Well, transposed or no....it's awesome! If they only way the great Horne could perform it at that time was to transpose it, then I say...TRANSPOSE!!!! I'd rather hear her sing it step down than to not hear her sing it at all!!!
Art Danks I love Marilyn Horne. However, I prefer other interpretations to hers (Jessye Norman's, Janet Baker's and, of course Maria Callas'). This doesn't mean that Horne is not great in this repertoire: she is! It's only a matter of taste and the fact that everyone's entitled to their own opinion.
As for transposition. I've seen full productions of Alceste performed at Baroque pitch. Needless to say, it's Marilyn Horne, she can do whatever the heck she wants :-)
@AmericanEvita I disagree. Although Horne excelled in the coloratura repertoire she definitely did not have a light lyric voice. I think she is amazing here!
Another great performance by the one and only Horne, yet as a side note, at that stage of her career the top register is not as free and easy as it was once used to be.
Incredible performance. Jumping on the transposition bandwagon about a year too late, I hope that the detractors are at least aware that at Gluck's time, the diapason was nearly a full step lower than it ended up by about 1850 (as documented in Berlioz's letters). And, yes, Mme. Horne is just great, of course!!!
Until now, I thought Callas sang the definitive interpretation of this song! What an artist. I wish i could have seen her when she did master's classes at Florida State University. I live here and was unable to visit. I won't make that mistake again. I hope the Kennedy Center people see fit to recognize the greatest mezzo of the latter part of the 20th Century. She carries Ebe Stignani and Marian Anderson's torch with equal dignity.
Marian Anderson? Nope. Ms. Horne is a mezzo soprano who spent most of her career in opera. Marian Anderson was a recitalist who made few operatic performances and was a contralto. They didn't share much repertoire in common.
Callas does not sing this well at all. Her high Bb's are so wobbly and tight its hard to listen to. Many people seem to have problems with this Aria however. It must sit in a spot for a special voice...
@Paul Williamson You sound like a crusty queen. Ms. Horne is a MEZZO SOPRANO for God's sake. She can transpose to whatever key she wants to. I'm not impressed with you.
Erm, who actually gives a f*** about the whole step down? You're listening to a recording of one of the greatest singers who ever lived and you're complaining about the fact the aria was transposed? I pity you for not being able to enjoy this beauty...
Although Horne is a truly great singer [I heard her live in several roles] this is not really a very good rendition of the aria. This is not because of the transposition down [listen to Rita Gorr on RUclips who also sings it transposed and you will hear the difference]. Alceste is a queen defying the gods of hell in order to prevent the death of her husband and the destruction of their kingdom. In this performance, Horne simply does not bring that to the music. Also, the small fioritura she used in a couple of places seem to have no point either musically or emotionally and appear to be there only because she knows the audience expects it of her.
the word "alceste" reminds me to that character who the hotel "alkistis" in athens, greece its name , there we stayed during our class vacation about 30 years ago.
Well, transposed or no....it's awesome! If they only way the great Horne could perform it at that time was to transpose it, then I say...TRANSPOSE!!!! I'd rather hear her sing it step down than to not hear her sing it at all!!!
Art Danks I love Marilyn Horne. However, I prefer other interpretations to hers (Jessye Norman's, Janet Baker's and, of course Maria Callas'). This doesn't mean that Horne is not great in this repertoire: she is! It's only a matter of taste and the fact that everyone's entitled to their own opinion.
As for transposition. I've seen full productions of Alceste performed at Baroque pitch. Needless to say, it's Marilyn Horne, she can do whatever the heck she wants :-)
@AmericanEvita
I disagree. Although Horne excelled in the coloratura repertoire she definitely did not have a light lyric voice. I think she is amazing here!
Another great performance by the one and only Horne, yet as a side note, at that stage of her career the top register is not as free and easy as it was once used to be.
Incredible performance. Jumping on the transposition bandwagon about a year too late, I hope that the detractors are at least aware that at Gluck's time, the diapason was nearly a full step lower than it ended up by about 1850 (as documented in Berlioz's letters). And, yes, Mme. Horne is just great, of course!!!
Until now, I thought Callas sang the definitive interpretation of this song!
What an artist. I wish i could have seen her when she did master's classes at Florida State University. I live here and was unable to visit. I won't make that mistake again.
I hope the Kennedy Center people see fit to recognize the greatest mezzo of the latter part of the 20th Century. She carries Ebe Stignani and Marian Anderson's torch with equal dignity.
Marian Anderson? Nope. Ms. Horne is a mezzo soprano who spent most of her career in opera. Marian Anderson was a recitalist who made few operatic performances and was a contralto. They didn't share much repertoire in common.
Callas does not sing this well at all. Her high Bb's are so wobbly and tight its hard to listen to. Many people seem to have problems with this Aria however. It must sit in a spot for a special voice...
@Paul Williamson You sound like a crusty queen. Ms. Horne is a MEZZO SOPRANO for God's sake. She can transpose to whatever key she wants to. I'm not impressed with you.
Erm, who actually gives a f*** about the whole step down? You're listening to a recording of one of the greatest singers who ever lived and you're complaining about the fact the aria was transposed? I pity you for not being able to enjoy this beauty...
Although Horne is a truly great singer [I heard her live in several roles] this is not really a very good rendition of the aria. This is not because of the transposition down [listen to Rita Gorr on RUclips who also sings it transposed and you will hear the difference]. Alceste is a queen defying the gods of hell in order to prevent the death of her husband and the destruction of their kingdom. In this performance, Horne simply does not bring that to the music. Also, the small fioritura she used in a couple of places seem to have no point either musically or emotionally and appear to be there only because she knows the audience expects it of her.
I liked Jessye Norman's interpretation better.
Could nobody ever recommended a good nasal spray to this singer.?
the word "alceste" reminds me to that character who the hotel "alkistis" in athens, greece its name , there we stayed during our class vacation about 30 years ago.
French orchestra? Great horn vibrato. NOt everyone should sound like the Chicago Symphony.
1986.
Love Marilyn!
I was not impressed with the whole step down...!
Paul Williamson when you have her voice then you can judge