Is your favourite singer in classical music or non-classical music?

[KevinP]

Just curious.

[SonicMan46]

Hello KevinP! 

I guess that I relate best to singing in my own language (English in this case) and to emotions/songs that relate to my times (i.e. middle to late 20th century USA) - with those criteria, my favorite singer is Frank Sinatra, now I do have many more that could be listed easily.  However, I do own plenty of classical music choral works sung in a variety of languages that I enjoy - just not the same though to pick out a 'person' - 

[Bogey]

[Szykneij]

There was a boy  A very strange enchanted boy
Good choice!

[MN Dave]

[SonicMan46]

Dave - yes, if the sexes are divided - Sinatra is at the top of my male list (BTW, Nat King Cole is up there too, but I have to 'throw in' Mel Torme for my wife's vote! And, don't forget Louie & Bing) - for the ladies, I'd have to put Ella at the top of my list (recently acquired here 'Complete Songbooks' - just hours of pleasant listening), but as w/ the men, there are many other ladies that I enjoy (Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, & Rosie Clooney, just to mention a few) - 

[MN Dave]

Dave - yes, if the sexes are divided - Sinatra is at the top of my male list (BTW, Nat King Cole is up there too, but I have to 'throw in' Mel Torme for my wife's vote! And, don't forget Louie & Bing) - for the ladies, I'd have to put Ella at the top of my list (recently acquired here 'Complete Songbooks' - just hours of pleasant listening), but as w/ the men, there are many other ladies that I enjoy (Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, & Rosie Clooney, just to mention a few) - 

I'm not certain about the guys. But I'm sure about Ella. 

[KevinP]

[bwv 1080]

[Don]

The counter-tenor James Bowman.

[Hollywood]

My favorite classical singer female is Lucia Popp who I think is the best Mozart's "Queen of the Night" ever:


My two favorite classical male singers are Hermann Prey and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau:

[Great Gable]

Given that the two styles, that is - Classical and (any) other, are so disparate it would be churlish and pointless to compare any singing styles with that of Classical/Opera. Therefore, I have my favourites in both and never compare one to the other.

[The new erato]

Given that the two styles, that is - Classical and (any) other, are so disparate it would be churlish and pointless to compare any singing styles with that of Classical/Opera. Therefore, I have my favourites in both and never compare one to the other.

Ye, The premise for the quetion is impossible. And on the popular side in addition the singer is so tied up with what he/he sings; how could you like Bono singing if you hate U2s music for example?

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

One of the best topics in ages.

If forced to choose, I'd have to say my favorite singer of all time is Jennie Tourel, followed closely by Boris Christoff, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Hans Hotter, and Maggie Teyte.

BUT having said that, I think that some of the most amazing and beautiful voices I've ever heard are outside the classical realm, most notably:

Sarah Vaughan
Charles Trenet
Nat King Cole
Mercedes Sosa

Suzanne Abbuehl


and even....Julie Andrews!

[Sergeant Rock]

I have a huge opera collection and a huge popular music collection. There are many singers I admire; a few I collect religiously. But there is no one I love more than Emmylou Harris. She's been part of my life for 33 years now.






It doesn't matter whether she's singing country, bluegrass, folk, rock or some pop song. She's a treasure with a unique voice that cuts to the emotional core of any song she sings. Here she is at age 30, singing Townes van Zandt's masterpiece, Pancho and Lefty.

http://www.youtube.com/v/uJUKlPrWQuc


Sarge

[Siedler]

Definitely classical.

[Szykneij]

I have a huge opera collection and a huge popular music collection. There are many singers I admire; a few I collect religiously. But there is no one I love more than ...

You fooled me! I thought it was going to be Annabella   

[Harry]

Classical, of course....

[George]

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

There is no either-or possible for me, only and-and...

Non-classical: Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald
Classical: Christa Ludwig, Janet Baker

Those are the singers that really touch me at a very deep level. But there many others who have made and are making an impression. Too many to mention.

Johan