Herlea makes this sound as easy as one might be tempted to imagine that it is. As Ponselle said of Stracciari in an earlier era, "Now that's a baritone!" Herlea does nothing extraordinary interpretively - it's quite straightforward musically - but his vocalism is so fine that I don't care. It's a voice with no artificial darkening, or artificial anything, It rings out freely and splendidly.
This must be a late recording of Merrill. It's more effortful than it would have been years earlier, and he breaks up phrases too much. Enkhbat is more youthful vocally, and puts some feeling into his interpretation. But Herlea's singing is in another class: technically, though not stylistically, he echoes the Golden Age in the postwar era. An easy winner.
This must be a late recording of Merrill. It's more effortful than it would have been years earlier, and he breaks up phrases too much. Enkhbat is more youthful vocally, and puts some feeling into his interpretation. But Herlea's singing is in another class: technically, though not stylistically, he echoes the Golden Age in the postwar era. An easy winner.
