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| Posted By: Rodney C. Posted On: Apr 17, 2002 Views: 361 | Why is not Nicolai Gedda in the List When I voted, I chose Mario del Monaco, because even though most likely Volpi or Corelli (which are like the same)could be considered or rather are considered greater, I rather like Monaco's style, brute and yet with the delicacy that a blunt force has... deep within. however, I would have voted for N. Gedda had the choice been given... Yes, one could point out the superior technniques of this or that tenor, but this is music and it comes down which tenor speaks to your soul clearer... Money, Recognition, Fame, Technniques... all that is important and an inseparable part of singing... but when it comes to choosing the greatest tenor, it must be the one that through his voice speaks to your soul in such a way that you can even forget who is it that is singing and just penetrate the dephts of the human existence. |
| Posted By: Jay Anthonisen Posted On: Apr 25, 2002 Views: 335 | RE: Why is not Nicolai Gedda in the List Rodney, I do agree with you concerning Del Monaco: He had that brute force and a very special shine, and yet with a certain delicacy deep within. I was very tempted to vote for him myself, but then I thought he didn't really satisfy in every aspect: He was THE Otello of his day (and the century?), but showed shortcomings in other roles. Nicolai Gedda is, personally, a surprising suggestion, really the antithesis of Del Monaco, a (small?) lyric voice, professional and studied, excellent in the French romatic repertory, but not really present in the (popular) Italian. I would personally never have thought of including him in the list of the Greatest, perhaps that is ignorance on my part. |
| Posted By: Rodney C. Posted On: Apr 26, 2002 Views: 329 | RE: Why is not Nicolai Gedda in the List Jay, thank you for your opinion. I think that Gedda had a "small" voice when compared to del Monaco, Volpi or Corelli. But since they are not the same type of tenors I like to compare "apples to apples". Gedda's voice is the technnical perfection and finds its beauty in the tenderness of the human soul. Even though I must admit that throughout his career, his performance was not flawless as the one of Kraus. But even so, Kraus had to much of a "metallic" voice while Gedda's is just the gentle touch of the lover to his loved one. del Monaco, expressed the cry of the immortal in us, while Gedda reminds us that when faced we the eternality of Music, we are but dust. |
| Posted By: Yared Gomez Posted On: Apr 28, 2002 Views: 314 | RE: Why is not Nicolai Gedda in the List Mr. R. Castillo, The way you compared Nicolai Gedda and Alfredo Kraus (Apples to apples) is very interesting. They were both lyrical tenors with very well trained voices. Kraus and Gedda were excellent in the French lyrical roles but Kraus was always greater than Gedda. Kraus might have been in the list of the greatest. Who is the greatest lyrical tenor for at least the last 30 years of the xx century? Alfredo Kraus is. He was during this period of time, the greatest tenor in Werther, Il barbieri, I Puritani, La fille du regiment, Rigoletto, Traviata, Pearl Fishers, Elisir damore, Lucia di Lammermoor, Faust, etc. In fewer words, Kraus was the absolute leading tenor in all the Italian and French lyric repertory. Gedda was great in the Mozart roles, but so it was Kraus if not better. Opera is not just music. Opera is music and drama. Gedda was an appalling actor, (Karajan had too many fights with Gedda because Geddas awful actuation on stage). If we are going to make judgments about who is better than whom, what elements are we going to use to make that decision? We need standards to make that decision. Traditional standards? Score standards? Perhaps both? I truly believe that a tenor to be great should be able to sing the way the author of the opera wanted the tenor to sing. Like Dr. Fragala has written before, Gedda was unable to impart emotional and semi-heroic dimensions to I Puritanis vocal score. It did not only happen in I Puritani but also in many other roles Gedda did sing. Arnold in William Tell is a good example. I also like the "traditional ways" not in the score sometimes, like the high C in the end of "Di quella pira". Verdi did not write the high C but it became so popular that now every tenor has to sing it in order to be a great Manrico. Despite all this, adding a high C to "Di quella pira" does not determine if the tenor singing it has the suitable voice for the role. Kraus limited himself to the roles that he knew were in accordance with his voice. Therefore Kraus is The flawless Tenor. Gedda did sing too many roles not suited to his small voice. Kraus was faultless in the roles he did sing. Gedda was flawed in many roles he sang. Gedda was never convincing in roles such as I Puritani and Rigoletto, just to mention a couple. If we look to the operatic standards, Kraus is a much more accomplished tenor than Gedda. If Gedda could be in the greatest list, I think Wunderlich (Who I consider better than Gedda) could also be. I understand music is art. Drama is also art. Therefore Opera is art. Art must be seen from both subjective and objective perspectives. Subjectivity is by law implied in art. Since every human being is a universe, every soul sees art in a unique or subjective way. Regardless of subjectivity of the art, objectivity must also be present. Objectivity is based on the standards we use to judge the art and the artist. How can we tell good art from bad art without standards? It would be impossible without them. If the author of an opera wrote it to be sang in x form, It should be sang in x form. If the singer is not capable to sing it in x form, then he/she should not sing it. Many tenors sing roles not suitable for their voices. Kraus did not make that mistake. Gedda in the other hand tried many roles not suited for his small voice. Even though Gedda has a more beautiful voice, Kraus is by far a greater tenor. I dont think that when we contrast Gedda to Kraus we are comparing apples to apples. In any case Kraus is a better apple. |
| Posted By: marco manoni Posted On: May 15, 2002 Views: 283 | RE: Why is not Niolai Gedda in the List gedda is the best tenor ,who sang many roles,in many languages ,listen for example to his nuances in french,without any home language inflections. he was the most musical tenor,with the greatest legato in every tessitura,see for example his liszt lieder. he was the most intelligent tenor. ok kraus was perfect,but was often boring and ar the end of his career very nasal |