Verdi Requiem Blog #3

Recordare...

After hearing both Martina Arroyo and Josephine Veasey sing this movement of the Requiem, I have a few comments.. First off, to answer the question asked of us, the women increase their space as they crescendo and as they decrescendo and it is so controlled that I am amazed. Perhaps this is what makes them real live 'opera singers' and capable of singing such rich repertoire. I think their mouths represent the vowel they are singing, so that no confusion occurs, and yes, they definitely still have their own roles though it appears they are considering one another in blend. Yay for choir teaching something of substance! I do hear much less of the alto voice than the soprano, but probably for the obvious reasons that she is singing in a much lower register. The text comes across rather clearly though in both women's voices...

Pavarotti singing the Ingemisco..

From the looks of it, this appears as easy as eating ice cream while sitting in your favorite chair watching soaps...

Nonetheless, all of Pavarotti's vowels seem to remain very tall throughout his singing, and his sound seems very connected to the breath at all times. When he sings in the uppermost register, I wonder if there is any tension in his throat cavity? I can't really tell, to be honest...
Sometimes in these moments as mentioned above, it seems a little 'in your face' where I wonder if such a loud dynamic is needed at such a high point in his register? I sense Pavarotti's support coming from his breath for the most part...

Finally we have Mr. Rene Pape singing the Confutatis maledictis...

Man, this gentleman's mouth is more active than other vocalists I've considered in this blog. And his throat space seems to be more than other vocalists I've seen... Is it really necessary that he open his mouth as such in minute 3:03? His singing is really rather supported throughout the registers and seems to match the instrumental accompaniment well. His dynamic contrast is rather impressive I must say.. singing with increased intensity where the text seems to require it. I see that he is a German born bass.. given that information perhaps one needs to remember the way he would form words in his own language... texts in languages other than German can't be formed exactly the same for him, right? Impressive nonetheless.