www.matthewcurran.net Matthew Curran, Bass Brian Paul Thomas, Conductor Choir of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, New Canaan, CT Handel's Messiah, Part 1 December 10, 2010
Oh My God! Am I understanding this correctly that you listen to to this through your car radio on the way to work? You just made my day! How to make the long phrases in one breath? That's the million dollar question, isn't it? Many years of training and developing the relevant muscles, I suppose. But the more specific answer is a low and consistent support starting down from the pelvis, engaged in a steady and balanced way as you sing through the phrase. Breath low and wide. And trust it.
For He is like a refiner’s fire .... I can’t think of words or sentiments more powerful to call us to profound moral reckoning. The image shakes me to the bone and points me toward the path of righteousness. Who shall stand when he appeareth? Yes, indeed. Who shall stand....? Beautifully sung. Powerful. Filled with fire, fury and a call to moral reckoning.
I like it more when it is sung by bass, as it then conveys the seriousness, powerful threat and anger of "For he is like a refiner's fire" that contraltos are too soft to express. I grew up hearing a record with William Warfield singing it and still think that is one of the best interpretations.
@@LauraRose83 true as that may be, compared to the audience modern songs get, this is pretty small. And finding people who listen and sing or play these pieces is a miracle
I know that Handel preferred a castrato for the aria, but I think that a bass is much better able to express "the refiner's fire" so much better. Well done! And thank you for taking the lead and not taking the conductor's ridiculous beginning tempo.
Been listening to your rendition of this piece of Handel for a couple of years now, and it's the one I prefer. Excellent chest voice, very fine. Prophetic in its delivery. I can feel the emotion, and it makes me want to call out to God. There is no finer recital of this piece on UA-cam. Bravo!
When I first started learning this recit/aria, this video was the first I watched. Now, here I am, a year later, and WHOA. I know you now! What a crazy feeling! I hope you have been well! Bravo!
This was quite lovely. Your breathing technique is impressive. I’m learning this and I’m not finding it easy. The melismas are making me crazy. I start the line going, rev it up into proper tempo and at the slightest relaxation of my concentration it’s just all over place. It’s like attempting to run a really strong vacuum cleaner on a conveyor belt. Pity me, I’m a lazy baritone. 😢 🎭 😭
Can't tell you how nice it is to receive this kind of mention, Steve. Thank you so much! Have a wonderful holiday season and enjoy your time singing his praises.
Thank very much! I appreciate your kind words and am so glad you enjoyed my singing. South Sweden!!!! Sounds beautiful. Some day I hope to visit your country. I've met nothing but wonderful people from there.
Matthew, you have my favorite live performance in UA-cam. I'm learning this one along with 'For behold' and I keep listening to your versions because you sing them very well. Thanks.
Great performance sir. What an awesome singer you are. Too bad you only did two pieces. I would have loved to have heard all the the bass solos from Messiah. You are such a talented singer. It's inspiring to hear you sing. Thank you for posting these videos.
This is sooo amazing!!! I use this as my go to piece. I have been watching you forever!!!!!!! I have also been listening to your puccini also!!!! You rock Sir!!!!!
I'm learning this now and it's really helpful to hear another bass sing it! Thank you! Also I realized after a moment that I met you briefly in Memphis during Boheme, you were excellent as Colline as well :)
Yes i love it! when i drive to my job i use to sync this to my car radio from my iphone and listen every morning. and i nearly sing perfect as you do. but i cant make the longbreathings tecnincs as you do... how do you hold it longer?? i also listen to "when people walked in darknes.
YES absolutly!! its bluetooth through my radio and my iphone. you mean that i need to push out more air with my abs from the lower part at the belly? sorry for my spelling hehe, i havnt use english for years :) i also listn to your song : the people that walked in darknes, its so nice to listn to this when i drive in the cold winter here in Skåne. it would be nice to have you as a mailfriends or what you call it? many regards from Jesper.
Vielen Dank! Aber kenne ich nicht genau diese Sprache. I'm thinking this is probably Dutch, but I always want to call it Swiss German when I see or hear Dutch.
...todays conductors should withstand the tendency to take wrong tempi. Mr. Curran does right to decelerate that ridiculous tempo in the beginning. And indeed, I have never been a friend of countertenors. Best regards from Maestro Klemperer! Conductor Magnum.
If only there was such thing as the "Correct," tempo. Alas.... And what feels right on one day in one situation may feel totally wrong on another. I know many countertenors who are wonderful people and good friends, though I do prefer this aria sung by a bass. But of course, I have a bias. ;-) As for Maestro Klemperer, are you in touch with him? Impressive.
@@MatthewCurranBass ..it is all about the voice here. I would never dare any further comments about personal friends whatever their voices sound like. Yes, I do like the voice and interpretation of Mr. Curran very much! That’s how a well balanced Basso should sound like. What I dislike are the tiny orchestras and their conductors tendency for hasty tempi. Not especially here. I prefer by far the Klemperer version, the full blossom of a big orchestra and Opera voices he always chose. RDS
Oh My God! Am I understanding this correctly that you listen to to this through your car radio on the way to work? You just made my day!
How to make the long phrases in one breath? That's the million dollar question, isn't it? Many years of training and developing the relevant muscles, I suppose. But the more specific answer is a low and consistent support starting down from the pelvis, engaged in a steady and balanced way as you sing through the phrase. Breath low and wide. And trust it.
For He is like a refiner’s fire .... I can’t think of words or sentiments more powerful to call us to profound moral reckoning. The image shakes me to the bone and points me toward the path of righteousness. Who shall stand when he appeareth? Yes, indeed. Who shall stand....? Beautifully sung. Powerful. Filled with fire, fury and a call to moral reckoning.
Happy Birthday to the Late George Handel Blessings and Hugs 💖💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕!
Very interesting to hear "But Who May Abide" sung in a bass voice. This is a very beautiful emotive rendition.
I always prefer to hear the bass voice renditions of this piece...
I love this passage of the Bible. Maranatha!
I like it more when it is sung by bass, as it then conveys the seriousness, powerful threat and anger of "For he is like a refiner's fire" that contraltos are too soft to express. I grew up hearing a record with William Warfield singing it and still think that is one of the best interpretations.
Having sung this piece often myself, I KNOW how difficult it can be to sing it both accurately and excessively. This is beautifully done!
Oops...EXPRESSIVELY!
This melts my heart. Why can't I get a guy that sings like this....lol. I love it.
Lucia Rose who listens to these masterpieces anymore😕
@@juansebastian768 I do and most people who view this type of music.
@@LauraRose83 true as that may be, compared to the audience modern songs get, this is pretty small. And finding people who listen and sing or play these pieces is a miracle
@@juansebastian768 There are a lot of talented people who do sing this stuff. If you lived in the classical music community you would know.
Lucia Rose lucky you if you do :( cause once you listen to classical, the rest seems dry
This is how it should be sung. Well done that man!
I know that Handel preferred a castrato for the aria, but I think that a bass is much better able to express "the refiner's fire" so much better. Well done! And thank you for taking the lead and not taking the conductor's ridiculous beginning tempo.
Castratos are hard to find these days, anyway.
Händel actually wrote a bass version as well. But I see the bass singer is holding a Novello edition, and they never include the bass version.
I can’t imagine a castrations singing this
Then again, we don’t do that sort of thing anymore
Thank goodness
It was originally written for a female alto, wasn't it?
There are a few contra tenors who do this justice and are known to have children lol. Nonetheless as a bass baritone I prefer Matthew’s rendition
Been listening to your rendition of this piece of Handel for a couple of years now, and it's the one I prefer. Excellent chest voice, very fine. Prophetic in its delivery. I can feel the emotion, and it makes me want to call out to God. There is no finer recital of this piece on UA-cam. Bravo!
Such gorgeous singing. Thank-you for sharing your wonderful rendition of this on youtube! :)
When I first started learning this recit/aria, this video was the first I watched. Now, here I am, a year later, and WHOA. I know you now! What a crazy feeling! I hope you have been well! Bravo!
This was quite lovely. Your breathing technique is impressive.
I’m learning this and I’m not finding it easy. The melismas are making me crazy.
I start the line going, rev it up into proper tempo and at the slightest relaxation of my concentration it’s just all over place.
It’s like attempting to run a really strong vacuum cleaner on a conveyor belt.
Pity me, I’m a lazy baritone.
😢 🎭 😭
Wonderful rendition Matthew I am listening to you now as I practice and prepare for our soon coming King
Can't tell you how nice it is to receive this kind of mention, Steve. Thank you so much! Have a wonderful holiday season and enjoy your time singing his praises.
Wauw, what a voice
BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO!!!!!
Some great singing going on here! What great opportunities you get to premiere song cycles. Bravo to you and Bob 👏🏿
Thank very much! I appreciate your kind words and am so glad you enjoyed my singing. South Sweden!!!! Sounds beautiful. Some day I hope to visit your country. I've met nothing but wonderful people from there.
Beautiful. Love it.
Exactly the breaths I use, nicely done, Matthew! A treat to have a bass version, rather than alto to sing with.
Lovely. Thanks for sharing. This is amazing!
i love your voice!! you nail it perfect! on 5:02 5:10!! love it!!!
greatings from south sweden!!
Matthew, I really like your bass voice.
Thank you very much!
oh! hw i love this, good breath control. keep it up
The eyebrows from the harpsichordist at 5:14 “strap in”
Well done Mr. Curran, and I am unanimous in that .. :)
Matthew, you have my favorite live performance in UA-cam. I'm learning this one along with 'For behold' and I keep listening to your versions because you sing them very well. Thanks.
Great solo. Sang it in 2005.
I love your voice! I hope to sing like you one day! :)
Wow!! Wonderful!
Great performance sir. What an awesome singer you are. Too bad you only did two pieces. I would have loved to have heard all the the bass solos from Messiah. You are such a talented singer. It's inspiring to hear you sing. Thank you for posting these videos.
This is sooo amazing!!! I use this as my go to piece.
I have been watching you forever!!!!!!!
I have also been listening to your puccini also!!!! You rock Sir!!!!!
Perfect!
Vocal timbre so rich I gained 10 pounds just listening!
Wow
Still the best voice for this song lol
WOW!! Wonderful performance. Thank you very much, Sir.
@ejrouge Thats very much up to the conductor
Very nice interpretation
I'm learning this now and it's really helpful to hear another bass sing it! Thank you! Also I realized after a moment that I met you briefly in Memphis during Boheme, you were excellent as Colline as well :)
Watch mine and you may think that this piece is more suited to the Baritone voice...but I'm biased of course.
Matthew made the refiners fire serious unlike when its done by an alto singer.
@popertop Thank you, sir.
shiiiiiit vi har en riktig musikkännare här!
See the original version in our channel...
Yes i love it! when i drive to my job i use to sync this to my car radio from my iphone and listen every morning. and i nearly sing perfect as you do. but i cant make the longbreathings tecnincs as you do... how do you hold it longer?? i also listen to "when people walked in darknes.
Do it standing up, and breath effortlessly into your lower back. Get yourself a G. Schirmer.
No one does the original anymore.
YES absolutly!! its bluetooth through my radio and my iphone. you mean that i need to push out more air with my abs from the lower part at the belly? sorry for my spelling hehe, i havnt use english for years :)
i also listn to your song : the people that walked in darknes, its so nice to listn to this when i drive in the cold winter here in Skåne. it would be nice to have you as a mailfriends or what you call it? many regards from Jesper.
Vielen Dank! Aber kenne ich nicht genau diese Sprache. I'm thinking this is probably Dutch, but I always want to call it Swiss German when I see or hear Dutch.
That orchestra is goin haha
Is it just me or he sang and extra note in the beginning of "and I will shake" at 0:32
but is not the original version...
2:06
well im not talking dutch, german or swiss butbut
...todays conductors should withstand the tendency to take wrong tempi. Mr. Curran does right to decelerate that ridiculous tempo in the beginning. And indeed, I have never been a friend of countertenors. Best regards from Maestro Klemperer! Conductor Magnum.
If only there was such thing as the "Correct," tempo. Alas.... And what feels right on one day in one situation may feel totally wrong on another. I know many countertenors who are wonderful people and good friends, though I do prefer this aria sung by a bass. But of course, I have a bias. ;-) As for Maestro Klemperer, are you in touch with him? Impressive.
@@MatthewCurranBass ..it is all about the voice here. I would never dare any further comments about personal friends whatever their voices sound like.
Yes, I do like the voice and interpretation of Mr. Curran very much! That’s how a well balanced Basso should sound like.
What I dislike are the tiny orchestras and their conductors tendency for hasty tempi. Not especially here. I prefer by far the Klemperer version, the full blossom of a big orchestra and Opera voices he always chose. RDS
0:45
1:12
I bet his children are well behaved. LOL 😂
He wasn't keeping up with the other musicians. He tended to slow down too much.
Fucking badass Voice!
Very well sung, but for my taste this is WAY too slow and ponderous.
Listen to mine.
This guy has a good voice, but he needs to work on making those coloraturas quicker, it sounds like he's really struggling with them.
too schmaltzy.