[Bonetan]

I'm very curious to see how Enkbhat does. He's so hot right now lol

@Seattleoperafan if you don't get that reference I'm going to be very disappointed!

 

[Bonetan]

Does this video represent Enkhbat's current work? (His name makes me think of "ink blot.")

Yes, I believe this is very recent. Last year I believe. Here's a clip of his Germont at The Met that's even more recent.

 

[Bonetan]

I'm going to give it to Herlea. Merrill does some weird things with the music that I don't like very much. I do not like Enkbhat whatsoever. It's Tagliabue or bust.

 

[Bonetan]

Now that plenty have left their opinions on Enkbhat I want to state that I absolutely despise his singing lol. This is the manufactured overly dark sound that has been the death of low voice singing imo. Enkbhat sounds better than his contemporaries while doing so and is enjoying success as a result, but this is not free and easy vocal production and I hope no young baritones are trying to imitate this sound.

 

[Bonetan]

I couldn't see you liking him. I thought you were losing it

I won't lie to you. Seeing people leaving comments on YouTube calling him the best baritone in the world makes me want to fight everyone!!!

 

[Bonetan]

Who is the best baritone in the world? IYO?

I have no good answer for this as I haven't heard any baritone who stands out in quite some time, but if it's Enkbhat we're going in the wrong direction. Is there one who stands out for you?

 

[Bonetan]

No, I am sure Bonetan said it was darkened.

Very much so. I consider this the modern day Warren. The vibrato will get wider and wider (I'll be surprised if he's listenable past 50), the high notes will become more and more strained, and we'll be left with another generation of baritones who believe these dark tones are how one should sing to be hired to sing Verdi at the Met. I will continue to rail against this type of singing because I believe Battistini's and Bjorling's still walk among us and that we can have that kind of singing again. I believe the modern style of singing and teaching needs to be rooted out if the like of these legends is ever to be heard again, so I'm especially critical of modern voices. It's very important to me, probably too important.

 

[Bonetan]

Since that was one of your more ardent declarations, I’ll pick it up. I know we’ve been here before, but this is the question looming in my mind in response to your passion… Which I admire, and I recognize has a great deal to do with the wonderful sound you are developing! But if kaufmann (from whom we have examples of before and after ) decides that the natural smaller sound will not get him a serious career and the dark, covered and sound will….??? What should he do?

I think we as fans must be able to recognize and acknowledge that he has a poor technique that should not be taught to young singers, even if we enjoy his singing. And we also need to be able to recognize the drop off from a Bjorling, Caruso level singer to a Kaufmann level singer.

The following may be stupid as hell, but I have an athlete's brain lol. To me it's like a basketball player having horrendous shooting form, but making shots, and then the basketball world forgetting proper shooting technique to adopt this players form. Time passes and eventually nobody can shoot anymore, so we start praising the best of the bad shooters.

 

[Bonetan]

Eventually!!! After he showed his cards!! I think I’m not crazy in finding the B-man a little sly on this one🤔🤔🤔! I think requests usually imply positive interest to some degree??? 0bviously in this case that would mean No Darkening!!!! Hmm??? Granforte/Pinza??? Am I out in left field on this one…. hmmm??😉

You got me bro 🤣 there was even a wee bit of guilt when I saw that @Seattleoperafan had posted the contest