You can certainly understand why his voice declined after singing like that. Even Corelli doesn't attempt that diminuendo. I will try listening to the Carlo Rizzi version and see what I think.
I also thought the following might be of interest to you, as you had commented on wondering what castrati sounded like in one of your reviews. Alessandro Moreschi is the only one who ever made a recording, and I think it is an interesting piece of history.
?si=IOC_xRn3vvtMKmeY
(if the link does not work you can just look up his name)
Apparently, the scooping and gulping were popular at that time, and he was past his best for this recording.
Thanks
"Faust" is an odd one, Noah, as it is obviously now nowhere as popular as it once once; maybe its content doesn't sit so well with modern taste and sensibilities, but it contains so much lovely music that you have to have at least one if you are an operaphile. I rather enjoy the WNO recording conducted by Carlo Rizzi, with that excellent tenor Jerry Hadley and great bass Sam Ramey - and you might have caught this review:
https://musicwebinternational.com/2023/10/gounod-faust-malibran-music/
This is a legendary account of the most famous aria (disregard the execrable French of the announcer; worse than Corelli's):
The final top C diminuendo is a dream.
I am excited for your new survey. The only recording of Die Fledermaus I am familiar with is the Karajan 1960, with a great cast and a ridiculously star-studded party scene.
I am also curious about recommendations for a recording of Faust. Not all the music is inspired, but some of it is high quality and I want to have the bass arias to learn. Neither the Bonynge nor the Clutyens seems to have ideal cast. I am wondering which one you like best. Many Thanks
Many thanks, Noah; as a retired teacher, I am especially gratified that my surveys are useful in enhancing the enjoyment of a young person such as you. I am just passing on my enthusiasm which in my own late teens as a student was sparked by knowledgeable people. Maybe as time goes by, you will do the same. I am currently working on "Die Fledermaus".(You might be aware that I am no fan of DH and regret his considerable influence over too many people; I find his presentations to be rambling, rude and often highly prejudiced.)
I would like to thank Ralph Moore for his excellent surveys. I became interested in classical music about 3 years ago (I am still a teenager, so I have not wasted my musical life!) and your excellent surveys have helped me discover some wonderful music and great recordings of it. I feel that your surveys are the best existing tool for finding recordings, and your criticism is well written and much fairer than most other sources. (I used to watch David Hurwitz's videos, as he is American like me, and found them to contain excessive ranting, and often times statements that have no basis in fact, as well as some overly strong opinions.) Thanks for your great reviews, and I hope you will write more surveys!
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