to this famous aria... a little off the trampled path, especially when compared to the majority of today‘s Wagnerian tenors, who often substitute singing for shouting... All the best - and have a pleasant weekend! 🍀
Thanks for listening Harriet, I'm glad that you enjoyed it. I know that I am biased but, I have listened to a lot of the other recordings of this and I prefer the McCormack version, I think that he puts just the right amount of emotion into the music, singing with raprure but,as you say, not using the song to show how loudly he can sing. Unfortunately It is a poor quality recording.They seem to have had a decent sized orchestra for a change but it sounds as if, in order to capture the sound of the orchestra, they had McCormack a little too far away from the recording horn. All the best, Michael.
@@michaelmcgrailengland Recording was so difficult at the time, wasn‘t it? And I have the impression that very often the orchestra was highlighted to a singer‘s disadvantage. They did it with Lanza too (so much later), because they were afraid that the overtones in his voice might damage their equipment or their own ears... whatever. This is how the rumors about his „small voice“ started (the orchestra all but drowning the voice pushed to the background) - incapability, not of the singer, but of the technicians... You are not biased, by the way, you have every right to choose the recording you like best, and you certainly won‘t be the only one in favor of exactly this one! I think it‘s beautiful, capturing the atmosphere of the music perfectly - but I have to confess that I never tried to find my own favorite for this very aria... I‘m not listening to Wagner very often... I only know that McCormack was a brilliant singer with a very lovely timbre... Maybe SuperMagren will pipe in... you know that he‘s a big fan of John McCormack, but he has great knowledge about Wagnerian operas and singers as well... Have a wonderful Sunday! Best (I like the silly version: bestest) regards! 🍀
@@hrbooksmusic7878 Hello Harriet. Yes, it would be nice to hear the opinion of SuperMagren but I must admit that some of his comments are above my simple head. Don't try to wade through all those Una Furtiva Lagrimas that I uploaded. I started with three and kept adding to it and went over the top,eight recordings of the same aria is too many. However, it amused that the second comment that came in said "How come you have not included the great Beniamino Gigli". I can't think of a funny close so I'll just say Good Night. .
@@michaelmcgrailengland Honestly, Michael, how could you spare the great Gigli?! How could you not put in at least a dozen more wonderful tenors? Oh, let‘s make it two dozens...! I, too, love Gigli - but isn‘t it obvious that this is only a selection...? Well, I‘m sure the person who misses him in them video didn‘t mean any harm! I‘m going to listen to your latest video during the course of the day; I don‘t want to miss a single piece, and right now my husband is constantly buzzing through the house, talking to me, asking questions all the time... that makes me nervous (and a little aggressive when I try to devote myself to more elevated things than daily routines...) SuperMagren is known for his high-level comments... you should experience him in his own native language of German! His mind is very agile, too, so you really have to gather your wits in order to follow him... If you read this, dear friend: yes, it‘s true, you are a constant challenge for our intellect! But you know that, don‘t you, and kind of enjoy it... 😉 Best regards, dear Michael, and have a beautiful day! 🍀
@@hrbooksmusic7878 Thanks for your message Harriet, I hope that you enjoy the Una furtiva lagrima video when you can fit it in. I am also guilty of letting routine things slip and soon must get on with a few things that I have been putting off (not today though,perhaps tomorrow). Just as a matter of interest, I think that Pavarotti was a great entertainer but he is not, actually, one of my favourite tenors. I often include him in the compilation videos because I hope that some of his many admires might be tempted to watch the video and in the process be introduced to the great singers of the past. Have a nice day, All the best, Michael.
Thanks for listening Colin. McCormack seemed to me to excel at everything that he sang but, as you say, particularly Mozart, and the Irish songs were the icing on the cake, just perfect.
Yes...but to hear him sing Wagner in English..it's a bit hard to listen to. Not because of his truly beautiful voice, but because it's simply not Wagner.
Lovely to hear John singing this and in English too! Gives the lie to those who say it can only be sung in the original German and by one of the heavyweight voices. It's one of few Wagnerian arias that I really enjoy.❤
@@doloresaquines Thanks for listening Dolores, I'm really pleased that you enjoyed it. I agree with you about the "heavyweights" but I love the way McCormack sings it. Imagine it in stereo with a big modern orchestra
@@michaelmcgrailengland Yes, just imagine hearing him today with current technology. That would be quite something. Or other voices of the past... Gigli. Recently I came across a beautiful voice. Santiago Ballerini. A young tenor. Just his rendering of Di rigori armato, in a rehearsal , without great sound. I think John would approve!
Thanks for listening so early in the morning Chang. Yes, McCormack did have a light voice but I think he was a very skillful singer who could put feeling into the words without being over emotional as some singers are. In the mid 1920s he had a serious throat problem and the tones of his voice changed considerably but he still remained very popular as a concert artist.
@@michaelmcgrailengland You are right! I love McCormack's voice. Christopher Genz's voice is similar McCormack's. As you know I love peace. His voice makes me peaceful.
@@michaelmcgrailengland It's very very easy to learn Korean Alphabet ( Character or writing) 마이클 = Michael Korean Alphabet is sounding character just like Alphabet. Korea's illiteracy rate is almost zero % in Korean people.
@@MountainwalkwithMusic I'm not very familiar with Christopher Genz but you are right Chang, his and McCormacks voices are very similar. And, although you say it is simple, I have no intention of trying to learn the Korean alphabet!!!
I'm glad that you enjoyed it Marian. I'm also not familiar with most of Wagner's music but I love this particular one. It's apparently very difficult to sing but I think that McCormack sings it perfectly. Apparently, unlike other composers who only wrote the music, Wagner wrote the libretto as well.
@@michaelmcgrailengland it‘s really amazing how well he can sing this, considering he was a leggiero tenor. However, it would be intresting to know whether the orchestra had „wagner size“, or whether they chose a smaller orchestra for the recording... it seems to me it‘s the latter. Still, what a treasure!
@@lucabernard489 Thanks for your message Luca. I completely agree with you, I think it's a great demonstration of what he was actually capable of. If only it had been recorded with today's technology and a full orchestra. I don't suppose that it was a large orchestra but i, I think it sounds fuller than the usual studio orchestra of that time. It also seems that, in trying to capture the orchestra and particularly the harp they placed McCormack a bit too far back from the recording horn. However, as you say, in spite of any fault it is, nevertheless wonderful to be able to hear it. Funnily enough, on the day he recorded this, the only other two recordings were with Edwin Schneider, piano, and Fritz Kreisler, violin.
Thank you Miachel for this fabulous recording
The pleasure's all mine, of course, John, I'm really pleased that you enjoyed it.
I'm just discovering your uploads and really enjoying what you have managed to do with the "Count"
That's great John, thanks for listening, I've done quite a few McCormacks so I'm sure you'll find others that you like. He's been one of my top favourites since I first heard him about 60 years ago.
Thank you for this beautiful (technically enhanced!) recording...! John McCormack‘s light voice and lyrical approach lend unexpected softness and freshness to this famous aria... a little off the trampled path, especially when compared to the majority of today‘s Wagnerian tenors, who often substitute singing for shouting...
All the best - and have a pleasant weekend! 🍀
Thanks for listening Harriet, I'm glad that you enjoyed it. I know that I am biased but, I have listened to a lot of the other recordings of this and I prefer the McCormack version, I think that he puts just the right amount of emotion into the music, singing with raprure but,as you say, not using the song to show how loudly he can sing.
Unfortunately It is a poor quality recording.They seem to have had a decent sized orchestra for a change but it sounds as if, in order to capture the sound of the orchestra, they had McCormack a little too far away from the recording horn.
All the best,
Michael.
@@michaelmcgrailengland
Recording was so difficult at the time, wasn‘t it? And I have the impression that very often the orchestra was highlighted to a singer‘s disadvantage. They did it with Lanza too (so much later), because they were afraid that the overtones in his voice might damage their equipment or their own ears... whatever. This is how the rumors about his „small voice“ started (the orchestra all but drowning the voice pushed to the background) - incapability, not of the singer, but of the technicians...
You are not biased, by the way, you have every right to choose the recording you like best, and you certainly won‘t be the only one in favor of exactly this one! I think it‘s beautiful, capturing the atmosphere of the music perfectly - but I have to confess that I never tried to find my own favorite for this very aria... I‘m not listening to Wagner very often... I only know that McCormack was a brilliant singer with a very lovely timbre...
Maybe SuperMagren will pipe in... you know that he‘s a big fan of John McCormack, but he has great knowledge about Wagnerian operas and singers as well...
Have a wonderful Sunday! Best (I like the silly version: bestest) regards! 🍀
@@hrbooksmusic7878 Hello Harriet. Yes, it would be nice to hear the opinion of SuperMagren but I must admit that some of his comments are above my simple head.
Don't try to wade through all those Una Furtiva Lagrimas that I uploaded. I started with three and kept adding to it and went over the top,eight recordings of the same aria is too many. However, it amused that the second comment that came in said
"How come you have not included the great Beniamino Gigli".
I can't think of a funny close so I'll just say Good Night.
.
@@michaelmcgrailengland
Honestly, Michael, how could you spare the great Gigli?!
How could you not put in at least a dozen more wonderful tenors? Oh, let‘s make it two dozens...!
I, too, love Gigli - but isn‘t it obvious that this is only a selection...? Well, I‘m sure the person who misses him in them video didn‘t mean any harm!
I‘m going to listen to your latest video during the course of the day; I don‘t want to miss a single piece, and right now my husband is constantly buzzing through the house, talking to me, asking questions all the time... that makes me nervous (and a little aggressive when I try to devote myself to more elevated things than daily routines...)
SuperMagren is known for his high-level comments... you should experience him in his own native language of German! His mind is very agile, too, so you really have to gather your wits in order to follow him...
If you read this, dear friend: yes, it‘s true, you are a constant challenge for our intellect! But you know that, don‘t you, and kind of enjoy it... 😉
Best regards, dear Michael, and have a beautiful day! 🍀
@@hrbooksmusic7878 Thanks for your message Harriet, I hope that you enjoy the Una furtiva lagrima video when you can fit it in.
I am also guilty of letting routine things slip and soon must get on with a few things that I have been putting off (not today though,perhaps tomorrow).
Just as a matter of interest, I think that Pavarotti was a great entertainer but he is not, actually, one of my favourite tenors. I often include him in the compilation videos because I hope that some of his many admires might be tempted to watch the video and in the process be introduced to the great singers of the past.
Have a nice day, All the best, Michael.
John McCormack's singing is so special to me and this recording is a delightful jewel from his discography!! Awesome singing from a genuine talent!
Thanks for listening Phyllis, I'm glad that you enjoyed it. I think it's a wonderful demonstration of what John McCormack was capable of.
@@michaelmcgrailengland I agree!!
Mc Cormack has a true ,beautifull voice.his Mozart recordings are amazing and his irish songs album is perfection for me thank you 🤗
Thanks for listening Colin. McCormack seemed to me to excel at everything that he sang but, as you say, particularly Mozart, and the Irish songs were the icing on the cake, just perfect.
@@michaelmcgrailengland so true 🤗
Yes...but to hear him sing Wagner in English..it's a bit hard to listen to. Not because of his truly beautiful voice, but because it's simply not Wagner.
Lovely to hear John singing this and in English too! Gives the lie to those who say it can only be sung in the original German and by one of the heavyweight voices. It's one of few Wagnerian arias that I really enjoy.❤
Thanks for listening Helena, I'm glad that you enjoyed it and I certainly agree with what you say, I think that's it's a wonderful recording.
@@michaelmcgrailengland So beautiful! Amazing recording. Mind you, I also enjoy listening to those "heavyweight" tenors singing this aria in Germán.
@@doloresaquines Thanks for listening Dolores, I'm really pleased that you enjoyed it. I agree with you about the "heavyweights" but I love the way McCormack sings it. Imagine it in stereo with a big modern orchestra
@@michaelmcgrailengland Yes, just imagine hearing him today with current technology. That would be quite something. Or other voices of the past... Gigli. Recently I came across a beautiful voice. Santiago Ballerini. A young tenor. Just his rendering of Di rigori armato, in a rehearsal , without great sound. I think John would approve!
@@doloresaquines I'm sure John would approve Dolores. What a beautiful voice, I've never heard him before. I shall keep my eyes open for Santiago.
This song 아침은 장미빛으로 빛나고 in Korean.
McCormack 's voice is pure boy forever.
Thanks for listening so early in the morning Chang.
Yes, McCormack did have a light voice but I think he was a very skillful singer who could put feeling into the words without being over emotional as some singers are. In the mid 1920s he had a serious throat problem and the tones of his voice changed considerably but he still remained very popular as a concert artist.
Korean writing looks so complex but I suppose if you learn it at school it's quite natural and simple.
@@michaelmcgrailengland You are right! I love McCormack's voice. Christopher Genz's voice is similar McCormack's.
As you know I love peace.
His voice makes me peaceful.
@@michaelmcgrailengland It's very very easy to learn Korean Alphabet ( Character or writing)
마이클 = Michael
Korean Alphabet is sounding character just like Alphabet. Korea's illiteracy rate is almost zero % in Korean people.
@@MountainwalkwithMusic I'm not very familiar with Christopher Genz but you are right Chang, his and McCormacks voices are very similar.
And, although you say it is simple, I have no intention of trying to learn the Korean alphabet!!!
I am not familiar with Wagner’s music and expected something heroic -that was a very pleasant surprise TY
I'm glad that you enjoyed it Marian. I'm also not familiar with most of Wagner's music but I love this particular one. It's apparently very difficult to sing but I think that McCormack sings it perfectly.
Apparently, unlike other composers who only wrote the music, Wagner wrote the libretto as well.
Incredible
Thank you for listening Luca, I'm really pleased that you enjoyed it.
@@michaelmcgrailengland it‘s really amazing how well he can sing this, considering he was a leggiero tenor. However, it would be intresting to know whether the orchestra had „wagner size“, or whether they chose a smaller orchestra for the recording... it seems to me it‘s the latter. Still, what a treasure!
@@lucabernard489 Thanks for your message Luca. I completely agree with you, I think it's a great demonstration of what he was actually capable of. If only it had been recorded with today's technology and a full orchestra.
I don't suppose that it was a large orchestra but i, I think it sounds fuller than the usual studio orchestra of that time. It also seems that, in trying to capture the orchestra and particularly the harp they placed McCormack a bit too far back from the recording horn. However, as you say, in spite of any fault it is, nevertheless wonderful to be able to hear it.
Funnily enough, on the day he recorded this, the only other two recordings were with Edwin Schneider, piano, and Fritz Kreisler, violin.