[Magdalen] Counter-tenors

[Scott Knitter]

Ah, I should also have mentioned the excellent French countertenor Damien
Guillon. I can't get enough of this video of him singing an aria from a
Bach cantata

https://youtu.be/111WT0vVq0M

Or this duet from the St Matthew Passion:

https://youtu.be/xkm19nfaXl4?t=3310

On Sat, Nov 21, 2020 at 12:28 PM Marion Thompson <marionwhitevale at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Yes, I've seen a number of Youtubes of Orlinski.  He is much admired at
> many levels :-D
>
> In happier singing times, I, a first Alto, LOVED singing next to a
> counter-tenor.  The cutting sharpness of the voice, the edge of it, loved
> leaning into it -- a good mix.
>
> Sigh,
>
> Marion, a pilgrim
>
>
> On Sat, Nov 21, 2020 at 11:57 AM Scott Knitter <scottknitter at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > A choirmaster let me try my hand (er, my voice) at countertenoring,
> > briefly.
> >
> > It's difficult, IMHO. The notes seem closer together up there, and it was
> > hard to sing in tune. Back to baritone at my request. :)
> >
> > David Daniels was the famous countertenor for a while until he got in
> > trouble a couple of years ago for sexual assault. Way to end a brilliant
> > career. He was so good in Peter Sellars' TV production of Theodora
> (Handel)
> > with Dawn what's-her-name (I'm getting bad with names). And the late,
> > amazing Lorraine Hunt Lieberman. Upshaw! Dawn Upshaw.
> >
> > The hot countertenor right now is from Poland: Jakub Józef Orliński. Hot
> as
> > in popular, and as in handsome.
> >
> > On Sat, Nov 21, 2020 at 10:36 AM ME Michaud <michaudme at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Ob Ang, we had a counter-tenor in the choir (I don't remember his
> name).
> > >
> > > He was purloined, er, recruited, by Cirque du Soleil.
> > > He ran away with the circus
> > > :-)
> > > -M
> > >
> > >
> > > On Friday, November 20, 2020, Marion Thompson <
> marionwhitevale at gmail.com
> > >
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Oh, indeed, yes.  A really good counter-tenor is marvellous and there
> > are
> > > > some terrific ones around these days.
> > > >
> > > > Marion, a pilgrim
> > > >
> > > > On Fri, Nov 20, 2020 at 5:18 PM Roger Stokes via Magdalen <
> > > > magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > I have long thought that traditional men and boys choirs have
> > suffered
> > > > > from a lack of depth in the Alto part. This evening I have been
> > > > > listening to the transmission of a concert version of Handel's
> opera
> > > > > "Ariodante". While the title role (which was originally sung by a
> > > > > castrato) was sung by a mezzo-soprano another major male roile was
> > sung
> > > > > by a counter-tenor. This is in the vocal range of an Alto but has
> far
> > > > > more depth of timbre than can be offered by men singing falsetto.
> > > > >
> > > > > Roger
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Scott R. Knitter
> > Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA
> >
>


-- 
Scott R. Knitter
Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA