Um, hello? The only reason this recording is not absolutely FLAWLESS is because of one, *single* staccato high D that is a *hair* under the pitch. Yall need to get into Gwen Catley! Especially you high sopranos and lyrics. You can learn a great deal about correct tone and timbre and vowel purity from her. Even if her voice sounds weird or childish to you, please know that this is the way this music was sung and how it sounded at Mozarts time when sung by a so-called lighter voice. The registration balance and brightness are not only healthy and natural but absolutely necessary to achieve a clear, ringing tone while still being delivering the runs, triplets, staccati, and acuti properly. You can Google her and/or some more of her recordings here on YouTube. And heres a little excerpt of notes about her from the author James Anderson: Gwen Catley was once known in Britain as the highest voice in the land. Standing only 411 tall, she had a high and accurate coloratura voice, with often a very lovely poise of delivery. She was a natural. She came from a family of serious musical amateurs, and as a child always sang around the house. At two and a half, she joined in a concert performance of Oh! For the Wings of a Dove. She received no teaching until she began attending the Guildhall at the age of sixteen for twenty-minute lessons on a Saturday morning. She first worked on the Air du Rossignol by Saint-Saëns. Her professor took her to the Principal Sir Landon Ronald (who had been accompanist to Patti and Melba). Sir Landon said she reminds me of Melba -- bring her back in a years time. (notes from YouTube clip)
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 05:05:19 +0000
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