PARTICULAR PARTOS
or
” I’d know that voice anywhere! “
It’s well known in certain circles that I’m partial to a Parto or two. So here we have six delightful mezzos giving their version of Parto,parto, ma tu ben mio from La Clemenza di Tito. All you need to do is identify which is which. There are no tricks this week. No-one sings twice! So, listen in to the excerpts and see how many you can identify correctly. There should be at least one you will know! Guesses or confident answers in the comment box please. You may recognise more than you expected but not everyone’s favourite mezzo is here.
EDIT: on July 5th
5 opera/mezzo-lovers were brave enough to attempt this and 4 of those [ Wonderful White Shirt/White Shirt Friendly Women, of course ] were correct on all counts. Many others listened to the excerpts but, this time, were not tempted to have a go.
The answers were:
2. CECILIA BARTOLI
photo from cd cover
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3. JOYCE di DONATO
photocredit: Seila Rock
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5. ELINA GARANCA
photocredit: website
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6. SUSAN GRAHAM
photocredit:metoperafamily
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4. VESSELINA KASAROVA
screengrab from video
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1. TATIANA TROYANOS
photocredit:handelmania
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Should be easy , no?
Whatever Partos you’re imparting …
HAVE A WONDERFUL WHITE SHIRT WEEKEND
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2 = Cecilia. 4 = Kasarova. 5 = Garanca. 6 = Susan Graham.
3 is probably JDD, so that makes TT 1.
I think Joyce is number 1 or 2, Kasarova 4, Troyanos 3 and the others are anybodies guess.
I am loving these competitions of yours. Keep ‘em coming.
“Quel che vorrai farro”, dice anche la grande O:
I searched for this version especially to get Your Mezzo into the mix, but it escaped me. Get your head-banging gear ready for next week’s little jaunt !
i’m sorry for butting in, but since we’re on that recording, may i please squeeze this amazing Vitellia in???
Squeeze in whatever you like
i’m trying hard not to read other’s guesses so far…
#1) sounds like Renata Pokupic! could be Troyanos?
#2) definitely non-mistakenly Cecilia Bartoli
#3) sounds like Joyce
#4) ohhhhhh, i know this voice, i know it!!!!!! LIKE!!!! (why is it so short???)
#5) Garanca
#6) Susan Graham?
I’m unsure about #3 & 6, but 6 sounds rounder, whereas #3 has a sharper attack on the note, so i still think #3 is Joyce.
tell me tell me teacher, am i right???
Patience, little one. All will be revealed! and, believe me, it took a lot of self-control to edit the Kasarova clip [ whichever one it is
]
Hey Eyes. Another gem of a contest!
I think:
1. Tatiana Troyanos
2. Cecilia Bartoli
3. Joyce DiDonato
4. Vesselina Kasarova
5. Elina Garanca
6. Susan Graham
I think I got #2, 3, 4, 5 on first go, but wasn’t sure about TT and SG after first try. I listened to the whole thing in one go and leaned toward TT (she has the sweeter voice of the two and not as clear diction). CB was extremely easy… her own voice and a lot of Italiana fire! JDiD was also quite easy more because of the way she uses her voice than because of its timbre. VK… what can I say? Gotta be deaf to mistake her for anyone else. EG… the coldest of the bunch. I was surprised that I didn’t find her voice that distinguishable on its own (had you not included the list of singers I’d have had a harder time identifying that voice). Flawless technique but no face behind it. SG, a much brighter voice from the rest of the bunch, though had to double check with #1 again.
Thanks a bunch for another great exercise, Eyes!
It’s no good – I will have to make things more difficult in the future. The White Shirt Women obviously know their Mezzos! [ so what's new? ]
Sorry Dominic – the 3 ladies were correct first time but thank you everyone for visiting. See you next time!
I bow to the ladys superior knowledge.
Troyanos, but not really sure…
Bartoli, without any doubt.
Di Donato
Kasarova
Garanca
Must be Graham then.
But I’m not sure about DiDonato and Graham. Hmpf! I will make a counter-tenor guessing game I think, but this will be far easier^^
Another lady 100% correct! Nice to see you, Lankin
Wohoo — that was by accident, I swear. I have neither listened to DiDonato much yet nor to Graham, also the youtube compression does weird things to the color of a voice so I wasn’t at all sure.
(I’ll try and put together maybe a counter-tenor guessing game, or one with a Rossini aria — not yet sure.)
Thanks a lot for this game, I like those a lot — can we humbly demand more?