Underrated Cheryl Studer!
Sat, Jun 23 2012, 1:51AM
Just checked out this site and, I must disagree with those who under-rate Cheryl Studer!
Strangely, as a long confirmed atheist, I am attracted to almost ANY version of "Ave Maria"!
Ms. Studer's, remains my "all time favourite"!
If you have a problem with her songs, skip to the next record!
Best
Mike C.
Mon, Jun 25 2012, 6:02PM
#2
RE: Underrated Cheryl Studer!
She is indeed underated. I think the last 30 years have brought to the world the greatest collection of femail singers we have ever seen or heard. Sandrine Piau, Christine Schafer, Solie Isokoski, Natalie Dessay, Cecilia Bartoli, Benarda Fink, Susan Graham, Monica Groop, Vesellina Kasarova, Sophie Koch, Angelina Kirchschlarger, Christianne Stotijn, Nathalie Stutzmann. Singing styles have changed as we have moved away from the Wagner school and the Can Belto style. I'd much rather hear today's more delicate, truer voiced singers then most of yesterdays, style over substance prima donnas, a few exceptions.
The Doc is spot on (as he can easily be when he tries). I wouldn't go quite so far as preferring most of today's singers to those of yesteryear, but maybe that's because I'm particularly interested in historical - very historical in many cases -singing and comparison of eras is so often a fruitless pursuit. But the roster of current female singers, of which the Doc has given some wonderful examples, is a rich one indeed. We should be thankful.
There are many more - Sondra Radvanovsky, for instance, who I think is a sensation. Having slept out on various pavements over the years to secure tickets to see any number of singers, I'd vowed not to do so again unless Boris Johnson has the foresight to install memory-foam pavements, but I'd make an exception in her case.
Tue, Jun 26 2012, 3:18PM
#3
RE: Underrated Cheryl Studer!
Mrs. Studer should neither be underrated, but nor overrated. She was a very good singer, with some very bright moments, but no signature role.
As for the rather (more) modern singers, yes, they are good, some excellent but not brilliant. The ones from the glorious past had this sheer brilliance that none of the followers managed to achieve (Callas, Sutherland, Nilsson, Horne, Caballe, Tebaldi, Fassbaender, etc.).
Parla
Tue, Jun 26 2012, 7:16PM
#4
RE: Underrated Cheryl Studer!
Callas could be very patchy, her voice could sound quite ugly at times. I think most of her legacy is based on live performance, her recordings vary from excellent to awful. Sutherland, if you read any of her writings about herself and her art, was about as interesting as listening to an Australian housewife read a shopping list. I do think there is great sound with her, but little intellectual depth. She looked after her voice and kept to the roles she excelled in, Callas went a little further afield and her voice paid for it.
Wed, Jun 27 2012, 12:11AM
#5
RE: Underrated Cheryl Studer!
Callas initiated the true "acting" in the Opera theatre, at the detriment of her voice, in the long run. Her voice was never too beautiful, but, because she was an amazing artist apart from singer, she could make most of the people forget or overlook her vocal deficiancies, since they were absorbed by her brilliant interpretations. Her live performances, by all means, were more legendary.
Sutherland had the superhuman voice (La Stupenda) of a massive power with an agility of a coloratura. She tried and sang successfully plenty of roles, not only in Belcanto (Haendel's Alcina, Galatea and Athalia, Mozart's Donna Anna, Gounod's Margarite, Turandot, plenty of different recitals and songs). I don't think a voice of this stamina and technic will come up again. She was also very meticulous in studying and researching the scores and the sources of the works she had to perform, trying successfully to recreate the singing eras of the Operas she had to perform. Very notable examples the legendary recitals of The Art of Prima Donna, The Art of Belcanto, Command Performances, etc.
Parla
Thu, Jun 28 2012, 10:56AM
#6
RE: Underrated Cheryl Studer!
I'd rather listen to Lotte Lehmann, Elisabeth Schumann, Frida Leider, Ninon Vallin, Maggie Teyte, Conchita Supervia, Meta Seinemeyer (really, the list of great female singers from the 20s to the 40s is endless...) than any of the above, so I tend to think your conception of "yesterday's" singers is somewhat limited, Uber Alice.
Thu, Jun 28 2012, 11:24AM
#7
RE: Underrated Cheryl Studer!
I'd rather listen to Lotte Lehmann, Elisabeth Schumann, Frida Leider, Ninon Vallin, Maggie Teyte, Conchita Supervia, Meta Seinemeyer (really, the list of great female singers from the 20s to the 40s is endless...) than any of the above, so I tend to think your conception of "yesterday's" singers is somewhat limited, Uber Alice.
'Somewhat limited' without a doubt. They sang in Opera houses in the 20's and 40's and I wasn't around then. Their recordings will of course not do them full justice and to pretend that they do is fooling yourself. Today's singers are made for recording and recording has of course advanced. If you like 'snap, crackle and pop' with you screech then recordings of 20's and 40's singers are fine. If you like 'tasteful' and intelligent singing in Mozart, Handel, Haydn etc then we have an excellent choice today. They are better recorded, they are generally more tasteful and they are all note perfect. None of that missing notes and glossing over that in the 20's and 40's they used to call style and personality.
She is indeed underated. I think the last 30 years have brought to the world the greatest collection of femail singers we have ever seen or heard. Sandrine Piau, Christine Schafer, Solie Isokoski, Natalie Dessay, Cecilia Bartoli, Benarda Fink, Susan Graham, Monica Groop, Vesellina Kasarova, Sophie Koch, Angelina Kirchschlarger, Christianne Stotijn, Nathalie Stutzmann. Singing styles have changed as we have moved away from the Wagner school and the Can Belto style. I'd much rather hear today's more delicate, truer voiced singers then most of yesterdays, style over substance prima donnas, a few exceptions.