March 05, 2009

On differing interpretations of Andantino ingenuo

"O mio babbino": the right tempo for?
Have Fleming and Callas keep score—
By the time that Renée
Gets to "Dio, vorrei,"
La Divina could toss in a Suor.



4 comments:

MICHAEL MONROE said...

Well, I'll give you the poetic license, but technically Maria isn't even done yet when Renee gets to "Dio, vorrei," as I've proven in this "duet" version.

Apologies...

Elaine Fine said...

What an interesting comparison of interpretations (I know that she is no longer with us, but I really prefer Callas' interpretation of both the tempo and the aria). And thank you for making the duet animation, Michael. You truly have a gift.

Unknown said...

We should probably remember that the extremely slow tempo in the Fleming version was probably the conductor's choice, not the Renee's. I prefer her voice to Callas', though.

Matthew said...

Michael: I don't know, she could be walking off stage while Renée's note is still hanging in the air. It's awful close.

Grant: Actually, she does it about that slow no matter the conductor. I think her CD version might be even slower, but I'd have to find the CD, and that would mean getting up....

Callas's YouTube versions don't vary by more than about 10%, either. Part of quasi-official diva status is that the conductor follows you. (I myself give a lot of leeway to the singer's choice of tempo. It's not like I have to get through those phrases without inhaling.)