Somebody asked me last week if today’s singers were as ‘good’ as the greats of yesteryear. It’s an oft asked question, but one that’s difficult to answer.
Firstly, what defines ‘good’ with anything pertaining to the artistic? A certain technical ability is a must-and one of the reasons so much of modern art is conceptual junk, purely designed to extract cash from a rich idiot. I think it was George Bernard-Shaw who presciently wrote about wishing to see the skill and the craft behind the art, before one can appreciate it. But in singing, technical mastery is often elevated above the artistry. And often rightly so. I love the singing of the great Rockwell Blake, because as a singer I find some of his achievements almost super-human. My mum, however, doesn’t. For her his singing will be slightly unpleasant. (We should all run our own, singery thoughts past a Mum Test, unless our mum is a great singer. Then find an Aunt.)
Then there are those singers who have limited vocal resources and ranges, yet can dazzle by their sheer artistry. I love the singing of Matteus Georne, and when I say love I mean obsessed-play on repeat-ram into my ears kinda love. Yet he would never be able to ace the Trovatore aria, or spin long lines of Don Carlo!
And what is a Great Singer. When does one earn this crown. There are people out there who will compile a YouTube video of great tenors singing the end of Nessun Dorma and include a certain blind Italien tenor! Clearly they have knowledge of Corelli, Björling et al, yet include Paul Potts!!! And who are we to argue? We can point out that they aren’t real opera singers-but if the listener loves them we simply come across as bitter. The normal response is that we are jealous. And yes, I am. I’m sure I’m not too arrogant in stating that I-a jobbing freelance soloist has more skill than a multi million CD selling artist trading under a pseudonym of an opera singer with no proper training and little experience-but I’d be very happy for a small slice of his earnings. But sadly I’m cursed to prefer singing Schubert in a small setting than belt out pops in a football stadium!
Always open to offers though....
And then there are those who have amazing vocal skills and still flourish in the commercial world. My mate Wynne Evans is a real, proper singer. Mario Lanza is a true great-influencing so many of us. And he was a movie star, having only sung a couple of Pinkertons in his entire life.
So taking all this onboard, and attempting to answer my friend’s question-no they are not as ‘good’ as they were. Today’s singers are often technically brilliant, and their voices haven’t got better through Darwinian selection. But the older singers have two things to mark them out. Nostalgia and personality.
Older mono recordings simply show voices in a more beautiful light. My opinion, but the early Jussi recordings have never been beaten for sheer beauty of tone. And my listening history-all those hours looking for obscure live recordings, then revelling in the opulent grandeur of the singing... Greats either get greater or get found out. So Caruso’s legacy is untouched, Ponselle sounds better and better!
And personality. I don’t know why but older singers just seemed more personable. I remember Gwyn, my famous tenor mate, giving my dad a Jussi Björling lapel badge because, “He understands what Jussi stood for....” Listen to Corelli cleft his mighty voice through those mighty sounds and delicate diminuendos! You can SEE that handsome face through the speakers as he sings. Why are singers less personable? Another discussion for another time. But in my opinion they most definitely are!
So with all this I’m going to be giving out my Twelve Days of Christmas YouTube Great Singers Advent Calendar Thingy. Each day for twelve days before Christmas there’ll be a video shared from yours truly of a great piece of singing-in my humble opinion. I’d love it if you had any suggestions. Nothing has been decided yet.
But one thing is certain, each of these vids will stir your blood. Because a human being, engaged in the act of emoting and singing brilliantly to the highest level(and there is no higher vocal level than an operatic, un-amplified voice) is a wonderful thing!
Firstly, what defines ‘good’ with anything pertaining to the artistic? A certain technical ability is a must-and one of the reasons so much of modern art is conceptual junk, purely designed to extract cash from a rich idiot. I think it was George Bernard-Shaw who presciently wrote about wishing to see the skill and the craft behind the art, before one can appreciate it. But in singing, technical mastery is often elevated above the artistry. And often rightly so. I love the singing of the great Rockwell Blake, because as a singer I find some of his achievements almost super-human. My mum, however, doesn’t. For her his singing will be slightly unpleasant. (We should all run our own, singery thoughts past a Mum Test, unless our mum is a great singer. Then find an Aunt.)
Then there are those singers who have limited vocal resources and ranges, yet can dazzle by their sheer artistry. I love the singing of Matteus Georne, and when I say love I mean obsessed-play on repeat-ram into my ears kinda love. Yet he would never be able to ace the Trovatore aria, or spin long lines of Don Carlo!
And what is a Great Singer. When does one earn this crown. There are people out there who will compile a YouTube video of great tenors singing the end of Nessun Dorma and include a certain blind Italien tenor! Clearly they have knowledge of Corelli, Björling et al, yet include Paul Potts!!! And who are we to argue? We can point out that they aren’t real opera singers-but if the listener loves them we simply come across as bitter. The normal response is that we are jealous. And yes, I am. I’m sure I’m not too arrogant in stating that I-a jobbing freelance soloist has more skill than a multi million CD selling artist trading under a pseudonym of an opera singer with no proper training and little experience-but I’d be very happy for a small slice of his earnings. But sadly I’m cursed to prefer singing Schubert in a small setting than belt out pops in a football stadium!
Always open to offers though....
And then there are those who have amazing vocal skills and still flourish in the commercial world. My mate Wynne Evans is a real, proper singer. Mario Lanza is a true great-influencing so many of us. And he was a movie star, having only sung a couple of Pinkertons in his entire life.
So taking all this onboard, and attempting to answer my friend’s question-no they are not as ‘good’ as they were. Today’s singers are often technically brilliant, and their voices haven’t got better through Darwinian selection. But the older singers have two things to mark them out. Nostalgia and personality.
Older mono recordings simply show voices in a more beautiful light. My opinion, but the early Jussi recordings have never been beaten for sheer beauty of tone. And my listening history-all those hours looking for obscure live recordings, then revelling in the opulent grandeur of the singing... Greats either get greater or get found out. So Caruso’s legacy is untouched, Ponselle sounds better and better!
And personality. I don’t know why but older singers just seemed more personable. I remember Gwyn, my famous tenor mate, giving my dad a Jussi Björling lapel badge because, “He understands what Jussi stood for....” Listen to Corelli cleft his mighty voice through those mighty sounds and delicate diminuendos! You can SEE that handsome face through the speakers as he sings. Why are singers less personable? Another discussion for another time. But in my opinion they most definitely are!
So with all this I’m going to be giving out my Twelve Days of Christmas YouTube Great Singers Advent Calendar Thingy. Each day for twelve days before Christmas there’ll be a video shared from yours truly of a great piece of singing-in my humble opinion. I’d love it if you had any suggestions. Nothing has been decided yet.
But one thing is certain, each of these vids will stir your blood. Because a human being, engaged in the act of emoting and singing brilliantly to the highest level(and there is no higher vocal level than an operatic, un-amplified voice) is a wonderful thing!