Other people listen to music far, far more than I do. Playing their ipods all day long, or working with Youtube playing for hours. Anything but classical music feels like very sugary candy to me and I get sick & surfeited on it quickly. However, sometimes I get a craving and have to hear something like the people below, which I play over and over.


When you play this, don't sit too close if you have your sound up high. This man has the volume and sharpness of a cornet. It's beautiful.

And in this video, Pavarotti sings the same song starting about 4:45 minutes in. I love Pavarotti more than anyone, and think this is a good example of how he can do the same selection far more beautifully because of his deeper voice and articulation. But it's great to hear the different types of tenors.

Another thing I like about Pavarotti is his insistence on clear pronunciation. On Youtube you can find videos of him offering his "Masterclass" -- which was a TV show of him inviting a voice student to sing for him and he'd offer some instruction. He told them often to make certain they pronounced, at the very least, the first few words of a song clearly, because that's usually the title of the aria. He felt it was vital for the audience to hear and recognize and connect to the songs; otherwise the singer is not doing what he ought to. Pavarotti did happen to have a beautiful pronunciation whatever he sang.

Unlike these two ladies, who are immediately forgiven for their weird pronunciation (Anna, anyway) because of their sound:

Anna Netrebko and Elina Garancha. I think I prefer Elina, actually. She's cool. She does a wonderful Carmen.

Okay, and here's Dmitri Hvorostovsky, who definitely belongs in a Bugs Bunny cartoon. (Rabbit of Seville) He would do it full justice. I love the way he laughs or grins at the beginning of this song every time.


I also can't resist adding this one, because it's an odd sensation, hearing an Asian singing Barber of Seville. Fascinating:


And in homage to Youtube, I'll end with the recording of Pablo Sarasate playing his own work, recorded in 1904. Hearing this makes me wish audio could be improved with the success of video, like with Charlie Chaplin's movies which are now about 100 years old but watchable on DVD.