Cannot stop listening to Neil sing this. Beautiful high notes and gorgeous interpretation. The best I have ever heard of Che Gelida. Too bad Puccini could not have heard him
How awesome to hear this high high notes in such an artistic touch, higher the greater poetic, and it pours out ton of colorful timbre, so fresh so round, so handsome, play this all day!
@SHICOFF1 Neil be so happy to hear that people give him the credit like this, to put his name around Jussi. Why american artists are not well marketed?
@SHICOFF1 hope that they did not have to do french name when doing french opera. To me, italian has more PROUD, or so protective on operatic thing. Truly they have much more percentage of local population be fans, than the States. I heard that it is hard to grab a ticket to grand opera at Milan or paris... here it is rarely sold out at Met. And name changing is a noble thing!!! now. we all know Michael bolton is not the real last name, and the famous comedy show host is not Steven Colbelt, lightly changed a bit, surely without their grand father's approval...
I have listened to this aria by the 3 you have named and many others but his is the best interpretation and most beautiful voice in my opinion. Some people just have more beautiful voices naturally than others just like some people are naturally better looking than others, Dear Lucky
To be fair, said "esteem" is only given to the three tenors by the general public. More cultured opera fans know to tell the wheat from the chaff. PS. I think Pavarotti had the most beautiful tenor voice ever. To my liking, however, he wasn't a great *artist*, like Neil Shicoff, Giuseppe Giacomini, Alfredo Kraus, Jussi Bjorling and Giacomo Lauri-Volpi. This comment always crops up: the 80s were loaded with great tenors (including american tenors). I didn't have the great fortune of being born then, and think the ones who did have the pleasure of seeing these artists live should count themselves lucky instead of complaining about the three tenors. Placido Domingo in particular has done a lot to popularise opera and whether you like his pinched upper register or not, you should be grateful to him for his service to the great art form of opera.
The three tenors was a media and publicist creation. A lot of tenors were more complete than them. Don't get me wrong, they were good, and of the three I personally think Carreras was the most special/talented, but they aren't really all that when you compare them to a Schicoff, a Hadley, Bonisolli, not to mention the countless great singers who preceded them by a generation or two
Wow, really enjoy his russian aria, flower song, and this opera... And his acting is so so 100% right on target, working tails off...at least I think he is top 3 underrated tenors...
Yes it was and I was in the house and in fact this tape I had someone recorded for me at at home, he was magnificent here, if those not liking it can listen to others , the reviews where Excellent, some need to out down a singer on his own post, Rude, they can, but it doesn't man they are right, push one down and then mention another pushing that one up.
I love the voices of gifted opera singers such as the voice of neil. I started listening to opera at the age of 7, thanks to my parents and the first time I ever heard an opera singer the first thing I thought was "wow , listen to how they can sing.
Sorry, though a capable singer, his voice is lacking somewhat in warmth, depth and brilliance. Particularly, a lack of overtones over the pitch, decreases the coloration of the timbre overall (a common malady of tenors). I find his timbre to be slightly "cold" in its resonance. In addition, he is overplayed by the orchestra in various spots, meaning his squillo/formant is not at the point of development it should be at. I just can't see any way in which he could overtake Jaime Aragall as the best tenor voice in the 1980s. /// All that being said, he is undoubtedly a world class singer. It just wouldn't be me buying his cd's--though I might be interested in watching him in performance.
The greatest tenors in this order....Italian, German, Swedish....Mario Lanza, Neil Shicoff, Jussi bjoerling......combination cannot be beat....can anyone top this? I fear not......
First time I heard Neil Shicoff was when he was singing in Carmen with Jessica Norman! She appeared to be sloppy while he was very impressive! I can’t understand why I never heard him before! Bravo Shicoff I am again very impressed!
Like my old spanish grandpa would have said "Que lindo"!!!!!, superb "live" performance by one of the best ever, Neil Shicoff, BRAVOOOO!!!!, he is a master class on stage still!!!!
of course he was great, you know it and I know it, and he went through a time later when he had some vocal trouble-- but came back strong in the late 80's, made Several, more then 8 excellent and Complete Studio opera recordings in the 1980's and 1990's for EMI, Teledec, Philips and others successfully, with top notch casts, so unless some are just blowing smoke, flaming him is only a opinion of course and only of a layman, as is mine and I saw him, many times in house, from 1979, to 2006 I was there for this performance, in house and had it taped at home by a relative for me, I sent this to German opera singer at the time, Neil was great in this and so where the Met. reviews, I don't care that so and so was better in somebody's opinion, means nothing to me, then let them listen too their favorites, but bringing up others as better on a Singers own post is rude, who cares, I don't, then listen to them, flaming Neil on his own post, saying so and so is better seems a bit Rude, who cares what some others say. I like him, you liked him, the critics liked him in this performance, Yes, they liked him, that is all that matters. If they prefer Alagna, Pavarotti, Gedda, Gigli or Bjoerling in the role fine, all great but then go listen to them, maybe I should get on another post like one of those tenors on you tube and say, well Neil or so and so is better, no way would I, it's rude. have a good day Sugarbist.
He and even Jussi Bjoerling live sometimes sang it down, and he had a fine high C, so what and so did many more at times live, as this is live also, still great, anyhow.
As you know I was at his performance and the Squillo he had was pouring out like a cascade of ringing notes with no effort, Ringing on every upper Middle note, sorry but the recording off the radio just does not pick it up, as I was there and heard and saw him singing it, anyhow as with some others like both MDM and Tucker, (they both actually sounded better in house compared to their studio recordings ) you needed to be there in order to know the voice best.
His French roles like Hoffmann and in Carmen, Werther and Romeo where among his best, but in the Italian I think, Edgardo in Lucia, Boheme (as here,) and both Rigoletto and Traviata where his best Italian roles, he also sang a great Lensky, in Eugene Onegin ( in the Russian).
Even though Franco Corelli is my all time favorite I must admit that Neil sings this aria the best of any tenor I have ever heard in my life . He is even better than Franco. He has a gorgeous voice and outstanding technique, AWESOME
I can't tell you how much I envy you! To have seen and heard Shicoff live! I only discovered him last year, on a dvd of La Traviata. I have since bought everything I could get my hands on. One major regret in life--I never saw him, and will probably never get that opportunity.
hazelssister Franco Corelli was his teacher! I'm just telling you facts! For me, I think that Neil Shicoff here is really good, but Franco Corelli is amazing and astonishing!!!
Different voice types. Corelli was a vocal heavy weight; his voice packed a serious punch and was able to reach D-flats and D's, not common for a spinto/dramatic voice. IMO Corelli had a more astonishingly thrilling voice, but that's only because he was such a good fit in the big Verdi and Puccini heavy tenor roles. I think both voices are good, Corelli was never a good fit in this role, his voice was too big, though he could still more than manage the music along with the sustained high C.
@@MrOperaTenor You should had pointed out when and how long Corelli coached him, Neil has many teachers and coaches. There is a influence from great Corelli, maybe more on confidence than timbre of voice, he is a fantastic lyric tenor. Corelli famously hated teachers and teaching, how funny that he ended up teaching at NYC at the end...Do not try sneak in like this to take away someone's greatness, from America into Italy. What you stated here is 20 plus miles away from FACTS!!!
WOW!! until 30 mins ago, I'd never even heard of this great singer.. I stumbled across his name and voice on another YT posting of tenors singing a high C... this guy is incredible!
Well, yes he did later but also with FC got into some trouble, perhaps going for a FC sound, I don't know, but he did get past it with a different coach, (Stephen Lord) and he became then even greater technically and went to Europe for sometime as the leading tenor in Venna with their opera company. His voice was in his young days loaded with ringing Squillo that you heard in house , not on recordings, ignore remarks trying to push him down in order to push up their own favorite up , who cares anyhow.
"Probably, like veterans of WW1, everyone who actually heard Caruso in person, is now gone." He was part of the happiest generation, which had chance to see how made Caruso U.S mad. He had something really important to tell grandchildren and was fortunate indeed. I'm interesting your full name, because 20 years ago our homelands were in same frontier.
Neil must have been really underrated . I had heard of him 30 years ago, but actually never listened to him until this year. Excellent interpretation of Che Gelida
When you heard him in house he had it all in those days and later got past some vocal problems was strong again. Early he was sensational as he was in this performance also and I was in the house, a great test.
Ton of personal touch, and it is A+. Too me, this is way sensational and much richer than Pavarotti's... I only dream of that experience in a good seat LIVE soaking in this...blessed those who were there and have ears!
Here is Sugarbist on Neil's other posting: sugarbist sugarbist 5 years ago @***** Shicoff sings well and has a beautiful voice. But the outstanding thing about him is that fresh sound and innate ability to be intimate with the audience. I think he is an outstanding consummate artist .
@@道-p2e Yes, I was there for this as you know, I had the brdcst taped at home, an older lady in the next seat from mine, well by the time the aria ended she had tears running down her face and was so moved she could not even clap. She was in shock at the beauty and also in house you heard squillo, you do not hear that on the recording, he then in his prime years had lots of squillo. Pav. was popular to start cause he was a "high C tenor" always they are popular in roles (he sang) like "I Puritani" and Daughter of the Reg. (his only French role) that then was good timing for him and he had a good personality and charisma on TV, he sang very well also with little formal training, but he had a great ear, Neil was a different voice and yes richer and sang far more roles then Pav. did, hard to compare, but yes I heard Pav. many times, and Neil also---Neil even sang Russian roles in Russian, like Eugene Onegin and Queen of spades ---but not Puritani or Daughter of course, they where two very different tenors types--- and needless to say who I prefer over all, look at my you tube name!
@SHICOFF1 i really like neils voice and he is relatively new to me,its that sometimes i find i can hear a singer sing a certain role and then for me that singer can become the definitive in that role,by the way jussi was not my favourite brilliant as he was,my favourite will always be del monaco and 2 different voices as you will ever here.i love the dramatic tenor voice above all,yet i also love gigli,gedda,kraus,vickers and many many others happy listening to all on u tube,i think each of us hears something different in all singers and thats the way it should be.
@SHICOFF1 totally agree,decca could not manage to record his voice properly i have nearly everything he recorded and his decca recordings sound stifled and certainly not true to his real voice,i guess you can testify to that as you heard him live and how lucky you were to have witnessed that
@@amantedellopera1681 Yes my friend and do not forget I also heard and saw Bjoerling in 1958 at age 18 singing the Duke in Chicago and MDM in 1959 in Italy as Otello a fantastic dramatic tenor, he sounded better in house and so did Tucker, a great spinto tenor .
I would read your plural memoirs about opera if you ever write them, because your operatic stories are impressive. You haven't lost your young days. Enjoy
Bravo!!!!, great and warm sound. He has a round voice with a brigth high range.I saw him in the 90's at the MET singing Luisa Miller and he was great in LIVE. He does at 1:48 as my good friend Steve said, a dminuendo as great singers of the past use to.BRAVOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
You'll get no argument from me about his acting ability--I have the dvd of his 1982 Boheme at the ROH--no matter how often I watch it, the ending always makes me cry. Watching the curtain calls, I can see him slowly coming "out" of his character. He appears to be so "into" the character he sings, that it takes a bit of time to become "Neil" again.
Very nice, thanks- GermanOS, I have a question- does he use the same technique Corelli used? The sort of robust phrasing on "con due parole" and other parts strongly reminded me of Corelli- just curious.
Not quite, he tried it long ago with FC and got into trouble but fixed it and then went to Europe for many years as leading tenor in Vienna with their opera Company, also sang in Russia where he was also well liked.
It turned out significant recording for you and I'm sorry, because i touched it with my rough hands without reflection. Take my apologies again. What about your operatic adventures, i have read about them in your comments under videos of MDM. I was inspired about your opportunity listen to MDM's Otello and Pipo's Cavaradossi in a row for one week. I'm 17 year old pupil from Georgia (not american Georgia) and haven't neither practical, nor financial chance to do same. Take greetings from me...
I never stated that he did, I think they sound similar at points in the aria. Of course Shicoff's is better, more dynamic variation, more pleasant timbre and better technique.
You can easily find my country if you look for it on the map between Black Sea and Caspian Sea, South of Caucasion. This is Small country, smaller than U.S. smallest state. If you are interesting in how beautiful is my country you can search in google:კაცხისსვეტი, სვეტიცხოველი, გელათი, ალავერდი, ვარძია, ბოდბე, გრემი, რაბათი. The odest one is from 4th century. and if you interest Georgian classical paste: watch?v=F0M-R6PBzbU
I like Neil Shicoff, a wonderful Tenor, but, not in the league of the three mentioned PD JC LP.....Pavarotti being in a league all by himself, especially in this role.
Yeah I agree. So WHY does he still sing then? He was a great singer, and we will never forget him. But He just didn't have to sing now in his sixties and get booed. I just feel bad
schicoff1:I've just bought Traviata with NS & Gruberova on Dvd. Great singing all round & a worthy rival to the Solti Version with Gheorghiu & Lopardo. The cost? an unbelievable £4..50! After the card Scene I had to turn the video off & have a glass of wine to compose myself, it was that affecting. I've just listened again to NS singing Che Gelida. One of the best recordings I know. If he is singing a B instead of a C it is still very exciting so who cares? Henry Webb Pontypool Wales
If anyone wishes to hear a perfect & exciting B flat listen to Gigli's Aprile ( 1930 ) on the final word Aprile. Too many singers have shortened a fine career by singing top C's when a Bflat would have brought just as much applause.NS was being sensible. Henry Webb
I feel Shicoff has a bit of the voice of Giuseppe Di Stefano , Alagna has appealing voice in mid 1994, has been much drier voice for too long already, yet still the darling of opera houses, not a good thing for real talented young artists.
It was my first expression... I don't think know like that, yes great phrasing too. I just didn't like (bit) electronic tune of spinto-lyricoes, which had lanza and bjorling and hadn't Gigli for instance, but it was the past... This is the last occasion when i express my opinion about great singers by first listening, Sorry
@SHICOFF1 His singing of Lensky's aria was always magnificent. There is a plangent quality in this music that fit his vocal and interpretative gifts to perfection.
One of Opera’s greatest tenors EVER!!!
Agreed a superb Lyric tenor and I was in the house for this one, it was superb.
First view! Shicoff really is a great tenor, he sings so well here! I like how the applause is left in here, bravo Shicoff.
One of the if not the-most underrated tenors in the history of recorded sound. TY C.
Cannot stop listening to Neil sing this. Beautiful high notes and gorgeous interpretation. The best I have ever heard of Che Gelida. Too bad Puccini could not have heard him
Beautiful! 5 stars.
How awesome to hear this high high notes in such an artistic touch, higher the greater poetic, and it pours out ton of colorful timbre, so fresh so round, so handsome, play this all day!
@SHICOFF1 Neil be so happy to hear that people give him the credit like this, to put his name around Jussi. Why american artists are not well marketed?
@SHICOFF1 hope that they did not have to do french name when doing french opera. To me, italian has more PROUD, or so protective on operatic thing. Truly they have much more percentage of local population be fans, than the States. I heard that it is hard to grab a ticket to grand opera at Milan or paris... here it is rarely sold out at Met. And name changing is a noble thing!!! now. we all know Michael bolton is not the real last name, and the famous comedy show host is not Steven Colbelt, lightly changed a bit, surely without their grand father's approval...
I have listened to this aria by the 3 you have named and many others but his is the best interpretation and most beautiful voice in my opinion. Some people just have more beautiful voices naturally than others just like some people are naturally better looking than others, Dear Lucky
He's special. Sings with great feeling. No one like him today.
I have to listen to this at least every few days
this is so beautiful!
that was the most relaxed descent from the top note I have ever heard... a true master of technique!
The best I have ever heard this aria!
Gorgeous lower register..............excuse me, gorgeous entire voice. Fantastic vibrato. His vibrato is the best I have ever heard
Wow, 1984, this is grand operatic of his young prime... Bravo!!! Thank you so much for posting!
Great interpretation! One of the best I've ever heard! His voice is so special! Thanks for sharing and the uploader for posting.
What a master. He is so musical here. Thank you for sharing.
Not only in the 1980s. Must watch: Halévy La Juive - aria di Eleazar "Rachel..." Neil Shicoff - the best Eleazar in the world. (Wiena 2003)
Neil was the one of the greatest Tenors since the War,yet he is almost forgotten,it is a crime he isn't held in the same high esteem as the "Big 3"
To be fair, said "esteem" is only given to the three tenors by the general public. More cultured opera fans know to tell the wheat from the chaff. PS. I think Pavarotti had the most beautiful tenor voice ever. To my liking, however, he wasn't a great *artist*, like Neil Shicoff, Giuseppe Giacomini, Alfredo Kraus, Jussi Bjorling and Giacomo Lauri-Volpi. This comment always crops up: the 80s were loaded with great tenors (including american tenors). I didn't have the great fortune of being born then, and think the ones who did have the pleasure of seeing these artists live should count themselves lucky instead of complaining about the three tenors. Placido Domingo in particular has done a lot to popularise opera and whether you like his pinched upper register or not, you should be grateful to him for his service to the great art form of opera.
SHICOFF1 I'm so envious you were able to see these greats.... I too, am a devoted fan of Shicoff!
The three tenors was a media and publicist creation. A lot of tenors were more complete than them. Don't get me wrong, they were good, and of the three I personally think Carreras was the most special/talented, but they aren't really all that when you compare them to a Schicoff, a Hadley, Bonisolli, not to mention the countless great singers who preceded them by a generation or two
Yes best American tenor after Jerry Hadley RIP sadly missed.
@@chk1230 They were all on the slide by the time they started the Thee T's
Thank you very much. Wonderful timbre and sostenuto. Quite a treat!
I very much hope you got my very late note.
Francesca
Bravo!!!, he really delivers a heart felt eria, but with a full and controled voive...he is actually the best!!!!
Neil is in the top 10 of my favorite operatic tenors of all time that i have heard
Wow, really enjoy his russian aria, flower song, and this opera... And his acting is so so 100% right on target, working tails off...at least I think he is top 3 underrated tenors...
Absolutely spectacular. One of the greatest of American tenor voices!
Shicoff was a sensational Romeo...one of his best roles. He was the best tenor in the US and possibly the world in the 1980s. Where do you live?
He has such a beautiful voice, and he's into the aria with both feet....:)
WOW!!!
Very nice rendition. Great legato singing.
Yes it was and I was in the house and in fact this tape I had someone recorded for me at at home, he was magnificent here, if those not liking it can listen to others , the reviews where Excellent, some need to out down a singer on his own post, Rude, they can, but it doesn't man they are right, push one down and then mention another pushing that one up.
He was wonderful and his father Sidney was a great Cantor, today he is age 73 his birthday! June 2nd. 1949, born in Brooklyn NY.
I love the voices of gifted opera singers such as the voice of neil. I started listening to opera at the age of 7, thanks to my parents and the first time I ever heard an opera singer the first thing I thought was "wow , listen to how they can sing.
Love his astonishing sounding voice. There is a quality to it that can't be described in human words. At least I can't describe it.
His voice is fabulous
Not only a beautiful lyric voice, but a superlative dramatic interpreter of the character. Bravo Shicoff.
Love this guy.
This is great singing and he was certainly the best tenor in the world in the 1980s.
Sorry, though a capable singer, his voice is lacking somewhat in warmth, depth and brilliance. Particularly, a lack of overtones over the pitch, decreases the coloration of the timbre overall (a common malady of tenors). I find his timbre to be slightly "cold" in its resonance. In addition, he is overplayed by the orchestra in various spots, meaning his squillo/formant is not at the point of development it should be at. I just can't see any way in which he could overtake Jaime Aragall as the best tenor voice in the 1980s. /// All that being said, he is undoubtedly a world class singer. It just wouldn't be me buying his cd's--though I might be interested in watching him in performance.
Lacking in warmth, depth and brilliance? I guess we have different ideas about what those words mean, because they are in abundance to my ears.
The greatest tenors in this order....Italian, German, Swedish....Mario Lanza, Neil Shicoff, Jussi bjoerling......combination cannot be beat....can anyone top this? I fear not......
First time I heard Neil Shicoff was when he was singing in Carmen with Jessica Norman! She appeared to be sloppy while he was very impressive! I can’t understand why I never heard him before! Bravo Shicoff I am again very impressed!
This is a warmful and beautiful perform. A can hear the lot of work behind this exellent singing. Congratultion with all my heart.
Excellent
Like my old spanish grandpa would have said "Que lindo"!!!!!, superb "live" performance by one of the best ever, Neil Shicoff, BRAVOOOO!!!!, he is a master class on stage still!!!!
IIMO, Shicoff was an exceptional great tenor. He had everything
of course he was great, you know it and I know it, and he went through a time later when he had some vocal trouble-- but came back strong in the late 80's, made Several, more then 8 excellent and Complete Studio opera recordings in the 1980's and 1990's for EMI, Teledec, Philips and others successfully, with top notch casts, so unless some are just blowing smoke, flaming him is only a opinion of course and only of a layman, as is mine and I saw him, many times in house, from 1979, to 2006 I was there for this performance, in house and had it taped at home by a relative for me, I sent this to German opera singer at the time, Neil was great in this and so where the Met. reviews, I don't care that so and so was better in somebody's opinion, means nothing to me, then let them listen too their favorites, but bringing up others as better on a Singers own post is rude, who cares, I don't, then listen to them, flaming Neil on his own post, saying so and so is better seems a bit Rude, who cares what some others say. I like him, you liked him, the critics liked him in this performance, Yes, they liked him, that is all that matters. If they prefer Alagna, Pavarotti, Gedda, Gigli or Bjoerling in the role fine, all great but then go listen to them, maybe I should get on another post like one of those tenors on you tube and say, well Neil or so and so is better, no way would I, it's rude. have a good day Sugarbist.
He and even Jussi Bjoerling live sometimes sang it down, and he had a fine high C, so what and so did many more at times live, as this is live also, still great, anyhow.
As you know I was at his performance and the Squillo he had was pouring out like a cascade of ringing notes with no effort, Ringing on every upper Middle note, sorry but the recording off the radio just does not pick it up, as I was there and heard and saw him singing it, anyhow as with some others like both MDM and Tucker, (they both actually sounded better in house compared to their studio recordings ) you needed to be there in order to know the voice best.
His French roles like Hoffmann and in Carmen, Werther and Romeo where among his best, but in the Italian I think, Edgardo in Lucia, Boheme (as here,) and both Rigoletto and Traviata where his best Italian roles, he also sang a great Lensky, in Eugene Onegin ( in the Russian).
Even though Franco Corelli is my all time favorite I must admit that Neil sings this aria the best of any tenor I have ever heard in my life . He is even better than Franco. He has a gorgeous voice and outstanding technique, AWESOME
Not better than 1944 and 1950 Di Stefano
Totally agree on both counts- Corelli is still my fave, but Neil is right next to him!
@@pryan5183
Neil was also mentored by Franco, for some time.
The influence is noticeable.
This is a display of amazing artistry!!!
@
I can't tell you how much I envy you! To have seen and heard Shicoff live! I only discovered him last year, on a dvd of La Traviata. I have since bought everything I could get my hands on. One major regret in life--I never saw him, and will probably never get that opportunity.
Watched him in a recording of La Boheme. Been obsessed ever since.
SHICOFF1 What an amazing experience to have gotten to know him!
@@Abby-km6vr Yes, and a few more. I worked in classical radio .
Georgeous voice
that is the right word, more than handsome, he should have been the grand operatic artist, to me, above the 3 tenors in the 1990's era.
Wonderful performance. i heard him at the MET as Rodiolfo about the same time as this performance. Excellent tenor.
Greatest tenor of his generation. Much more thrilling & pleasing to hear than PD!!
Thank you super opera tenor
This is the best I have ever heard this aria sung, He even outdoes Franco Corelli who is in my top 3 tenors,
hazelssister Franco Corelli was his teacher! I'm just telling you facts! For me, I think that Neil Shicoff here is really good, but Franco Corelli is amazing and astonishing!!!
Different voice types. Corelli was a vocal heavy weight; his voice packed a serious punch and was able to reach D-flats and D's, not common for a spinto/dramatic voice. IMO Corelli had a more astonishingly thrilling voice, but that's only because he was such a good fit in the big Verdi and Puccini heavy tenor roles. I think both voices are good, Corelli was never a good fit in this role, his voice was too big, though he could still more than manage the music along with the sustained high C.
@SHICOFF1 agree that he sang this really well, love to read your writings,
@SHICOFF1 yes, Neil and Biorling, swedish voice are my choices for this role
@@MrOperaTenor You should had pointed out when and how long Corelli coached him, Neil has many teachers and coaches. There is a influence from great Corelli, maybe more on confidence than timbre of voice, he is a fantastic lyric tenor. Corelli famously hated teachers and teaching, how funny that he ended up teaching at NYC at the end...Do not try sneak in like this to take away someone's greatness, from America into Italy. What you stated here is 20 plus miles away from FACTS!!!
OMG! His voice is so even timbred!! How is that even possible!?!
And so fresh, youthful, just a joy to hear,
Beautiful full rounded voice
Gorgeous vibrato and superb control
WOW!! until 30 mins ago, I'd never even heard of this great singer.. I stumbled across his name and voice on another YT posting of tenors singing a high C... this guy is incredible!
I just realized by accident that Shicoff did study with Corelli, which may explain some similarity in sound/phrasing.
Well, yes he did later but also with FC got into some trouble, perhaps going for a FC sound, I don't know, but he did get past it with a different coach, (Stephen Lord) and he became then even greater technically and went to Europe for sometime as the leading tenor in Venna with their opera company. His voice was in his young days loaded with ringing Squillo that you heard in house , not on recordings, ignore remarks trying to push him down in order to push up their own favorite up , who cares anyhow.
"Probably, like veterans of WW1, everyone who actually heard Caruso in person, is now gone." He was part of the happiest generation, which had chance to see how made Caruso U.S mad. He had something really important to tell grandchildren and was fortunate indeed. I'm interesting your full name, because 20 years ago our homelands were in same frontier.
Neil must have been really underrated . I had heard of him 30 years ago, but actually never listened to him until this year. Excellent interpretation of Che Gelida
When you heard him in house he had it all in those days and later got past some vocal problems was strong again. Early he was sensational as he was in this performance also and I was in the house, a great test.
Ton of personal touch, and it is A+. Too me, this is way sensational and much richer than Pavarotti's...
I only dream of that experience in a good seat LIVE soaking in this...blessed those who were there and have ears!
Here is Sugarbist on Neil's other posting:
sugarbist
sugarbist
5 years ago
@***** Shicoff sings well and has a beautiful voice. But the outstanding thing about him is that fresh sound and innate ability to be intimate with the audience. I think he is an outstanding consummate artist .
@@道-p2e Thank you and as usual Sugarbist is right!
@@道-p2e Yes, I was there for this as you know, I had the brdcst taped at home, an older lady in the next seat from mine, well by the time the aria ended she had tears running down her face and was so moved she could not even clap. She was in shock at the beauty and also in house you heard squillo, you do not hear that on the recording, he then in his prime years had lots of squillo. Pav. was popular to start cause he was a "high C tenor" always they are popular in roles (he sang) like "I Puritani" and Daughter of the Reg. (his only French role) that then was good timing for him and he had a good personality and charisma on TV, he sang very well also with little formal training, but he had a great ear, Neil was a different voice and yes richer and sang far more roles then Pav. did, hard to compare, but yes I heard Pav. many times, and Neil also---Neil even sang Russian roles in Russian, like Eugene Onegin and Queen of spades ---but not Puritani or Daughter of course, they where two very different tenors types--- and needless to say who I prefer over all, look at my you tube name!
Sorry about the lines in my comment, not intended.
Wow, when I listen for the similarities, they are certainly there! Very similar to the young Alagna.
El es simplemente el mejor.
Neil in my opinion has sung this aria at this time the best in all of recorded history!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously!??? Its pretty good but no where near jussi bjoerling
@SHICOFF1 good for you as i say shicoff is excellent its that bjoerling in boheme for me is a once in a lifetime
@SHICOFF1 i really like neils voice and he is relatively new to me,its that sometimes i find i can hear a singer sing a certain role and then for me that singer can become the definitive in that role,by the way jussi was not my favourite brilliant as he was,my favourite will always be del monaco and 2 different voices as you will ever here.i love the dramatic tenor voice above all,yet i also love gigli,gedda,kraus,vickers and many many others happy listening to all on u tube,i think each of us hears something different in all singers and thats the way it should be.
@SHICOFF1 totally agree,decca could not manage to record his voice properly i have nearly everything he recorded and his decca recordings sound stifled and certainly not true to his real voice,i guess you can testify to that as you heard him live and how lucky you were to have witnessed that
@@amantedellopera1681 Yes my friend and do not forget I also heard and saw Bjoerling in 1958 at age 18 singing the Duke in Chicago and MDM in 1959 in Italy as Otello a fantastic dramatic tenor, he sounded better in house and so did Tucker, a great spinto tenor .
Fantastic voice.
I would read your plural memoirs about opera if you ever write them, because your operatic stories are impressive. You haven't lost your young days. Enjoy
Bravo!!!!, great and warm sound. He has a round voice with a brigth high range.I saw him in the 90's at the MET singing Luisa Miller and he was great in LIVE. He does at 1:48 as my good friend Steve said, a dminuendo as great singers of the past use to.BRAVOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
Five stars!
Wow, that's awesome. Does his son sing well?
You'll get no argument from me about his acting ability--I have the dvd of his 1982 Boheme at the ROH--no matter how often I watch it, the ending always makes me cry. Watching the curtain calls, I can see him slowly coming "out" of his character. He appears to be so "into" the character he sings, that it takes a bit of time to become "Neil" again.
Same with his incomparable performances of "Hoffmann".
fantastic
Love the way he sings the passage at 1;30
Thank you SHICOFF !. for your response Are you related to Neil?
I think Shicoff's son goes to school in Vienna.
In my oppinion from your country came one of the best singers of all time, Hamlet Gonashvili...
Neil does sing this exceptionally movingly
Yes and he had a lot of Squillo when you saw him in house, don't let anyone tell you he didn't, that is total nonsense he was excellent, period.
Oustanding execution
"Alagna did not hold a candle to prime Shicoff"
Agree totally!
Totally agree. Few tenors can match his incandescence!
@@pryan5183 Yes.-- Neil , a beautiful tenor in all respects.
Neil is astonishing
- campo paolo baritono
Yah I agree; I was absent-mindedly listening to this again today, and when I heard the first two lines, I thought I was listening to a young Alagna!
Always a big fan! I believe I was at this performance?!? Ever since then, when I sang this opera I always compared the Rodolfo to his!!!
Very nice, thanks- GermanOS, I have a question- does he use the same technique Corelli used? The sort of robust phrasing on
"con due parole" and other parts strongly reminded me of Corelli- just curious.
Not quite, he tried it long ago with FC and got into trouble but fixed it and then went to Europe for many years as leading tenor in Vienna with their opera Company, also sang in Russia where he was also well liked.
Simplemente, mi Rodolfo preferido.
It turned out significant recording for you and I'm sorry, because i touched it with my rough hands without reflection. Take my apologies again. What about your operatic adventures, i have read about them in your comments under videos of MDM. I was inspired about your opportunity listen to MDM's Otello and Pipo's Cavaradossi in a row for one week. I'm 17 year old pupil from Georgia (not american Georgia) and haven't neither practical, nor financial chance to do same. Take greetings from me...
Very beautiful sun!
Karlott
Thanks :)
I never stated that he did, I think they sound similar at points in the aria. Of course Shicoff's is better, more dynamic variation, more pleasant timbre and better technique.
Labai geras!
Hermosa interpretación, excelente técnica y fraseo. si alguien tiene turandot nessun dorma interpretada por El, les agradeceria la bajen. venezuela
@Martin Buckbee :He does have both feet in the aria Very well put
🙏💐👌💐🤩💐✨️✨️✨️
Good luck
I saw him today as Pinkertone. I was totally shocked. He is not the same Neil Schicoff.. ;( ;(
Love his voice here Even better than Franco Corelli
You can easily find my country if you look for it on the map between Black Sea and Caspian Sea, South of Caucasion. This is Small country, smaller than U.S. smallest state. If you are interesting in how beautiful is my country you can search in google:კაცხისსვეტი, სვეტიცხოველი, გელათი, ალავერდი, ვარძია, ბოდბე, გრემი, რაბათი. The odest one is from 4th century. and if you interest Georgian classical paste: watch?v=F0M-R6PBzbU
He might have been underrated because he does not have matinee idol looks to go with his outstanding voice
maybe true, so sad, even in the opera world, I thought it is voice that counts...
Shicoff always seemed at least pleasant looking.
Veramente bella voce e un bel gusto musicale, peccato che è stato un po dimenticato Neil Shicoff .
- Not by those of us who are lucky enough to have thrilled to his performances.
If Puccini only could hear Neil
Bjorling. Bergonzi SChicoff The rest stand on their shoulders.
I like Neil Shicoff, a wonderful Tenor, but, not in the league of the three mentioned PD JC LP.....Pavarotti being in a league all by himself, especially in this role.
Yeah I agree. So WHY does he still sing then? He was a great singer, and we will never forget him. But He just didn't have to sing now in his sixties and get booed. I just feel bad
schicoff1:I've just bought Traviata with NS & Gruberova on Dvd. Great singing all round & a worthy rival to the Solti Version with Gheorghiu & Lopardo. The cost? an unbelievable £4..50! After the card Scene I had to turn the video off & have a glass of wine to compose myself, it was that affecting. I've just listened again to NS singing Che Gelida. One of the best recordings I know. If he is singing a B instead of a C it is still very exciting so who cares? Henry Webb Pontypool Wales
Is it only my opinion, that he sings a the end high "b" not "c"?
The great voice teacher, Garcia approved of transposition as is saved wear on the voice. Would he have approved of De Lucia I wonder?
Henry Webb
If anyone wishes to hear a perfect & exciting B flat listen to Gigli's Aprile ( 1930 ) on the final word Aprile. Too many singers have shortened a fine career by singing top C's when a Bflat would have brought just as much applause.NS was being sensible. Henry Webb
Alagna did not hold a candle to prime Shicoff.
I feel Shicoff has a bit of the voice of Giuseppe Di Stefano , Alagna has appealing voice in mid 1994, has been much drier voice for too long already, yet still the darling of opera houses, not a good thing for real talented young artists.
It was my first expression... I don't think know like that, yes great phrasing too. I just didn't like (bit) electronic tune of spinto-lyricoes, which had lanza and bjorling and hadn't Gigli for instance, but it was the past... This is the last occasion when i express my opinion about great singers by first listening, Sorry
@StuartLou -Or will ever hear.
Que aire más parecido a Jerry hadley!
This is wonderful, but he fell apart vocally not long after and had to restudy. Like Tebaldi, I don't think he ever sounded as good as he does early.
@SHICOFF1 His singing of Lensky's aria was always magnificent. There is a plangent quality in this music that fit his vocal and interpretative gifts to perfection.
@@ransomcoates546 I love Gedda's version. but Neil's singing is equally gorgeous, and his acting, Wow!
@@道-p2e True.