Quote:
Originally Posted by OccultHawk
I just cannot seem to develop an appreciation for spoken word or almost any type of language based vocals in contemporary classical music. There’s an exception here or there but almost always it just annoys me. I’m like STFU!
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You've been listening to the wrong people.
Or it could be that you just don't like the approach of contemporary classical singers. And it's funny you should mention the subject as I was just musing to myself about the need for singers of the English language to embellish their delivery with rolling Rs and unduly elongated vowels. Something about the "art song" must lend itself to this kind of thing. To wit, Ian Bostridge singing the second movement aria from early 20th century composer Gerald Finzi's
Dies Natalis (1938):
Rhapsody (Recitativo Stromentato)
Will you see the infancy of this sublime and celestial greatness?
I was a stranger, which at my entrance into the world
Was saluted and surrounded with innumerable joys
My knowledge was divine. I was entertained like an angel
With the works of God in their splendour and glory
Heaven and Earth did sing my Creator's praises
And could not make more melody to Adam than to me
Certainly Adam in Paradise had not more sweet and curious
Apprehensions of the world than I
All appeared new, and strange at first
Inexpressibly rare and delightful and beautiful
All things were spotless and pure and glorious
The corn was orient and immortal wheat
Which never should be reaped nor was ever sown
I thought it had stood from everlasting to everlasting
The green trees, when I saw them first, transported and ravished me
Their sweetness and unusual beauty made my heart to leap
And almost mad with ecstasy, they were such strange and wonderful things
O what venerable creatures did the aged seem!
Immortal cherubims! and the young men glittering and sparkling angels
And maids strange seraphic pieces of life and beauty!
I knew not that they were born or should die
But all things abided eternally
I knew not that there were sins or complaints or laws
I dreamed not of poverties, contentions or vices
All tears and quarrels were hidden from mine eyes
I saw all in the peace of Eden
Everything was at rest, free and immortal
Gerald Finzi, lyrics by Thomas Traherne
None of that artful approach is in this rendition of Kurt Weil's
Alabama Song from the OPERA,
The Rise & Fall of the City of Mahagonny (1930) -
Audra McDonald, Cast
Well, show me the way
To the next whisky bar
Oh, don't ask why
Oh, don't ask why
Show me the way
To the next whisky bar
Oh, don't ask why
Oh, don't ask why
For if we don't find
The next whisky bar
I tell you we must die
I tell you we must die
I tell you, I tell you
I tell you we must die
Oh, moon of Alabama
We now must say goodbye
We've lost our good old mama
And must have whiskey, oh, you know why
Oh, moon of Alabama
We now must say goodbye
We've lost our good old mama
And must have dollars, oh, you know why, yeah
Well, show me the way
To the next little girl
Oh, don't ask why
Oh, don't ask why
Show me the way
To the next little girl
Oh,…