Mary Kunz Goldman was for over 10 years the classical music critic for The Buffalo News, the daily paper of Buffalo, N.Y. She is also the authorized biographer of the great American pianist Leonard Pennario.
I have not written in this Web log forever. It is time to get it started again.
Last night Howard and I got listening to "O Holy Night." OK, I got listening to it and I foisted it on him. But Howard likes great tenors and that is who is on the Internet singing "O Holy Night."
Jussi Bjorling ... Like a steam engine.
Franco Corelli, I like the Italian twist he gives to it. Also how he can go forever on a single breath. Thrilling. He does not however sail up to that high note.
Caruso could sing it standing on his head.
You know what, Bjorling is this marvel, but I like how Caruso sings it. He has a sensual, laid-back quality that makes me see his appeal. You often do not get that from listening to old scratchy records.
And the second-to-last "Noel, Noel," he has the second answer the first. He has his own operatic concept of the song.
Sometimes it is a good idea to listen to some song you really know to get an idea of the artist.
Reluctantly we turn to living artists. Jonas Kauffmann is a latter-day tenor I love. Listen to how he ends the first verse. Also he takes the melody up at times when you would think he would be taking it down.
That is a powerful voice!
And a friend loves Juan Diego Florez. I am rather partial toward him myself.
I still give the edge to my old hero, Jussi. That command that he had, I have yet to hear anyone top it. Still ...
Imagine having any of these gentlemen at your Lessons and Carols.
Adventure at Our Lady of Victory Basilica
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On Assumption Thursday, a couple of days ago, I found myself at Our Lady of
Victory Basilica, pictured above. It is one of my favorite places in the
w...