Best Looking Opera Singers
res...@uconnvm.uconn.edu
Back in the days when Opera was a live popular art, what singers
looked like was important too. Today when it's an art of embalming
more than anything else, at least in the US of A, the only thing
that seems to matter is the voice -- and even here, the criteria
are most questionable (the three-screamers, for instance).
So, from today's world to the old days when voice was wedded
to dramatic ability (of a genuinely operatic rather than
imitative of the dramatic/theatrical type) and sometimes looks...
who are the great lookers--the ones who would have made it, for
instance, in the movies?
I guess Lina Cavalieri would have to head any list (and she was in
movies), no?
Geraldine Farrar looks great in some stills from operas, but in her movies
she looks quite matronly and chunky.
Jarmila Novotna.
Franco Corelli looks mighty spectacular in stills from Poliuto (or just
about anything else)
Riccardo Martin -- beefy, but handsome (aka Richard Martin of
Kentucky, protege of Caruso -- well, friend and recipient of lots of
singing advice from him)?
Maria was pretty stunning after the diet.
Carreras was beautiful.
Ricciarelli is beautiful.
Who else makes it for beauty?
-------------------==== Posted via Deja News ====-----------------------
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Octavian
Maria Cebotari, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Lisa della Casa, Hilde Gueden,
Gwyneth Jones, etc... There are really many beaytiful prima donnas in
20th century. Especially, Schwarzkopf and Della Casa have no competitor
for their outstanding, charming and fascinating beauty which absolutely
matched their fantastic voices...
Hans C Hoff
Octavian wrote:
> Especially, Schwarzkopf and Della Casa have no competitor
> for their outstanding, charming and fascinating beauty which > absolutely matched their fantastic voices...
--
Oh, but one was the match and poddibly more for both in both
disciplines: Sena Jurinac !
- Hans C Hoff
joe_diamanti
In article <8514338...@dejanews.com>, res...@uconnvm.uconn.edu says...
>
>who are the great lookers--the ones who would have made it, for
>instance, in the movies?
>
>about anything else)
And see the pictures of him as Calaf. The ice princess didn't stand a
chance.
Regards - Joe Diamanti
Sara Freeman
In <32BFE5...@hotmail.com> Octavian <octa...@hotmail.com> writes:
>
>Maria Cebotari, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Lisa della Casa, Hilde Gueden,
>Gwyneth Jones, etc... There are really many beaytiful prima donnas in
competitor
>for their outstanding, charming and fascinating beauty which
absolutely
>matched their fantastic voices...
I agree that Schwarzkopf was beautiful, but I often wonder why she
never fixed that gap between her 2 front teeth.
--
"If you think of reality as the software for the universe,
all it would take is for someone to change a comma in the
program, and the chair you are sitting on wouldn't be a
chair at all."--Jacques Vallee
Mezzoid
Charlotte Hellekant
Frederica von Stade
(Think I'm partial to mezzos?)
Jeff K.
res...@uconnvm.uconn.edu wrote in article <8514338...@dejanews.com>...
> So, from today's world to the old days when voice was wedded
> to dramatic ability (of a genuinely operatic rather than
> imitative of the dramatic/theatrical type) and sometimes looks...
> who are the great lookers--the ones who would have made it, for
> instance, in the movies?
>
(snip)
> Who else makes it for beauty?
>
Kathleen Battle. Angelic voice that can melt a heart, marvelous technique,
unangelically demanding and temperamental even without acting. Suited for
Hollywood. I personally hope she can stop being a "prima-donna" and get
herself into some opera house somewhere, albeit a medium-sized one. That
voice needs a live audience, and I for one would be in attendance.
Jose Cura. Saw him in L.A.'s Norma. Good voice and decent actor, and I
believe he will get better. But what a hunk! Zeffirelli should do another
Otello film, cast Cura as Cassio and strip him shirtless in the dream
sequence! Oolala..
Happy Holidays.
Jeff, who is happily married.
Don/Jeff's home at http://home.earthlink.net/~ddjk/
SDAbrams
Additional nominees: Samuel Ramey, Maria Callas, Anja Silja
SirodEnaj
How could you omit Kiri Te Kanawa and Karita Mattila (this has nothing to
do with partiality to the letter "K").
The latter, especially, would stop traffic most anywhere.
Not much wrong with Thomas Hampson and Jerry Hadley, either.
SirodEnaj
Trat Colins
Well, I personally think that Ruth Ann Swenson is absolutely gorgeous!!
I melt everytime I get to see her on TV. And I think Tebaldi was an
absolute lady in the way she looked. I also think that Freni is
beautiful as well.
--
Trat Colins, President and CEO of Opera-Holics Anonymous
http://stairway.org/bjorling
bjoe...@worldnet.att.net
Jussi Rules!!!
Karen Mercedes
Add to the list:
Emma Eames - before she got fat, she was quite lovely.
Kiri Te Kanawa
Placido Domingo (esp. in his thinner, bearded moments)
Cecilia Bartoli in her thinner moments - a real beauty.
Maria Ewing
Shirley Verrett
Kathleen Battle
Veronica Villaroel
Catherine Malfitano
Nathalie Stutzmann
Ian Bostridge
Felicity Lott (for those who like the I Married an Angel type)
Ann Murray
Nina Terentieva
Mario del Monaco
Roberto Alagna (depending on the photographer)
Victoria de los Angeles
Barbara Bonney (for those who like the Girl Next Door type)
Rosalind Plowright
Brigitte Fassbaender
Nicolai Gedda (for those attracted to the Hitler Youth type)
Rockwell Blake
And has anyone else noticed that Deborah Voigt resembles the young Angela
Lansbury?
Karen Mercedes
not sure if this says more about the looks of the singers, or about my own
personal taste
=====
On Tue, 24 Dec 1996 res...@uconnvm.uconn.edu wrote:
> Back in the days when Opera was a live popular art, what singers
> looked like was important too. Today when it's an art of embalming
> more than anything else, at least in the US of A, the only thing
> that seems to matter is the voice -- and even here, the criteria
> are most questionable (the three-screamers, for instance).
> So, from today's world to the old days when voice was wedded
> to dramatic ability (of a genuinely operatic rather than
> imitative of the dramatic/theatrical type) and sometimes looks...
> who are the great lookers--the ones who would have made it, for
> instance, in the movies?
>
> I guess Lina Cavalieri would have to head any list (and she was in
> movies), no?
> Geraldine Farrar looks great in some stills from operas, but in her movies
> she looks quite matronly and chunky.
> Jarmila Novotna.
> Franco Corelli looks mighty spectacular in stills from Poliuto (or just
> about anything else)
> Riccardo Martin -- beefy, but handsome (aka Richard Martin of
> Kentucky, protege of Caruso -- well, friend and recipient of lots of
> singing advice from him)?
> Maria was pretty stunning after the diet.
> Carreras was beautiful.
> Ricciarelli is beautiful.
> Who else makes it for beauty?
>
Karen Mercedes
Maybe she took Chaucer's THE WIFE OF BATH to heart.
Karen Mercedes
=====
Karen Mercedes
I almost forgot: Nelson Eddy
Karen Mercedes
Joel P. Klein
Roberta Peters!
tom_hamilton
In article , Hans says...
>
>Octavian wrote:
>> Especially, Schwarzkopf and Della Casa have no competitor
>> for their outstanding, charming and fascinating beauty which > absolutely matched their fantastic voices...
>
>Oh, but one was the match and poddibly more for both in both
>disciplines: Sena Jurinac !
>
>- Hans C Hoff
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The young Rosa Ponselle was a knockout.
As was Anna Moffo.
Tom "The True North"
Mark Starr
And who can forget Carole Neblett in her first Thais!
Matthew B. Tepper
Mark Starr wrote:
>
> And who can forget Carole Neblett in her first Thais!
You mean in Nawlins, without no clothes on in one scene? The _San
Francisco Chronicle_ ran a photograph, and even though it was a side
view, I clipped it for safekeeping. Yowzah!
--
"I don't care about being politically correct. I just want to be
anatomically correct!" http://www.deltanet.com/~ducky/index.htm
Matthew B. Tepper Web Brainiac and Gonzo Musicologist Quack!
Matthew B. Tepper
I would marry Cecilia Bartoli in a second, even if she were struck mute.
The photo of Alison Hagley in the booklet of Runnicles' new recording of
Gluck's _Orphée et Eurydice_ (she sings Amour in the French version)
pleases me no end.
And Sena Jurinac, in the film of _Der Rosenkavalier_ wherein she sings
Octavian, shows that she had (at the time) a really cute butt!
Scott Powers
Two of my Favorite Sopranos
Ruth Ann Swenson
Carol Vaness
Sara Freeman
I'll take Wolfgang Holzmair and Dimitri Hvorostovsky--when his hair is
short enough.
Tom Moran
I read somewhere that Aprile Millo wasn't sure she should do "La
Traviata" because she didn't think she would be convincing as a
successful courtesan.
I think she's wrong. She'd do just fine.
Sing the role, Aprile! You're a babe.
Tom Moran
Daniel F. Tritter
Hans C Hoff wrote:
>
> Octavian wrote:
> > Especially, Schwarzkopf and Della Casa have no competitor
> > for their outstanding, charming and fascinating beauty which > absolutely matched their fantastic voices...
>
> --
> Oh, but one was the match and poddibly more for both in both
> disciplines: Sena Jurinac !
>
> - Hans C Hoff
Now there's a man of taste and a judge of beauty!
dft
Matthew B. Tepper
Sara Freeman wrote:
>
> I agree that Schwarzkopf was beautiful, but I often wonder why she
> never fixed that gap between her 2 front teeth.
Because then she wouldn't have been a chair!
John Lynch
Twenty-three posts so far and nobody has mentioned Rise Stevens, who did
make it in the movies, and in her early eighties still looks great.
John Lynch
Octavian
Sara Freeman wrote:
>
> In <32BFE5...@hotmail.com> Octavian <octa...@hotmail.com> writes:
> >
> >Maria Cebotari, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Lisa della Casa, Hilde Gueden,
> >Gwyneth Jones, etc... There are really many beaytiful prima donnas in
> competitor
> >for their outstanding, charming and fascinating beauty which
> absolutely
> >matched their fantastic voices...
>
> never fixed that gap between her 2 front teeth.
> "If you think of reality as the software for the universe,
> all it would take is for someone to change a comma in the
> program, and the chair you are sitting on wouldn't be a
> chair at all."--Jacques Vallee
I think she must have thought that such fixing must affect her voice
badly!!! Believe it, or not.
Vidal Verlag Innsbruck
Andrea Rost
Daniel F. Tritter
The Bohemian countryside has produced at least 3 of history's most gorgeous
women [no need to confine that to opera, though we know them from that venue:
1) Emmy Destinnova [if we are to believe the rather detailed
knowledge acquired by a youthful lover named Arthur Rubinstein]
2) Maria Jeritza [who was even admired as an aged dowager named Mrs.
Seerey, when she made her weekly pilgrimage from her castle in Hoboken to Met
matinees]
3) Jarmila Novotna, who cut an elegant figure in paniers or in
trousers, and as a frumpy middle-aged refugee opposite Montgomery Clift in a
fascinating movie, "The Search," was still breathtakingly beautiful, and
remained so until her death a couple of years ago, aged 80-several.
I agree about Rise Stevens.
And for those of you who recall the lady who almost singlehandedly saved the
Met in the '30's and founded the Metropolitan Opera Guild, Mrs. August
(Eleanor Robson) Belmont ... she lived to the age of 100 and remained as
splendid looking as when she had been a Broadway actress in the first decades
of the century. If you're at the Met, look at her portrait, painted when she
was about 70; it's no exaggeration.
Add a couple: soprano Mary Costa, at her apex in the '60's, a very fine Met
Manon, and likewise kept alive "Candide," after its mere 9-10
weeks on Broadway, as a ravishing Cunegonde.
the young Anna Moffo
Kiri Te Kanawa
Raina Kabaiwanska
And when she first came down the pike ... get yourself some
archival photos ... Eleanor Steber.
Interesting topic, because some of these nominees fall into one of two
categories. Beautiful women whose beauty is timeless. Or those who look great
till they turn 30, then fall apart.
By the way, some of the posters here who nominate Schwartzkopf probably have
seen those great facial bones made up in photos or on stage, or on film or
video, but never saw her offstage, where, in brutal candor, she merely looked
like a pleasant German housewife. Art over nature? I think so.
Parenthetically, let's stick to the subject: I'm not discussing her art or
her persona, just her looks. She has that great property that animates all
this discussion, diametric views on her voice, her career, her art, her
marriage and her politics. Whether I care for all or none of this catalogue,
she certainly inspires debate.
Happy holiday.
James G. Jorden
In <01bbf1c9$59a7a4a0$94ca95ce@default> "Jeff K." <dd...@earthlink.net>
writes:
>
>Jose Cura. What a hunk! Zeffirelli should do another
>Otello film, cast Cura as Cassio and strip him shirtless in the dream
>sequence!
Actually, I believe stripping shirtless is a pre-requisite for
auditioning for the Zef.
Claud H. Shirley III
Lis K. Froding wrote:
>
> Peter Hoffmann.
>
> Lis
Best looking - worst sounding.
tom_hamilton
In article , John says...
>
>Twenty-three posts so far and nobody has mentioned Rise Stevens, who did
>make it in the movies, and in her early eighties still looks great.
>
>John Lynch
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My recent nominees were Rosa Ponselle and Anna Moffo.
I would like to add one other along with a question...
Gladys Swarthout, whose dark lustrous voice was matched by
sultry good looks.
It was rumoured that the lady had a very healthy sexual appetite.
And she maintained that her stage presence, glow and Voice
production were helped by backstage activities before curtain
time.?????
Happy New Year:
Tom
Lis K. Froding
In <19961224193...@ladder01.news.aol.com> sdab...@aol.com
(SDAbrams) writes:
>
>Additional nominees: Samuel Ramey, Maria Callas, Anja Silja
Placido Domingo. Kiri Te Kanawa.
Lis
Lis K. Froding
Peter Hoffmann.
Lis
Lis K. Froding
James G. Jorden
In <32C0DE...@deltanet.com> "Matthew B. Tepper"
<du...@deltanet.com> writes:
>And who can forget Carole Neblett in her first Thais!
>You mean in Nawlins, without no clothes on in one scene? The _San
>Francisco Chronicle_ ran a photograph, and even though it was a side
>view, I clipped it for safekeeping. Yowzah!
I was going to the NO Opera at the time, and, boy, did Carol's Thais
generate anecdotes. Here are a few:
The opera was picketed by exotic dancers from Bourbon Street, who
charged discrimination: by law they had to wear g-strings, so why not
this opera broad? (One stripper's placard read: "Hey, I don't sing
arias!")
The nudity angle was played up in a local newpaper, which headlined its
review "Opera Buff".
Years later I worked with Charles Elsen, the genius who designed Ms.
Neblett's wigs and makeup for this production. He explained how they
had to use foundation makeup and shading on her entire body (and she's
a big girl), then added, "Plus, of course, Carol's not a natural
blonde..."
jj
James G. Jorden
In <32C11F...@hotmail.com> Octavian <octa...@hotmail.com> writes:
>
>> I agree that Schwarzkopf was beautiful, but I often wonder why she
>> never fixed that gap between her 2 front teeth.
>> --
>badly!!! Believe it, or not.
Reasonable enough. Look what happened to Anna Moffo after her nose
job. (Gasp! Hadn't you heard?)
jj
Sara Freeman
>>
>> In <32BFE5...@hotmail.com> Octavian <octa...@hotmail.com>
writes:
>> >
>> >Maria Cebotari, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Lisa della Casa, Hilde
Gueden,
>> >Gwyneth Jones, etc... There are really many beaytiful prima donnas
in
>> >20th century. Especially, Schwarzkopf and Della Casa have no
>> competitor
>> >for their outstanding, charming and fascinating beauty which
>> absolutely
>> >matched their fantastic voices...
>>
>> never fixed that gap between her 2 front teeth.
>> --
>> all it would take is for someone to change a comma in the
>> program, and the chair you are sitting on wouldn't be a
>> chair at all."--Jacques Vallee
>
>badly!!! Believe it, or not.
Well, I believe it more than I believe the chair reason. Maybe she
thought she could get that extra whiff of air everytime she took a
breath through that space.
Bruce A. Rosenberg
>Who else makes it for beauty?
>
and the responses herein are testimony to that ...
Look not only at the content but the quantity of response!
So, as I too play judge, looking into the mirror to the my finger
pointing back at me, two simple cents:
Look at the eyes and listen to the heart.
Beverly Sills had a beauty that was god given.
David
Oh dear, what a load of filthy sexist diatribe, and you so called experts
dare to bite my head off for making observations based on years of
dedicated and extremely difficult study, ie. my life's work. Maybe you save
your money and go to porno flicks for your cultural titilation. dubby
Sara Freeman
>In <19961224193...@ladder01.news.aol.com> sdab...@aol.com
>(SDAbrams) writes:
>>
>>Additional nominees: Samuel Ramey, Maria Callas, Anja Silja
>
Samuel Ramey! Yuck!
Callas, yes, I can agree with that. I am a sort of mousy, grey-eyed
dusty blonde, and I always wanted to dark and sultry and look like
either Maria Callas or Ava Gardner.
A few years ago when Anja Silja's husband, my favorite conductor, was
conducting at Carnegie Hall, I sat a few boxes away from the box she
was sitting in. I was amazed at how mousy she looked. She made no
attempt whatsoever to bring a little color to herself with makeup. Of
course, she has got a beautiful smile, but it amazes me how charisma
can dramatically change one when they step on stage to perform.
Sara Freeman
In <01bbf2e5$9e5abd40$7c6e...@dialup.ozemail.com.au> "David"
hunks and broads are broads.
Trat Colins
Amen sister!!! :)
Merry Christmas all of you sexists!!! :-)
Of course, all in good humor. :)
--
Trat Colins, President and CEO of Opera-Holics Anonymous
http://stairway.org/bjorling
bjoe...@worldnet.att.net
Jussi Rules!!!
ECBush
John Lynch <jly...@ma.ultranet.com> wrote:
>Twenty-three posts so far and nobody has mentioned Rise Stevens, who did
>make it in the movies, and in her early eighties still looks great.
>
>John Lynch
Twenty-four posts and no one's mentioned Frederica von Stade!!
See for yourself
http://www.spiritone.com/~ecbush/vonStade/FvS.html
she's gorgeous!
;-)
ECBush
James G. Jorden
In <01bbf2e5$9e5abd40$7c6e...@dialup.ozemail.com.au> "David"
<du...@novanet.net.au> writes:
>
>Oh dear, what a load of filthy sexist diatribe, and you so called
>experts dare to bite my head off for making observations based on
>years of dedicated and extremely difficult study, ie. my life's work.
Anyone have a hint of a clue what this guy's problem is? We're just
having a casual discussion of which opera singers are good looking.
And, while we're on the subject:
Have you seen photos of the young (20's) Pavarotti? Super hot and
cute! Leontyne Price is going on 70 and just gets more and more
gorgeous. Dwayne Croft is really handsome and sexy besides.
>Maybe you save your money and go to porno flicks for your cultural
>titilation.
Got to go now. The Playboy Channel is showing "Debbie Does Callas".
jj
John Lynch
Tom, Hamilton wrote:
> Gladys Swarthout, whose dark lustrous voice was matched by
> sultry good looks.
>
> It was rumoured that the lady had a very healthy sexual appetite.
> And she maintained that her stage presence, glow and Voice
> production were helped by backstage activities before curtain
> time.?????
Was it Olin Downes or another New York critic who said that Swarthout's
"Carmen" never left the country club?
John Lynch
Will Ryan
Since no one has mentioned her: Sumi Jo.
Matthew B. Tepper
Tom, Hamilton wrote:
>
> Gladys Swarthout, whose dark lustrous voice was matched by
> sultry good looks.
>
> It was rumoured that the lady had a very healthy sexual appetite.
> And she maintained that her stage presence, glow and Voice
> production were helped by backstage activities before curtain
> time.?????
Well, maybe that explains why my dad asked for a Gladys Swarthout CD for
his 79th birthday this year. He said that she had appeared in some
movies he had seen and that she was quite attractive. Must have been
very attractive for him to remember after all this time!
Matthew B. Tepper
But isn't there an, er, upper age limit?
Matthew B. Tepper
Hoo hah! Is she tall! I still have somewhere a videotape of a
Beethoven 9th Giulini did here in Los Angeles some years ago. Giulini
walks on stage, and he's no shrimp. Then the soloists come on; first
Simon Estes, who makes Giulini look small. Then the tenor and the mezzo
and finally Neblett, who makes Estes look small!
Matthew B. Tepper
Lis K. Froding wrote:
>
> Peter Hoffmann.
>
> Lis
Saw him do a concert version of _Walküre_ Act I about 20+ years ago,
with Jessye Norman, Paul Plishka, and Seiji Ozawa conducting the San
Francisco Symphony. Hofmann stood on stage as though he had a fireplace
poker very carefully hidden on his person. (This was before his
motorcycle accident.)
Matthew B. Tepper
Bruce A. Rosenberg wrote:
>
> Look at the eyes and listen to the heart.
> Beverly Sills had a beauty that was god given.
And of course, hair color from a bottle.
Matthew B. Tepper
Will Ryan wrote:
>
> Since no one has mentioned her: Sumi Jo.
A real beauty, but isn't she slightly crosseyed?
Eric C West
In article <19961224195...@ladder01.news.aol.com>, SirodEnaj wrote:
>
>How could you omit Kiri Te Kanawa and Karita Mattila (this has nothing to
>do with partiality to the letter "K").
>The latter, especially, would stop traffic most anywhere.
Mattila gets a second from me. During the 1995 Solti performance of Die
Meistersinger, she wore an outfit that accentuated her, shall we say,
assets (and I don't just mean the two obvious ones). Some whispered,
"slut," but all I could think was, "Yow." :)
>Not much wrong with Thomas Hampson and Jerry Hadley, either.
On the men's side, give Terfel a buzz cut and he might look nice.
Karen Mercedes
After thumbing through a few books, I've got some more to add to the list:
Contemporary with Farrar and Eames:
Sigrid Arnoldson
Zelie de Lussan
Mary Garden
Marguerite Carre
Gemma Bellincioni
Maria Kouznetsova
Marthe Chenal
Genvieve Vix
Frances Alda
Luella Paikin
Sophie Braslau
Elisabeth Rethberg
Julia Culp
Louise Homer
Victor Capoul
Victor Maurel
Giuseppe Anselmi
Charles Dalmores
Albert Alvarez
George Baklanov
Fernand Ansseau
Bernardo de Muro
Edward Johnson
And more recently...
Judith Blegen
Ron Bottcher
Johanna Meier
Erie Mills
Leona Mitchell
Ellen Shade
Blanche Thebom
Carol Vaness
Karen Mercedes
Karen Mercedes
Ah, yes, who can forget Rise and Nelson Eddy in the charming THE CHOCOLATE
SOLDIER. It had nothing to do with the Oscar Straus operetta, but
featured Eddy in one of his very best film performance, showing that not
only could he be a very funny comic actor but also that he really could
sing (dig his "O du mein holder Abendstern" - also sung, incongruously, by
la Stevens herself, along with a glorious first verse of Dalila's "Mon
Coeur s'Ouvre a ta Voix" and "Mein Helden"...one of the few songs from
Straus's operetta to actually make it into the movie).
Karen Mercedes
=====
Karen Mercedes
Without including the message you were responding to, it's hard to
understand what got you so very exercised. I can see nothing at all
"sexist" about observing which opera stars - male and female - we find
visually pulchritudinous. It may be superficial of us, but it's hardly
"sexist".
KM
=====
On 26 Dec 1996, David wrote:
> Oh dear, what a load of filthy sexist diatribe, and you so called experts
> dare to bite my head off for making observations based on years of
> dedicated and extremely difficult study, ie. my life's work. Maybe you save
> your money and go to porno flicks for your cultural titilation. dubby
>
>
>
tom_hamilton
In article , Karen says...
It was my understanding that this thread was about "Best Looking
Opera Singers"
It seems to have moved toward "Every Opera Singer'
Not that some beauty cant be found in all God's Children, but this
is being carried too far.
I propose (Tongue in Cheek) - ''Worst Looking Opera Singers"
And to head the list I nominate:-------- ------------- you fill out the name.
So help me there are no names or faces that come to mind.
This does remind me of the very famous conductor who was in
love with two ladies. The first was gorgeous, funny and had a figure
that just did'nt stop.
The second was'nt much to look at, but had the voice of an angel.
Needless to say Art won out and he married his Prima Donna..
When he awoke the morning after his nuptials, he was heard to say:
'FOR GOD'S SAKE SING'
Have a Happy and Prosperous and Healthy 1997......................
Tom
Matthew B. Tepper
Bruce A. Rosenberg wrote:
>
> On Thu, 26 Dec 1996 10:17:48 -0800, "Matthew B. Tepper"
> <du...@deltanet.com> wrote:
>
> >> Look at the eyes and listen to the heart.
> >> Beverly Sills had a beauty that was god given.
> >
> >And of course, hair color from a bottle.
>
> If you are, you know ... every good Jewish American Princess begins
> supports the hair care industry.
>
> The only reservation is the tenth commandment ... Never Buy Retail.
Yes, I am OOOP (One of Our People, an expression I mildly prefer to
Member Of the Tribe). And my sister does indeed help Clairol stay in
business. But not by dyeing her hair bright red!
James G. Jorden
More about Carol Neblett:
To follow up her triumph as Thais, New Orleans Opera presented La
Neblett the following season as Marguerite in Faust. The diva played
the village virgin in a bouffant blonde wig and an industrial strength
pushup bra. She looked like Janyne Mansfield. Overhead after "Avant
de quitter": "If my sister looked like that, I's be afreaid to leave
her alone in the house too!"
jj
Scott Powers
Since my last response to this thread, I have thought of two more.
Both recently deceased, both were beautiful, both in voice and in
spirit.
Tatiana Troyanos
Lucia Popp
Regards
Scott Powers
Bruce A. Rosenberg
Carmen Z. Catoni
One real beauty in opera that hasn't been mentioned was/is Virginia Zeani.
Her Tosca was one of the best I have seen, an certainly escenically the most
impressive (when I saw her in this role she was in her last years of
singing). When she made her first act entrance there was a real
diva-personality filling the stage. Strikingly beautiful!
And i have a weaknes for another one, Yes I know she is big, but has one of
the most attractive and charming faces full of incredible personality,
Deborah Voigt.
And if anybodo saw Fiorena Cossotto singing Amneris with her own
costumes...Well, that was a sexy image. They werte really tight and revealed
a splendid figure she mantained until the late 80s.
HAPPY LISTENING!!!
Luis A. Catoni
cat...@bellsouth.net
Ho da fare un dramma buffo e non trovo l'argomento.
J. Miller
Tom Hamilton wrote:
>
>It was my understanding that this thread was about "Best Looking
>Opera Singers"
>It seems to have moved toward "Every Opera Singer'
>Not that some beauty cant be found in all God's Children, but this
>is being carried too far.
>I propose (Tongue in Cheek) - ''Worst Looking Opera Singers"
Hopefully, this will signal the end to this ridiculous thread. I'm
just as frivolous as the next guy, but this topic seemed to me to be,
well, a little stupid. But, as far as looks go, it always amazes me
how often a voice and a face just do NOT seem to go together. If you
can remember back to the first time you saw them, was there ever
anyone in opera who had this effect on you?
Janice
Daniel F. Tritter
Karen Mercedes wrote:
>
> Ah, yes, who can forget Rise and Nelson Eddy in the charming THE CHOCOLATE
> SOLDIER. It had nothing to do with the Oscar Straus operetta, but
> featured Eddy in one of his very best film performance, showing that not
> only could he be a very funny comic actor but also that he really could
> sing (dig his "O du mein holder Abendstern" - also sung, incongruously, by
> la Stevens herself, along with a glorious first verse of Dalila's "Mon
> Coeur s'Ouvre a ta Voix" and "Mein Helden"...one of the few songs from
> Straus's operetta to actually make it into the movie).
>
> Karen Mercedes
>
Or better still, listen to his Moussorgsly's "Song of the Flea" (an old
Chaliapin specialty) ... terrific!
dft
Sue Skidmore
Karen Mercedes wrote:
>
I can see nothing at all
> "sexist" about observing which opera stars - male and female - we find
> visually pulchritudinous. It may be superficial of us, but it's hardly
> "sexist".
>
sing under my windows anytime!!!!
Sue
username
In article <59t7kt$c...@ridge.spiritone.com>, ecb...@spiritone.com says...
>
>Twenty-four posts and no one's mentioned Frederica von Stade!!
>See for yourself
>http://www.spiritone.com/~ecbush/vonStade/FvS.html
>she's gorgeous!
>;-)
>ECBush
>
>
Someone once said she was too old to keep her nickname 'Flicka'. To that
I say, if you look that good over 50, you can call yourself whatever you
want!
Andrew Park
username
In article <59p567$p...@sjx-ixn6.ix.netcom.com>, fre...@ix.netcom.co
says...
>I agree that Schwarzkopf was beautiful, but I often wonder why she
>never fixed that gap between her 2 front teeth.
>--
Because she wanted to look like Madonna!!
Andrew Park
username
In article <Pine.SUN.3.94.96122...@access2.digex.net>,
merc...@access2.digex.net says...
>
>Add to the list:
>
>Emma Eames - before she got fat, she was quite lovely.
>
>Kiri Te Kanawa
I always thought her facial proportions were a bit odd.
>
>Maria Ewing
>
Did she look better in her youth? I think she looks freakish.
Andrew Park
Sara Freeman
I knew a guy once who was mad about her lips, but, personally, I think
she should have "lip"osuction.
>
--
"If you think of reality as the software for the universe,
all it would take is for someone to change a comma in the
program, and the chair you are sitting on wouldn't be a
chair at all."--Jacques Vallee
Hans C Hoff
So far almost 70 entries in this thread, and no one has yet mentioned
Anneliese Rothenberger !
The best-looking person in any opera performance must however be Sophia
Loren in the screen version of Aida, even if Maria Chiara in the La
Scala video also is very beautiful (which in that case is a necessary
compensation.)
--
- Hans C Hoff
Hans C Hoff
Almost 70 entries, and yet no mention of Anneliese Rothenberger, who
certainly must reach the short list of many !
Sophia Loren acted Aida in a film version, but that hardly qualifies (it
comes in a class of its own).
Maria Chiara in the Scala video is also quite an eyesore, (but then
sadly also quite an earsore) !
Yuca
Being a dentist, I dedicate myself to improving the overall health of
patients' dentitions. Part of that involves addressing the esthetic
component. You'd be surprised at the number of people with a gap (diastema
is the correct term) between their front teeth. Many consider a diastema an
attractive component of one's overall facial appearance. I have learned
that it is those particular, slight imperfections that give an overall
appearance of beauty. Eg: Lauren Hutton-diastema, B. Streisand-nose, Uma
Thurman-nose, Jackie Onassis-eyes slightly farther apart han normal, etc.
Most people do not want to fix their diastemas, they cringe at the thought
of altering their facial appearance. Maybe Schwazkopf liked her
appearance... maybe be she was scared of going to the dentist... We'll
never know.
--
pa...@ix.netcom.com
Sara Freeman <fre...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in article <59p567$pt1@sjx-
Chuck * Peter
I vote for Dmitri Hvorstovsky(I apologize for the spelling)
He's one hot hunk of man.
Peter Bez
Bruce A. Rosenberg
... and what a beautiful addition to your collection is her disk of
Schubert Lieder, leading of with Ava Maria (Teledec).
Chuck * Peter
Bruce A. Rosenberg
Katisha
I read somewhere that Sir Thomas Beecham bewailed that either his
singers ate like horses and sang like birds, or ate like birds and
sang like horses.
Anyone know any more Beecham quotes?
Katisha.
OPERA MAMA
Best looking opera singer? Without a doubt, the pre-leukemia Jose'
Carreras. His perfect complexion and shiny curly hair went marvelously
with those oh so dark Spanish eyes. He was to-die-for, my friends!
Daniel Kravetz
My favorite was Beecham's description of the sound of a harpsichord as
akin to two skeletons copulating on a tin roof.
By-the-bye, your handle indicates you might be interested in my
organization>or in the Savoynet mailing list. I'll provide more
information on request.
Dan Kravetz
Gilbert & Sullivan Society of New York
John Lynch
Katisha wrote:
> Anyone know any more Beecham quotes?
Some years ago, when Andre Previn was conductor of the Pittsburgh SO,
there was a program on TV in which members of the orchestra reminisced
about this and that. One story concerned Beecham. His attitude was that
if an orchestra had the temerity to invite him to conduct, he assumed
that he was to be presented with an ensemble of first-class musicians
who should not need long rehearsals. At the first he mounted the podium
and said, "All right, gentlemen, there is a tricky bit at-- um--letter G
in the Strauss." He waved his stick for a few measures. "Excellent! Now
at number 125 in the Brahms" A few beats. "Superb. All right, see you at
eight." End of rehearsal. A horn player waved frantically. "B-but Sir
Thomas, I-I've never played the Brahms Second before!" "Oh, my dear
fellow, you'll love it," Beecham said.
John Lynch
Hans C Hoff
Katisha wrote:
>
> I read somewhere that Sir Thomas Beecham bewailed that either his
> singers ate like horses and sang like birds, or ate like birds and
> sang like horses.
> Anyone know any more Beecham quotes?
I have heard that he said *looked* like horses.
There are quite a few other stories, some of them probably apocryphal.I
thus cannot vouch for the authenticity of this, my favourite: Once
Beecham conducted an Aida performance at La Scala in which elephants and
other animals were brought on stage in the Triumphal scene. An elephant
got a bit scared by all the pageantry, became unruly and left a few
droppings. This was enough to disrupt the proceedings; Beecham then with
the utmost calmness stopped the music, turned to the public, pointed to
the culprit and said:'Abominable behaviour, ladies and gentlemen, but
what a critic!'.
Elizabeth Finkler
In <32C64E...@ma.ultranet.com> John Lynch <jly...@ma.ultranet.com>
writes:
>if an orchestra had the temerity to invite him to conduct, he assumed
>that he was to be presented with an ensemble of first-class musicians
>who should not need long rehearsals. At the first he mounted the
podium
>and said, "All right, gentlemen, there is a tricky bit at-- um--letter
G
>in the Strauss." He waved his stick for a few measures. "Excellent!
Now
>at number 125 in the Brahms" A few beats. "Superb. All right, see you
at
>eight." End of rehearsal. A horn player waved frantically. "B-but Sir
>Thomas, I-I've never played the Brahms Second before!" "Oh, my dear
>fellow, you'll love it," Beecham said.
>
>John Lynch
My sister may have studied with that horn player. He insisted that his
students learn the horn parts to the major orchestral warhorses, in
addition to the solo horn repertory. Supposedly, the story was that he
had been hired for a major orchestra right out of the conservatory, and
found himself going into one concert which had a symphony he had never
played-- and which the conductor never rehearsed.
Elizabeth Finkler
Mark Starr
Here is a true story that sounds like a Sir Thomas Beecham story, but in
actuality was a Sir Rudolf Bing story.
Sir Rudolf was once interviewed by Time magazine for a cover story.
During the interview, he was interrupted by an assistant for some
pressing business. The assistant happened to mention that many former
members of the Metropolitan Opera's Chorus and Corps de Ballet were now
employed by the company as secretaries. "Really!," Sir Rudolf replied
loudly, "I had always assumed it was the other way round."
Regards,
Mark Starr
Zemfira
Well Dmitri is definately the hottest male, and I always thought that Sumi
Jo was very pretty (at least on her album covers, I've never seen her
live)
Zemfira
David M Pickering
Excerpts from netnews.rec.music.opera: 25-Dec-96 Re: Best Looking Opera
Singers by Sara Fre...@ix.netcom.c
> I'll take Wolfgang Holzmair and Dimitri Hvorostovsky--when his hair is
> short enough.
I remember a Tucker Gala broadcast from a couple of years ago when
Hvorostovsky and Paul Groves sang "Au fond du temple saint" and I just
happened to notice one of the women in the orchestra who was staring at
Hvorostovsky with a look that can probably best be described as
"unadulterated lust"
As to the subject:
I caught a re-broadcast of the Australia Opera's "La Boheme" and the two
principles: David Hobson and Cheryl Barker would certainly qualify.
I would also include Renee Fleming (hey, I love red hair and green eyes)
Karita Matilla (thought she looked sensational in the watch duet at the
Levine Gala), Ruth Ann Swenson (though she looked a tad chubby on the
Tucker Gala broadcast), and Jennifer Larmore among the current group of
singers.
Dave
dp...@andrew.cmu.edu
http://www.psy.cmu.edu/~dp3u/dave.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The credit belongs to those who are actually in the arena, who strive
valiantly; who know the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and
speed themselves in a worthy cause; who at the best, know the triumph of
high achievement; and who, at the worst, if they fail, fail while daring
greatly, so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid
souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
--Theodore Roosevelt
Karen Mercedes
I listed about 30 singers - hardly *all* opera singers, and not even *all
attractive* opera singers.
Just how few singers do think there have been since opera began in the
early 17th Century (arguably the very late 16th)? I can guarantee you
it's a hell of a lot more than 30. The idea that one can select only 30
or so from amid the thousands of men and women who have sung opera over
the centuries is fairly absurd to begin with, given we're dealing with a
theatrical profession, which means one would expect to find more
attractive people in it than one would find, say, in plumbing or real
estate.
Karen Mercedes
tom_h.
The music world abounds in stories of Sir Tom.
And our lives are richer for them.
My knowledge of Beecham is very sketchy and I would appreciate your
help in providing more stories.....
Not Library material, but first hand stories.
Did he buy orchestras?
Was his family rich because of ownership of a pill factory?
Hark, the Herald Angels Sing
Beecham's Pills are just the thing,
Peace on Earth and mercy mild,
Good for Man and good for Child.
Just had to get that out of my system before 1997!
Have a good one:
Tom H. "The True North"
Mark Starr
My favorite Beecham story is this one:
While conducting the opening piece on an orchestral concert in London,
Sir Thomas suddenly felt nature's call. At the final note, he cut off
the orchestra, ignored the applause, and rushed off-stage to find a
lavatory (British for our "bathroom," to enhance the atmosphere of the
story.) He found two small toilets in the wings, one designated
"Gentlemen" and the other designated "Ladies." As was the custom in
those days, a hefty, white-haired matron in a white uniform sat outside
the doors to supervise the goings-on. Sir Thomas headed for the door
marked "Gentlemen," but he noticed the latch above the doorknob
displaying the word "Occupied." So without any hesitation, he raced
through the door marked "Ladies" with the latch displaying the word
"Unoccupied."
Of course, the matron noticed Sir Thomas charging into the Ladies'
Lavatory. So she ran to the door and repeatedly knocked loudly--while
exclaiming in a shocked voice: "Sir Thomas, what in the world are you
doing in there?" To which Sir Thomas replied: "My dear good woman, I
will give you two guesses."
Regards,
Mark Starr
John Lynch
David M Pickering wrote:
I just
> Hvorostovsky with a look that can probably best be described as
> "unadulterated lust"
Must have been a single woman.
JL
J. Miller
John Lynch <jly...@ma.ultranet.com> wrote in article
<32C8E9...@ma.ultranet.com>...
Don't be too sure. We married ladies have been known to send impure
thoughts to an irresistible object before ;). I wouldn't want to speak for
*all* of us, mind you, but a beautiful male voice inspires more than just
artistic appreciation in me. And judging by the way you guys leap to the
defense of your divas (and divettes), the reverse might also be true....
JM
LesTroyens
I say Jean Madeira, a Joan Bennett lookalike contralto from the Bing
years.
And Tebaldi, in the big hair years, was beautiful wasn't she?
Today, Ruth Anne is quite fetching and charming.
Carole Farley is almost to beautiful to be in the profession.
And of course, Moffo, Hampson, Silja, Ramey...
====================================
Ken Ziebarth
Why has no one yet mentioned Ashley Putnam?? I guess she has everyone
stunned speachless. But she would certainly be my top choice!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ken Ziebarth Boulder, CO
John Lynch
Oh, now your talking about adulterated lust!
John Lynch
Trat Colins
I know that I have some unadulterated lust for Ruth Ann and Cecilia! I
don't care if they are adding a few pounds. I still think they are both
drop-dead gorgeous. And their hair is just plain beautiful! :)
--
Trat Colins, Youngstown, Ohio
http://stairway.org/bjorling
bjoe...@worldnet.att.net
Jussi Rules!!!
Bruce A. Rosenberg
I think we're talking a literal play on words here.
Unadulterated, by definition ...
Betty Davis
Concerning the best looking opera singers.....how about Ferruccio
Furlanetto? Check out his beautiful eyes!! And I think that Inessa
Galante is very pretty too, and she has a lovely voice as well! Happy
New Year!
--
Betty Davis
bet...@pbfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us
Christine Duncan
>I caught a re-broadcast of the Australia Opera's "La Boheme" and the two
>principles: David Hobson and Cheryl Barker would certainly qualify.
I don't know about Cheryl Barker...But you're right about David Hobson.
He wins this contest hands down.
Christine
g.f.
That tenor in the Australian La Boheme last year, hands down.
Dave Krug
David M Pickering wrote
:
: and Jennifer Larmore among the current group of
: singers.
Wholeheartedly agree -- I'll never envision Carmen the same again!
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Andrew Vincent Alder
John Lynch
Wasn't there a song titled "The girl with the Bette Davis eyes?"
John Lynch