DonOttavio

I am an opera singer (A tenor, though not of the dramatic quality: My fach is qualified as Leggiero) myself and I found this performance rather charming. It is true that Paul's rendition was not top of the line, but I found it quite adequate for his training and his rendition was both sincere and very musical, and it is the communication that is such an important part of operatic performance. Many times we have seen singers with perfect techniques or instruments singing without any dramatic communication, while others with not-as-beautiful instruments and imperfect techniques such as Maria Callas have given us rousing performances (while many dispute the beauty of her voice, nobody disputes the power of her dramatic choices and interpretation). Paul did a lovely job and should be proud of it, and I was glad that the public was so very receptive to it. In my experience I have discovered that although there is a group of people who hate opera viscerally, there is a large part of the public who is prone to appreciating good performances (some of them don't even know it until they come upon one and are moved). My favorite rendition of Nessun Dorma, incidentally, is Alfredo Kraus'-- he never recorded the role, as it was outside his fach as a lirico-spinto, but he did record the aria. And as always, interpretation and technique are flawless. Don Ottavio ------------- Dalla sua pace....

Barbara, Isn't what you are doing exactly what you criticized Ayn Rand for doing? Just a few cents from a dispassionate observer. =============================