[Pugg]

Here we go again, wonder how long it will last before this thread escalate .

 

[Pugg]

I knew it, didn't take long till the bashing started and here we go again.

 

[Pugg]

what are you talking about? I don't see any bashing

I refer to the post you refers to, about Dame Joan.

 

[Pugg]

Not bashing. Trust me, I can bash but I'm keeping it honest. We need to fully be honest with each other in order to have such a candid conversation.

....whatever:devil:

 

[Pugg]

Might I suggest that the three singers who I would say came closest to the Soprano Assoluta defintion were fleeting phenomena in three great careers. Ponselle in her 20's when she was still secure up top and Horne as she was transitioning into mezzo parts and was engaged to sing Lucretia Borga in Carnegie Hall. Lastly, Farrell in her thirties. All three at that time in their careers HAD IT ALL. Top to bottom with coloratura to boot. Capable of incredible lyrical singing but possessing huge voices. What do you say??? All three had voices that migrated south as they matured.

You may, and I agree with you with whole my heart .:tiphat:

 

[Pugg]

I think she did a phenomenal job. I don't get the higher than thou comments on Youtube and here about her performance as Norma.

I think people are just outraged that a mezzo would dare attempt a role that people have traditionally deemed to be reserved for a Soprano voice. Yet, it wasn't written for one. Frankly, I think it's either jealous, hate, or outright ignorance, or worse, all of these things combined.

Not pointing any finger.​

People may strongly disagree with you, for me personally, I rather have my ears pierces then ever listen to this again.​

 

[Pugg]

I apologize if I offended you. No you are not one of the posters to whom I made that reference. Actually I enjoy your posts. I find them very informative and helpful in terms of explaining technical things that I don't understand.
I do respect everyone's opinions. I've said this several times before that I am here to learn as much as I can about opera as it has become my favorite genre in the past year. I am not here to defend or worship any particular artists; only to interact and learn from other opera and classical music fans.

I look forward to moving forward as well.
​

Perhaps you can use a the standard writhing from the board, read much easier?

 

[Pugg]

I must be about the only opera lover who likes Richard Bonynge as a bel canto conductor (I wouldn't want to hear him conduct Puccini); I honestly don't understand all the "hate" for him, and I sometimes feel as though people (not so much DavidA, but others here and elsewhere) speak condescendingly of him just because they feel it's "the thing to do," or something. I feel one could criticize some of Bonynge's tempos for being too fast so that the music lacks "gravity," but other than that I fail to hear why he's not a great conductor of bel canto operas. Or is the idea that one can only be a "great conductor" by venturing outside bel canto opera?

And I think Bonynge did more than turn Sutherland's voice into an incredible instrument (what he did, really, was help her find and strengthen the soprano registers she didn't know she had); he also must have given her a great education in the age of bel canto and its style.

Hallelujah, finally some reconnection, not to mention his contribution to the whole Bel Canto repertoire in general.