So, we are talking about good looks? I certainly could have picked the same ladies as StlukesguildOhio. There is something special about Callas, though. She could be described as eternally beautiful.
Callas often looks great, but have you seen her without makeup? Her nose is even longer that Chopin's and when the photo is not posed you can see that she can hardly be called really beautiful.
I know that there are some lovers of Petitbon around. She's the real nightmare
I can't recall any breathtaking soprano. There are few that lookes really good in couple of productions like Callas or Stratas in Salome with Bohm. But to tell the truth, everyday on the street you can see more good-looking hens than on CD covers and DVDs after years of explording opera.
I was going to mention Kiri! The opening scene in Rosenkavalier ... just gives me the shivers. Netrebko, now, you can have Netrebko. Kiri did the Duchess of Krakenthorp recently at the Met, and sang a little song, and did a little dance, and I was there ... sigh. Still a ferociously attractive woman.
Anna Netrebko is so beautiful that I wish I was Rolando Villazon whenever I see them singing together.
Kiri Te Kanawa - a Dame if ever there was one.
Renée Fleming, a beautiful and stylish lady.
Mirella Freni - maybe not a natural beauty, but I think she's cute and whenever she sings one of those sad Puccini arias I always want to give her a hug.
I'm not sure where this discussion will lead to. There are so many beautiful singers about nowadays, but what about those who have not been blessed with such good looks? They can possess a lovely voice, but the record companies, at least, seem to favour the ones that could earn their living by modeling. I would like to see the female writers to build a similar thread of the best-looking tenors!
Inspite of that, I cannot help myself, but must add some favourites of my own - not yet displayed.
I'm not sure where this discussion will lead to. There are so many beautiful singers about nowadays, but what about those who have not been blessed with such good looks? They can possess a lovely voice, but the record companies, at least, seem to favour the ones that could earn their living by modeling.
Not only the record companies, but the opera houses as well. Probably even more so in fact, and not only when it comes to females. They want singers that look the part they are singing and productions have become physically more demanding also. So I think we won't see many more 300 pound tenors standing at the same spot of the stage for three hours or Montserrat Caballe lookalikes taking on the role of Madama Butterfly.
I do agree that Caballe (for example) is best heard on audio recordings, but she had one of the most beautiful voices of the last century. And, as mentioned in my message of Norma on DVD, the one with her from Orange was my favourite before the Cedolins. And I didn't mind the extra kilos at all. Good looks don't hurt, but it's possible to enjoy the singing even if it is the famous fat lady...
Well, I love Caballe, Sutherland, Norman, Pavarotti and so on. And of course not everyone can look like Netrebko or Domingo. But at least on stage - even though not everyone can look perfect for his or her part, them looking ridiculous in it should also be avoided.
But I don't think we should take this thread TOO seriously. There are so many serious threads here that we are allowed a lighthearted one every now and then in my opinion. Besides, the photos and comments are just little tributes to ladies we love and admire. No harm in that.
I would certainly place Pettibon the most fun to watch with Callas a close second. They are both quite lovely (not beautiful)!. I am delighted over the wonderful choices, so far!
I would certainly place Pettibon the most fun to watch with Callas a close second. They are both quite lovely (not beautiful)!. I am delighted over the wonderful choices, so far!
Patricia Petibon is lovely, sexy, and ultra-feminine, although like you said not exactly as beautiful in terms of her face as Anna Netrebko or Elina Garanca. However, Patricia knows how to use what she's got, and *can* look very beautiful when she goes the extra mile in arranging her hair and make-up, etc. She is the casual girl next door who can dress up and become stunning when she wants. Watch this clip and you'll see what I mean:
I usually spend more time thinking about gorgeous baritones, but...
Hei Kyung Hong - so cute as Zerlina in Don Giovanni.
Olga Guryakova (Lovely as Natasha in War and Peace)
And yes, it is about the voices, but I also enjoy watching physically attractive singers on DVDs. Aren't we genetically inclined towards physical beauty?
I cannot resist adding Jessye Norman here, because I think that she can indeed be described beautiful, also. Perhaps impressive would be more accurate, but she really knows how to carry her weight with authority. And with a voice like hers, what else matters?
Not necessarily. But mention the words 'pretty' and 'classical musician/singer' in the same sentence and people will all of a sudden act as though the two don't go together. It's as though it's a crime to be pretty or attractive and we're only allowed to take classical artists seriously when the're fat, bald, ugly and have a look on their face as though they never had a day of fun in their whole life......I'm exaggerating, but you know what I mean.
Besides, in lieder, oratorios (or opera cd's) and such it doesn't matter whatsoever how a singer looks. But although opera is first and foremost also about the singing, it's not the only important ingredient. Opera is also a form of theatre. And just like in regular theatre or the movies it's important to cast people who look the part. This should never be the most important consideration, but it shouldn't be entirely ignored either. Maria Callas herself lost weight and improved her physical appearance because she realized that it would be appropriate for many of the roles she sang.
I am sure, that I would have missed a lot, if I hadn't had the possibility of hearing the late Birgit Nilsson, for example, although I cannot see her having posed on the cover of Vogue.
How did I ever forget the ravishingly exotic Danielle de Niese? Of Sri Lankan heritage de Niese is not only a talented singer but she is also a fine dancer and can act (something a good number of operatic singers are not so good at) and exudes pesonality:
de NIese was absolutely marvelous... and stunning as **** in William Christie's production of Rameau's Les indes galantes:
At the end of the opera ****/de Niese acts as something of the "ringleader"/master of ceremonies:
love·ly /ˈlʌvli/ Show Spelled [luhv-lee] Show IPA adjective,-li·er, -li·est, noun,plural-lies, adverb
-adjective
1.charmingly or exquisitely beautiful: a lovely flower.
2.having a beauty that appeals to the heart or mind as well as to the eye, as a person or a face.
3.delightful; highly pleasing: to have a lovely time.
4.of a great moral or spiritual beauty: a lovely character
What adjective description of 'lovely' would you say would (could) define the appeal of your selected Diva? How much does 'voice' enter into the formula?
In my first two selections, Moffo and Sieden, voice caused research that led me to the two totally different appearances. Both are lovely (to me) in ways that cover all four adjective definitions.
Well, I admit that "lovely" has several meanings, but somehow the thread has concentrated on the good looks. Of course it's difficult for us to know how lovely these persons are as human beings (Kathleen Barttle!).
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