I just went to a Cecilia Bartolia concert. It was so amazing. Her voice is strong, and powerful, and oh my god, those runs! At the end of each of these incredible runs, you could literally hear the audience just god "Ahhhh!" It was amazing.
Have any of your ever heard her?
What are some of the other singers that just blow your mind?

Christina

Lucky you.... I'm soooo jealous.

I went to three Schubert Song cycles on Monday this week - heard James Gilchrist sinigng Die Schone Mullerin, Stephen Varcoe singing Die Winterreise and Thomas Guthrie singing Schwanengesang. Anna Tillbrook played for all 58 songs! Blew my mind away. They were all sooo amazing. James Gilchrist is such an amazing performer, too. Wonderful to watch.

I'd love to hear Cecelia Bartoli though. where was the concert? What was she singing?

Ooh, quite jealous over here! I've only ever heard her on CD but I think she's fabulous! I also really like the way she just sings whatever she wants, rather than sticking to the standard 'soprano' or 'mezzo' roles. And you've gotta love her coloratura! Wow!

My favourite singer is Magdalena Kozena though - that's the kind of career I'd really aspire to have, combining live performance with lots of recording - I'd love to end up with that kind of gorgeous sound to my singing! She just has this really effortless beauty to her voice, but also lots of character and I think she makes some really interesting and unusual repertoire choices in her CD song collections which is great.

John Tomlinson rules...OK?



He did an unforgettable Bluebeard at the Proms recently.

More at http://www.johntomlinson.org/ .

I've heard Cecilia at Covent Garden a few times, most recently in Il Turco in Italia.

Storini, did you hear SIR John Tomlinson as the Wanderer in the recent ROH Siegfried? Totally awesome (even if his costume did make him look like Gandalf!) And he's doing Midsummer Marriage soon too, then Billy Budd at ENO.

Blimey, I have tickets for all of these - he'll think I'm stalking him!

My preference for some of my other favourite singers has just as much to do with their vocal ability as easiness on the eye...

Deborah, I would love to have seen Sir John as the Wanderer: he fills the role of Wotan like few singers have ever done. He'll be playing Hagen in the ROH Götterdämmerung next year. I'll look out for the other productions you mention.

She was on a tour for her new CD, the one with all the songs that were banned for a while back in the day. She came all the way out here to Urbana, Illinois. There are a number of classical musicians that come here. It is home to the University of Illinois, which has a very fabulous performing arts program and concert hall, the Krannert Center. I am very thankful, it was amazing!!!!!!

Christina

Wow, I'd love to listen to her live. Lucky you!



Amber
x

I'll do my impression of her next time I see you

Amber, remember to take a saucepan next time you see katyjay, as if she's doing Cecilia properly someone will have to cook vast quantities of pasta before, during and after the performance.

If anyone wants a John Tomlinson fix, the Royal Opera Siegfried is on Radio 3 on Saturday evening.