Anthony Roth Costanzo: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
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- Опубліковано 27 вер 2018
- Sept. 21, 2018 | Tom Huizenga -- Anthony Roth Costanzo is a feisty performer who knows a thing or two about busting down barriers in classical music. After all, opera singers don't normally belt out arias behind office desks, and they don't insist on lugging harpsichords with them. They also don't routinely sing in Bronx middle school classrooms and get students talking about emotions. But Costanzo is fearless. (And after seeing this amazing Tiny Desk performance, watch him melt the hearts of distracted sixth-graders.)
A word about Costanzo's voice. He is a countertenor, a man who sings in the range of a female alto. The roots of the tradition date way back to the 1500s, when young male singers, called "castrati," were castrated in order to preserve their high, flexible voices.
"I've managed to do it without castration," Costanzo joked to the audience of NPR staffers. These days, countertenors sing in falsetto, and while as recently as 30 years ago it was considered something of an androgynous novelty, now countertenors are part and parcel of the opera world. (We've even hosted a countertenor before at the Tiny Desk.)
Costanzo performs songs from his new album, which pairs music by George Frideric Handel with Philip Glass. Strange bedfellows perhaps, and born more than 250 years apart, but somehow Glass' repetitive, staccato beats and Handel's long, flowing melodies manage to shake hands across the centuries.
One obvious common thread is the arrangements, by Nicholas DeMaison, that Costanzo commissioned expressly for this performance, featuring harpsichordist Bryan Wagorn (playing a beautiful double-manual French-styled instrument built by Thomas and Barbara Wolf), along with flutist Alice Teyssier and bassoonist Rebekah Heller.
Glass' "Liquid Days," begins with a recitative introduction, similar to a Handel aria. But the lyrics, by David Byrne, depict love, in all its quotidian splendor, as a character who "could use a shave" and "watches TV." "Pena tiranna," from Handel's undervalued Amadigi di Gaula, is a compelling example of how well the composer can spin a gorgeous melody to evoke the deepest anguish, while Glass' "In the Arc of Your Mallet," with a text by the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi, speaks of longing in sexy undertones.
Costanzo's agile voice, with its polished tone and patrician phrasing, is a singular reminder that we live in a golden age of countertenors - guys who sing high in music both ancient and modern.
Set List
"Glass: Liquid Days"
"Handel: Pena tiranna (From 'Amadigi di Gaula')"
"Glass: In the Arc of Your Mallet (from 'Monsters of Grace')"
Credits
Producers: Tom Huizenga, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Bronson Arcuri, Khun Minn Ohn; Production Assistants: Catherine Zhang, Téa Mottolese; Photo: Morgan Noelle Smith/NPR
I was not expecting that voice coming from that guy, but the man has some serious vocal chops!
What is this creature and why do I enjoy it?
@@WhompingWalrus the current Akhnaten!!
Mr Roth Constanzo is a bright light, amazingly talented, humble, funny, wonderful and a smile to die for.
We find everything on Tiny Desk, and that's why it's so good.
Thank you and long life
It's very lacking in the metal, breakcore and industrial scenes, though, innit?
I love when he sings the "hoo hoo hoo" part in sync with the instruments!
NPR Fresh Air interview with ARC brought me here... (that interview is worth a listen if you are curious about voice modulation and how he does it etc.. etc... fascinating conversation).
I was not looking for this kind of music, but if you start with Philip Glass you got my attention. I'm glad I didn't change the video, his voice is amazing
Well alright Anthony come thru with the operatic falsetto in full effect and the happy, talented, well dressed band. Love It!
Man, I love the bassonist so much. It's one of my favorite instruments. I loved all of this. His voice is really amazing and transports you to another head space.
My throat would hurt if I did that. WOW!!! So glad he let us know he hasn't been castrated ! ( ha ha great joke Anthony)
The harpsichord's voice change at 9:25 was sooo surprising and satisfying! I loved that little detail.
that harpsichordist is SO damn focused
Glad he’s found his place in the musical world. How amazing!
The voice and instruments are all so good. That oboe is glorious and I love the choice of pieces. This was a delicious treat. Thank you!
I have heard the last castrato, Alessandro Moreschi, and that was a haunting eerie voice. This guy actually sounds quite good! And glad he did not get chopped...
Uh, yeah, they haven't been 'chopping' them since the 1800s.
@@orpheus9037 Moreschi lived to make recordings in the 1900s. Presumably @Sushi Brightblade heard one of these.
Beaultil music and beautiful smiles. They look so appreciative of being there, love the vibe. Thanks for posting.
This reminds me of like 6th grade band!! I played the flute and my friend Laura played the Bassoon (such a cool instrument btw) And our friend Ryan had this high pitched voice and loved to sing randomness!
... so i've been listening to this on the background -- definitely not expecting [a] him! How awesome is this?!?
This was wonderful, Thank you for let me found him
love glass compositions thank you for this
This is amazing. Thank you Anthony and all the musicians. Totally, totally blown away. Incredible.
Isn't life great!
Brought here by Opera in the Bronx which is even better. Someday I hope you can come to my Kindergarten in the UK and do the same for some 4 year olds.
Love what you are doing. Love it.
I don't know what's with all the hate. I think it sounds pretty cool. It seems simple but it has unpredictable structure with changing time signatures that makes it feel odd. I like it, it makes you feel much different than most other music. has Klaus Nomi vibes, cudos.
such a strong voice, amaizing
That was marvelous.
The most impressive NPR so far for sure! hahah
Beautiful
DOPE LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VOICE AND INSTRUMENTS!!!
Ya gotta get Vulfpeck on here
Vulfpeck w/ ARC please
This is so magnificent 😍
Amazing work! Fresh to hear countertenor to sing contemporary works...
this....made me smile :)
Seriously AMAZING 👏 👏👏👏
Y'all ppl downvoting this eat it up when Tame Impala sings in this pitch smh
Beautiful Music!!!! Theater music!!
Going to see Akhnaten in May at Lincoln Center. Cannot wait.
Bravo! 👏👏😊
The best goosebumps!
Sick!
Excited for Liniker e os caramelows
That's what we can call: Good vibes 👍👍👍👍👍
OK I was just thrown for a loop and got up smiling I was sitting in the room and this voice came out of nowhere . I wondered who is she? And went into the living room and it was a he with a beautiful damn beautiful voice. He can sing. Have no idea who he is but this is 2018 so that won't be hard 2do. Reminds me of Baby Lawrence as a child falsetto singing gypsy fiddlers way back in the 30s. Wonderful
I promise you NPR are booked until the coming of the next century it feels!
*I THOUGHT HE WAS A WOMAN(no shade)!!!!! YOU GO ANTHONY!! He should be a vocal coach...the range is amazing.*
Thank god I always click npr notifications
Ben Howard next please
That would be amazing. Ben is probs my favorite artist.
God this is so great, Anthony is awesome.
He is like Alan Garner has the voice of an angel. 😎
Very impressive concidering all castrati are gone.
You dont need castratos as bad if you have microphones. Thats also why we don't have to sing like opera singers anymore, your bare voice doesn't compete with an orchestra anymore
4:42
Pure dope-ness
My voice teacher is this type of voice he’s amazing. This man has a lovely voice as well! Is the flute supposed to sound like that on those “fast notes” 🤔🤔🤔
How did he do that? That was magic.
Can we get Smino, Saba, Mick Jenkins, Caleborate, or 6lack
NPR I have a very important request. Give us a Mac demarco tiny desk!!!!
He good
that was something else, i like it though!
Can you please give Kojey Radical a session npr? for the benefit of the world !
My bf walked in: "WHAT are you WATCHING... Weird piano".
It's a harpsichord
"Weird oboe"
It's a bassoon.
This is definitely challenging some comfort zones 🤔💕
Get yourself a couple that can understand this.
Honest question for @NPR Music, when are we going to get Allen Stone on the Tiny Desk Concert? I"ll go ahead and comment on Allen Stone's page as well, in hopes to grab the attention of both parties.
Sleepless Niiighhtss!! (King Diamond cover)
holy shit that opening vocal
Depuis que je connais l'existence de ARC, je lui voue un culte
Make an episode with Guthrie Govan, please!
Anthony's, Voice is amazingly beautiful if you didn't see him you probably think you were listening to a woman seeing.
Interesting to hear this version with an operatic singer, I know the one with Paul Simon, of course sounds different but even great!!, with Roth Costanzo music is always a delight. Flute perform was very dissapointing, she never got the speed...Interesting see these pieces sung, in a library?
Anthony just participate on a video for the Vox channel
''We measured pop music’s falsetto obsession''
A Castrato!
That shirt is honestly flames tho!
It is very difficult to act in these acoustic conditions. All my respects
This would rock in 1885
Someone please tell me whats happening at 9:27 is the harpsichord dampened?? I've never heard that sound before and its amazing.
It's called a lute stop
Small pieces of felt are slid into contact with the strings to damp them when they're played, giving this lute like effect. You can see the harpsichordist pushes a stop above the middle of the keyboard just before he plays this passage. This moves the felt across.
Get lady Wray on here !!!!
uummmm......
*Imagine him singing Rhye*
i was wonderin what's the meaning of "NPR" ? someone knows and can tell me ? :)
national public radio
morgan thx !
Can you Guys ask kiana lede to come sing
who was the other countertenor?
Reminds me of Vitas
Get dragondeer on here!
I do not know what you need to do but the thing is
YOU NEED TO GET STROMAE TO DO ONE OF THESE
Not my jam (and I actually love operas) but it's quite good objectively :)
That's a harpsichord... what on Earth? :D
love takes its shoes off and sets on the couch??? LMAO
LOL I was hearing this part as I was reading your comment--- trippy and totally happenstance
@@jodicrain4500 i'm shook. the same thing happened to me.
Same here
A harpsichord, bassoon, and flute walk into a bar...🤣🤣🤣
Rebekah heller is my queen
Send J cole on your show please!!
:)
the flute is not micd right
Everything is mic'd, the way it sounds its probably ran to a computer and mixed down. The sound on Tiny Desk is too good to not be.
You can see the flute mic
dude, Too Many Zooz got weird huh...
I love new shit being tried. And good on NPR giving it time, though he might need a bit more time to refine what he's trying to do. A mate of mine is a counter, it's a hard slog.
His career began when he was 11, and he's considered one of the greatest countertenors in the world. So, no, he doesn't "need a bit more time to refine what he's trying to do." :)
I was not expecting a guy
Castrato?
Training!
Countertenor is the term for this vocal style. It is a very rare skill among singers!
LMFAO🤣. Are you saying that his nuts were cut off to hit these notes? Hilarious 😂
No thanks Ive just put one out.
Can we get some Little Pepe pleasee
Darling, he dead.
@@musashitoudou9800 wtf? You dont know who im talking about lol
@@garbajosa lol i thought you meant lil peep sorry haha
@@musashitoudou9800 dont worry, we can talk and clarify things hehehe ( Ps Little Pepe is a spanish reggae rapper )
@@garbajosa yeah i figured after goolgeing him. lil peep is an american rapper that dies last year.
This is what happens when you send your kids to Berklee
You mean Berklee?
Now we know who auditioned but didn’t get in
Don't know what you're talking about, he's from North Carolina and a Princeton graduate.
😂 ayi
a pleasure to watch
bruh
You need to get Jessie reyez
what’s wrong with a flutist?
Just wish he'd work on his trills......
Frank Ocean pleasseee
Who who who who who who who who who the fuck is this???
Dear Lord give me patience! lol
This is one of those that's good to listen to but real hard to watch
Can we be sure he wasn’t castrated?