Why No Good Singers?

[joggerjayne]

doctordb posted an interesting thread about the lack of home grown classical greats.

In a similar vein ...

This month's Opera magazine has an article about the worrying lack of singers nowadays who can perform Wagner and Verdi.

Spinto sopranos, heldentonors, bass baritones, etc.

If you were asked to name a well known operatic singer, it's likely you'd name someone who doesn't sing operas, never mind the big Wagner and Verdi roles. In fact, even I Pagliacci has a spinto soprano part (Nedda).

When I bought a new copy of the Ring last year, I chose the 1952 Scala recording, with Kirsten Flagstad. In sixty years, no one has sung it better, and I sure as heck don't think anyone is going to do it better in the foreseeable future.

So why are there no good singers any more?

[Zacs-Master]

'the worrying lack of singers nowadays who can perform Wagner and Verdi'
Do you know, I lie awake at night worrying about that.

[joggerjayne]

No need to take the pee.

:0/

[shoota]

Iestyn Davies

[joggerjayne]

Yes, okay, but is he ever going to sing, say, Tristan, or Siegfried?

[shoota]

Singing Wagner is not a measure of ability - merely of endurance.

(He said, a la pseuds corner...)

[joggerjayne]

But the point, you see, is the shortage of singers at the mo who can sing particular parts ... especially Wagner, and Verdi.