Opera Cage Match: Otello "Esultate" sing-off

Рет қаралды 24,209

16 жыл бұрын

Often referred to as the most difficult opening lines in all of opera, here are five tenors giving 'er. In chronological order:
1. Giacomo Lauri-Volpi
2. Mario del Monaco
3. Jon Vickers
4. Placido Domingo
5. Luciano Pavarotti
Four of these guys were legendary Otellos. One just did it for kicks late in his career.
note: although the Del Monaco recording was recorded a year later than the Vickers recording that I chose, I decided to put it before Vickers because del Monaco's career hit its peak before Vickers.

Пікірлер: 126

@user-xz9zq3qy7y 7 жыл бұрын

Otello overall for MDM was often criticized for overpowered singing. But here in esultate, MDM has a loud, clean voice with power, and understandable diction with good phrasing.

@fr.jamesjohnson1567 4 жыл бұрын

I must say that criticisms are often silly.

@bluefish990 15 жыл бұрын

The thing that always amazes me about Pav is that he can sing anything reasonably well. He might not be the best at everything, but he is the rare tenor who can do anything. He also records well, and most Otello's (MDM) seem not to.

@TrovadorManrique 16 жыл бұрын

The chronological order is the quality decreasing order too... :)

@joemcbob9688 3 жыл бұрын

Love these tenors! Especially Del Monaco!

@BassoNero 14 жыл бұрын

It was Pavarotti`s dream to sing Othello. He knew it is not for his voice to sing it at the stage, so he did the recording at least; and really good one.

@baritonoguapo 16 жыл бұрын

I have to say that I've heard quite a few of MDM's recordings, but the one that strikes me as the most impressive is the widely available 1962 studio recording that I included. I was actually surprised to see that so many people preferred Domingo over him!

@andrewbentley849 8 ай бұрын

I find Domingo slightly more musical.

@vickersman 16 жыл бұрын

It's Vickers for me....like who else am I going to choose...lol

@KeithOtisEdwards 14 жыл бұрын

This is great to listen to, but you guys are all insane !

@EleniH 13 жыл бұрын

I'm gonna put in a vote for Vickers :)

@joemcbob9688 2 жыл бұрын

The 1961 studio recording is so fantastic and underrated!

@TheAleph74 16 жыл бұрын

Ok, this is my opinion: 1. MDM: He was Otello, end of the story. 2. I have to say that, regardless that he never sang the complete role, I like Pavarotti's Esultate second best after Del Monaco. It's true: his squillo is out of this world. 3. A tie between Domingo and Lauri Volpi. 4. I'v heard better Vickers' Esultates than this one. Thanks for this clip!!!

@vickersman 11 жыл бұрын

Look MDM was a great.. great artist.But I stand by my earlier comments. At times he needed a softer side to his singing but not necessary here with this passage Esultate. That needed a commanding voice as it was Otello's introduction to the audiance-a joyful exclamation of victory in battle.God knows he managed the big sound-perhaps like none other. "Ciroalb3" summed it up quite well, as to vocal shading. Otello must express many emotions that are not all best presented triple forte!

@noosphere23 16 жыл бұрын

All are wonderful - equally - in their own signature style. Interesting to note that only Vickers and Pavarotti sing the final, challenging notes as written. Conductor Tullio Serafin, who actually heard Tamagno sing the role, preferred Vickers.

@baritonoguapo 16 жыл бұрын

I will try my damnedest to find that recording of Melchior and post it. I heard that when he "retired" from the Met in his mid 60's, the voice was still extremely powerful and impressive.

@CarlosMorenoPelizari 15 жыл бұрын

you missed VINAY!!

@TrovadorManrique 16 жыл бұрын

GIACOMO LAURI-VOLPI is the best out of doubt!!

@dedal141 16 жыл бұрын

I don't like much Domingo's Otello, but he received the largest ovation registered in The Guiness Records, two hours for Otello. Maybe to see him in the teathre is different from listening a CD.

@kgus123 16 жыл бұрын

I love Domingo, but del Monaco and Vickers are still THE Otellos of our age

@tehen162 16 жыл бұрын

1. Lauri-Volpi 2. Del Monaco 3. Vickers 4. Domingo 5. Pavarotti

@forallyouknow 15 жыл бұрын

I can't decide between Monaco, Vickers, and Domingo. They all had that lovely metal in their voices, and Monaco and Vickers could control theirs so well--what the earlier commenters said about "vocal shading", but not confined to volume.

@operadm 16 жыл бұрын

Domingo, and del Monaco, but Pavarotti is surprisingly powerful

@ciroalb3 16 жыл бұрын

The problem of course is that Otello must have several shades of voice. His next extended piece is the gentle voiced duet with Desdemona, then the rage of Si pel ciel, the choking emotion of Dio mi potevi etc. I have always liked Martinelli, but like to imagine Caruso's Esultate

@Revener666 15 жыл бұрын

Someone should post Renato Zanellis version, I've always liked that one.

@Un_Gordo_De_Derecha 6 жыл бұрын

Pavarotti version is in live

@dedal141 16 жыл бұрын

Is legendary the presence of del Monaco in Otello, more than 420 times sang this role and maybe has not pair in this, in my opinion is the best, even the roughest directors couldn't cover his voice with the power of the orchestra. The second place is not posted here but is Vinay, he was a dramatic voice with a passionate role interpretation. Other absence is Corelli, in this aria he was impressive.

@GermanOperaSinger 16 жыл бұрын

Although Corelli never did the role on stage, he did perform an 'Esultate' at a gala I'm not sure what year. I've got it if you want to hear, but you probably have it too.

@Beth29252 12 жыл бұрын

Vickers and Domingo tied for interpretation, Del Monaco for power and Lauri-Volpi for musicality and diction. I also love Vinay's(not here I know) Otello for the quality of the phrasing. Pavarotti's rendition is a worthy attempt but to me that's all it is, I like him very much but when I think of Otello I don't think of Pavarotti. Overall, while Domingo is my personal favourite Otello, I give 1st place to Del Monaco.

@baritonoguapo 16 жыл бұрын

You are correct, Corelli never performed Otello, though many thought it would have been his greatest role. I have heard that his stage fright problem prevented him from ever taking it on.

@mariobarbov9605 3 жыл бұрын

Well they can think what they want

@rm946 16 жыл бұрын

Sadly I haven't got them to hand but they are on youtube, or at least on the net, I'm sure. Great list though! I'd never come across John Vickers before, he's pretty good. I've never been wild about Del Monaco, although I like his voice. I wonder if there is an earlier Lauri-Volpi version of Esultate - his voice is so fresh and vibrant in the earlier records. Although he did 'cover' quite a lot - the track I'm thinking of sounds like 'Esultorte'! Thanks for these clips.

@phantom4087 16 жыл бұрын

"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." This is not necessarily true of all cases, but Domingo, with technical flaws of which he was VERY aware, could probably spot those problems with students in an instant. The reason I knew about the tongue placement thing was because, when I was 12, I had that very problem, and was able to correct it very early. Also, thinking about interpretation (if you have mastered technique) is a must, because it makes technique more second nature.

@phantom4087 16 жыл бұрын

What's funny is that all of the technical problems you mentioned have to do with the placement of the tongue. He did have most of those problems, but there are some things (non-technical) that young singers can take from him. For instance, I am singing 'A Vucchella' by Tosti for an upcoming recital. One of the things that Domingo talks about is singing the meaning of a word as it pertains to yourself. That bit of advice is very good for young singers.

@Doooku 16 жыл бұрын

The problem for Pavarotti was: He should have never sung that role. That's it. You know what i meant. But I appreciated your insights about many other things

@vickersman 15 жыл бұрын

You are correct about vocal shading.That's why Mario del M, who seemed to shout everything and had no ppp on hand is really a dissappointment.The tender scenes with Desdemona are lost without it.Domingo did a fair job, but Vickers with that highly controlled head voice was masterful in soft singing passages.Vocally he could be a lion and a lamb.That is artistry, and not just technique.

@wansob 16 жыл бұрын

Yes, recording ends a discussion. Otello is Domingo.

@Ettoredipugnar 6 жыл бұрын

wansob lol take your meds please

@Sacha_Kudli 3 жыл бұрын

@@Ettoredipugnar he’s right!

@Ettoredipugnar 3 жыл бұрын

Domingo is a bum !

@patriciaschroeder5044 3 жыл бұрын

Vickers definitely!

@baritonoguapo 16 жыл бұрын

Honestly, though, if I were Pavarotti, I would have jumped at the chance to sing Otello, too. And under the circumstances (i.e. a voice not particularly well suited to the role), he did it quite admirably. He was always in command of his voice, and although he may have done some things that were inappropriate for his instrument, I never thought he sounded bad doing it---unlike some of today's tenors.

@pillsber 3 жыл бұрын

MDM was abe to control his voice but not to the degree he probably would have liked. He was still one of the greatest Otellos ever. Better than all the others on the above list easy. My opinion.

@baritonoguapo 16 жыл бұрын

If you have recordings of Tamagno and Zanelli, post them as a response! I couldn't get my hands on a Tamagno recording as I was compiling this, and I have not heard Zanelli do it.

@baritonoguapo 16 жыл бұрын

I prefer del Monaco's rendition, but Domingo is a close second. They are both very exciting, but I prefer the overall timbre of MDM's voice. Does anyone have a recording of Melchior singing this?

@maciejkucharski5703 9 ай бұрын

Pav is powerful, great exceptional

@2ndAveLine 16 жыл бұрын

There is a live Esultate by MDM (with Victoria de los Angeles as Desdemona) that is astounding, even better than here.

@Nicrhind 14 жыл бұрын

I just can't help but think how thrilling Corelli would have been in this role... ha, Pavarotti just came on. What was he thinking?!

@mcknighty11 16 жыл бұрын

everyone says how horrible Pavarotti was at Otello, but I thought he did pretty good. i was surprised I liked the Domingo recording the best here, but I'll always like del Monaco's acting and singing together. I really liked Vickers as well

@mariocavaradossi7352 3 жыл бұрын

Mario Del Monaco!!! Brilliant Otello!

@bodiloto 2 жыл бұрын

Mario Del Monaco= Otello . ❤️

@ubedajils 16 жыл бұрын

Del Monaco tenía la fuerza, el poder vocal y el dramatismo necesarios para el papel y, desde luego, para esta entrada titánica.

@Jestak 5 жыл бұрын

Of this group, and of Otellos from the stereo era in general, Vickers is my first choice, and likely to remain so for all time. But the best Otello I've ever heard in any recording was Martinelli.

@pillsber 3 жыл бұрын

Vickers' control was utterly phenomenal. I consider him one of the best Otellos but not THE best. His Italian diction was good but he was so obviously a non Italian speaker he took a hit for the role FOR ME. I know a lot of people would not agree with this. Del Monaco-just like Corelli-had tremendous difficulty singing quietly. I know Corelli didn't perform Otello I'm just noting a similar problem.Nonetheless Del Monaco was one of the greatest Otellos. To me definitely better than Vickers. Ramon Vinay was even better than Del Monaco but for some reason people don't note him in these commentaries. Then there's Carlos Guichandut AND Giuseppe Giacomini. Both of these better Otellos than Vickers. I am not trying to take anything away from Vickers. But for me the role MUST be sung by a Mediterranean. Domingo 'qualifies' but does not ever stack up to any of these. He oversang and usually his heart wasn't in anything he did. He hit the notes. The lights were on. But most of the time nobody was ever home.

@Joeleole 15 жыл бұрын

Vickers all the way for Otello!!!

@massimocassano2545 3 жыл бұрын

Se si vuole parlare, invece del personaggio in tutte le sfumature ed in divenire sui risvolti psicologici dei 4 atti, per chi ha avuto modo di cantare con i più svariati e diversi protagonisti tenorili che hanno incarnato la figura del Moro nella completezza e complessità del ruolo, quindi non solo nell efficacia scenico/ vocale, molti consensi tra gli altri grandissimi Artisti, li colse Francesco Merli dai magnetici occhi verdi, dal canto, sul fiato, sfumato, ma anche virile ed all occorrenza stentoreo e declamante

@Yorick10314 12 жыл бұрын

I think most agree about Pav's performance. but, may I ask, are there any other recordings of him singing this role other than the Solti piece where he sang with Nucci and Te Kanawa? He even admitted that it was out of his league so to speak.

@vickersman 15 жыл бұрын

Your comments might be a bit over the top-but only a bit.Mostly, I fully agree with you, Domingo over-reached his abilities vocally, and here, at least with his 'Esultate', I think that fact is quite clear.He wasn't the best Otello vocally, and his acting was just so so. IMHO.I was lucky to have been on stage with Vickers- an incredible experience-SCARY!!!Domingo was in a 'divo' recognition fight with Pavarotti for almost his entire career-maybe that pushed him to chose roles unwisely.P.C.knows.

@boxingin 15 жыл бұрын

I think number one should be John Vickers. He is the strongest dramatic tenor I've ever heard. And Pavarotti shouldn't even be on this list. His voice was never heavy enough for this role.

@TheAleph74 16 жыл бұрын

Have you heard the whole opera with Pavarotti? If you haven't, I recommend you to do it.

@raythetse 16 жыл бұрын

for me delmonaco definitely sounds best here, but vickers is my favorite others. His singing wasn't the greatest by any stretch but he acted the role so passionately that even when his voice when all gritty, it held just as much theatrical power, perhaps even more.

@cheryl7634 10 жыл бұрын

What sadist wrote this? - Impossible brilliance!

@vickersman 15 жыл бұрын

Intelligent comment.Pavarotti seems well off the score,at least with'Esultate'.Vickers(my favourite Otello)- seems spot on.

@noosphere23 10 жыл бұрын

All are terrific in their own way but please note that only Vickers and Povarotti can negotiate the difficult "l'uragano" at the end as written. Bravi!

@jbell0243 6 жыл бұрын

Pavarottis voice was much too light for this role. Of course he could navigate that!

@jmccracken1963 14 жыл бұрын

@Nicrhind In fact, Rudolf Bing offered Corelli the role for the 1972 premiere of the Franco Zeffirelli hew production of the opera. Corelli thought long and hard, studied and re-studied the opera - and turned Mr. Bing down. I like Corelli, and his performance of the Act I duet with Teresa Zylis Gara (Karl Bohm conducting) from the Bing Gala is very, very good, but I don't think that he had the right kind of voice for the eruptive outbursts of Otello (not for more than a few performances).

@operabitch77 16 жыл бұрын

better list- 1-tamagno 2-tamagno 3-vinay 4-domingo (1976 version) 5-vickers 6-del monaco 7-melchior 8-slezak

@njtenor57 16 жыл бұрын

you forgot McCracken, one of the great otello's of all time

@xxsaruman82xx87 3 жыл бұрын

Del Monaco.

@BaroneVitellioScarpia1 3 жыл бұрын

Where's Vinay?

@GermanOperaSinger 15 жыл бұрын

That would make Verdi turn in his grave wouldn't it =) But I still think Mario del Monaco was the greatest Otello of recent memory. If only I could imagine was Tamagno was like...the human ear was not capable of withstanding the intensity of his voice...it has I believe, been proven.

@hisimperialmajesty 16 жыл бұрын

I still think that Pavarotti sounds good, even if he was really a dramatic tenor. But The one that really stands out to be is Domingo, which actually kind of surprised me, I was expecting it to be Del Monaco.

@hisimperialmajesty 16 жыл бұрын

I mis-typed. Pavarotti WASN'T really a dramatic tenor.

@PickBit 15 жыл бұрын

Hurt you? Lol why? This is one of his best roles, your preference is legitimate, even if i do not share your opinion. For me it will be Mario del Monaco all the way (naturally ;p) even though I have to say Vickers gives me goosebumps as well. I just don't understand what is Pavarotti doing in this video... this is unfair, Otello is just not for his kind of voice (lol me defending Pav, can you believe it? xD)...

@operabitch77 16 жыл бұрын

no TAMAGNO!!! the creator!! corelli also had a fine one. LOTS of homework needed on this homework assignment!! go boy, go boy! do YOUR homework!!! A for effort!

@rm946 16 жыл бұрын

It's got to be Lauri-Volpi! Shame Tamagno and Zanelli are absent from the list though.

@VivaRenata 3 жыл бұрын

Del Monaco simply was Otello - no one, before or after, can compare.

@cosimoguarrera4965 Жыл бұрын

esatto!

@bluenose10 15 жыл бұрын

Wonderful voices all, Hard to chose between Placido Domingo & Jon Vickers. Both excel, but Vickers seems a bit more effortless & melodic.

@guidogreco341 3 жыл бұрын

Tamagno and Del Monaco......

@rupepill 16 жыл бұрын

Obviously it isn't possible to please everyone in making a selection of "contestants"; the ones you've chosen provide interesting listening experiences, and if others feel so troubled by some imagined shortcoming, let them post their own video response. It's surprising, as someone else has suggested, how effective was Pavarotti's effort, going by this excerpt.

@KathleenFerrier 12 жыл бұрын

@blichilde Lauri Volpi non è intonato

@pietromaximiliantorti8106 5 жыл бұрын

Stai scherzando?

@MDM679 11 жыл бұрын

Del Monaco dissappointment?

@Ettoredipugnar 6 жыл бұрын

MDM427 ? It’s the same recording that’s always played .

@blichilde 15 жыл бұрын

Lauri-Volpi per me.

@markovican 15 жыл бұрын

Yes, camtep, Ramon Vinay was legendary Otello and its pity he isnt in this list.Yes, Toscanini said he was best Otello, however Toscanini didnt make it to see Del Monaco as Otello cause at the time of Del Monacos debut as Otello Toscanini was already 83 and retired or de facto retired, and by the time MDM reached the peak of his career Toscanini was already dead. Ramon Vinay was a true opera genius, no doubt, but dont quote Toscanini, he wasnt there to see&hear Del Monaco.

@Etnalleb 16 жыл бұрын

Corelli, indeed did have terrible stage fright, but wouldn't any-body if they knew people were looking at their watches and timing how long he held his High C's as Corelli once mentioned in an interview. The audacity of some people is just appalling. Yes i agree "Otello" would have been Corelli's crown jewel.MDM was very fortunate Corelli never did it i don't think MDM would have solely been called the Otello of the day.

@leadoffeohippus 15 жыл бұрын

Del Monaco is the clearly the best. Lauri-Volpi was very good too.

@wildeny 14 жыл бұрын

The one you chose for Vicker is in poor sound quality, unlike the one I heard from CD. It's unfair to Vicker.

@barrylayton2441 2 жыл бұрын

Domingo on stage was classic Emperor Has No Clothes. Voice has no volume, no presence. Recordings are fine but belie the fact that he is not an opera guy.

@dn827 15 жыл бұрын

reli... MDM is the best of best when u say anything about verdi and him

@gianandrea.navacchia 16 жыл бұрын

Bello! 1-Del Monaco 2-Domingo 3-Lauri-Volpi 4-Pavarotti 5-Vickers

@maciejkucharski5703 9 ай бұрын

Pav

@Nicrhind 14 жыл бұрын

Yeah, but he never had the delicacy that you probably have. And I bet he wished he could tackle some of the lighter Verdi rep. that his voice simply didn't have the flexibility for. I agree, he was a lion in 'Otello' but don't knock being a lyric tenor; we have our moments of glory too.

@mongemark 15 жыл бұрын

del Monaco 10 e lode, senza discussione Lauri Volpi 9, un po' troppo aulico vickers 7, bravo ma che vociaccia domingo 8, il più umano Pavarotti 6,5 (per la sua splendida carriera) però mancano all'appello: Francesco Tamagno (il primo) Lèon Escalais Giovanni Martinelli Francesco Merli Josè Luccioni Carlo Cossutta (più che onorevole)

@1155north 13 жыл бұрын

All of these are grand in their own way. The only "pea shooter" (in my opinion) is Pavarotti, who shouldn't have even looked at this piece. The color and weight of voice (in spite of the girth) is wrong. But even he makes his points. One who really sang the dickens out of this was James McCracken, but his voice was definitely an acquired taste.

@isabelle070209 14 жыл бұрын

Vickers sans hésitation. Suivi de Domingo. En revanche ce n'est pas un rôle pour Pavarotti.

@dimakauffman 11 жыл бұрын

Pavarotti?, come on..

@fr.jamesjohnson1567 4 жыл бұрын

Pavarotti sounds like a little boy singing this...NO!

@gianandrea.navacchia 16 жыл бұрын

Mi correggo Vickers più di Pavarotti.

@Milordvega 16 жыл бұрын

Domingo sounds the best here, but I know there are del Monaco recordings and live presentations - many available on youtube - where he just blows Domingo and everybody else out of the water (maybe literally, as this is Otello's opening lines coming from sea, hehe) Pavarotti is the least impressive, but he sings suprisingly well considering that this role is not really "his" role.

@happyactor6 15 жыл бұрын

I actually like Domingo's the best. I seem to be a minority...please don't hurt me.

@Sacha_Kudli 3 жыл бұрын

No your not a minority,your a majority. It’s especially the haters that comments on KZfaq

@Monnarchmonnarchy 4 жыл бұрын

Cracked mosquito pavaroti with mingo barking, what are they forgetting here?

@Grandtenore 16 жыл бұрын

LMAO@ Luciano go sing la donna...

@ignaciofeito7424 11 жыл бұрын

Where's Corelli? Pavarotti & Domingo should have NEVER sung that role.

@germanasis 13 жыл бұрын

The best is Gianfranco Cecchele

@Agorante 16 жыл бұрын

What a nasty comment! Let's now critisize singers for being able to learn music. By this reasoning Roswagne and Gedda were also whores. Pavarotti was by this criteria however pure and blameless. You have to admit that that Domingo must be the king of deceivers. With his "limited instrument" he has recorded over a hundred different operas and trilled audiences worldwide for decades. I heard him live many times - he sure had me fooled.

@Ettoredipugnar 6 жыл бұрын

Lauri Volpe , smooth as silk MDM hands Down ! Bickers you had to see the whole production Which I was lucky to see. Domingo should have been selling tickets in the box office. Pavarotti didn’t have to sing Otello .

@Doooku 16 жыл бұрын

PLEASE! DONT compare Nicolai Gedda the Great to the feable Placido Domingo the Chicken Voice!!!!

@donaldmcdougall9941 4 жыл бұрын

Are your ears working?

@kawai1 16 жыл бұрын

Del Monaco and Domingo take the cake. Vickers and Lauri-Volpi are the worst here.

@Amadeus767 11 жыл бұрын

1. Domingo 2. Lauri-Volpi 3. MDM 4. Pav 5. Vickers There's simply no denying that Domingo was one of the all-time Otellos, combining all the dark vocal shading with squillo when he needed it in the heroic passages like this one. MDM had a thrilling sound for sure but somewhat one-dimensional. Pav gave it hell but we're far from Nemorino territory here. I think Lauri-Volpi is the pleasant surprise here and I think the contributor for adding this to expose a younger generation to a true legend.

@Sacha_Kudli 3 жыл бұрын

@@umaratabilgi161 explain boy