20th century coloratura roles?

[Guido]

The obvious example is Strauss' Zerbinetta, with her vitiated and far less appealing reflections in Die Agyptische Helena (Aithra), Die Schweigsame Frau (Aminta) and in Arabella (Fiakermilli). But in general there seems to be a dearth of coloratura roles in 20th century opera. Possibly not hard to imagine why, but it is perhaps a little strange.

Stravinsky's Nightingale, Martinu's Ariane (written for Callas, and very very tuneful because of that, but predictably never performed by her) and the extraordinary tessitura required by Ades in The Tempest (Ariel) are the only ones I can think of.

[knight66]

Not an entire role, but 'Glitter and be Gay' from Bernstein's Candide qualifies. Braunfels opera 'The Birds' from 1920 conyains the beautiful role of The Nightingale which is for coloratura.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8XrBw_oOOg

The 'aria' starts half way through this section.

Mike

[Guido]

I've always wondered about getting that Braunfels opera - I listened to a few tracks and it sounds like schmaltz central so I wasn't all that keen... is it worth it?

[(poco) Sforzando]

The obvious example is Strauss' Zerbinetta, with her vitiated and far less appealing reflections in Die Agyptische Helena (Aithra), Die Schweigsame Frau (Aminta) and in Arabella (Fiakermilli). But in general there seems to be a dearth of coloratura roles in 20th century opera. Possibly not hard to imagine why, but it is perhaps a little strange.

Stravinsky's Nightingale, Martinu's Ariane (written for Callas, and very very tuneful because of that, but predictably never performed by her) and the extraordinary tessitura required by Ades in The Tempest (Ariel) are the only ones I can think of.

Lulu.

[knight66]

Lulu.

I think not!



Mike

[knight66]

I've always wondered about getting that Braunfels opera - I listened to a few tracks and it sounds like schmaltz central so I wasn't all that keen... is it worth it?

Those are the good bits. There is quite a lot of dry dialogue a la Aristophanes, on whose play it is based. A disc of highlights would be better.

Mike

[knight66]

Another and rather better quality opera occurs to me, not fast in the Donizetti mode, but requiring a colouratura technique.

Szymanowski - King Roger, the role of Roxana is for high wire soprano, wonderful melismatic phrases. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=014AESt5Fy4

Mike

[Guido]

I'm all for good quality schmaltz but I remember it all seeming a bit laboured and lacking vitality... Maybe I should give it another shot.

King Roger - yes I should have remembered that.

This reminds me of one of my favourite pieces fro Soprano and orchestra - Grace Williams' ecstatic Fairest of Stars, a wordsworth setting. Not an opera but certainly a20th century piece requiring coloratura technique.

[knight66]

How about this from 1943.

Gliere concerto for coloratura Soprano

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY5opm7xs3E

I am sure you did not really mean the following, it was written in 1907. I think the vapid Gliere is influenced by it. This is genuinely wonderful.

Rimsky Korsakov - Hymn to the Sun - Le Coq d'Or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBwXt_06T9w

Both seem to feed into the Rachmaninov Vocalise, all Russian.

Saint Saens vocalise: Nightingale and the Rose, another intoxicating melismatic piece. Here is Rita Streich. I don't know why this is not much better known. Composed in 1892, but I am not sorry for stretching a point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfyxGzvDSpY


Cousin to these Granados: Maiden and the Nightingale. Strange how often the Nightingale has popped up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1QmETYmqDc&feature=related

Here is the Granados Goyesca Nr 4 piano piece on which it is based, extraordinarily beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azFMNHA7bws&feature=related


Can't think of latter half 20th cent roles in operas utilising this technique, apart from what I have now suggested. Bottom of the barrel now scraped.

Mike

[Tsaraslondon]

How about Titania in Britten's  A Midsummer Night's Dream. She needs a pretty strong coloratura technique.

[(poco) Sforzando]

I think not!

Mike

Ignoring your graphic for the moment, why not?

[knight66]

Oh...you can include Berg's Lulu, but not the Scottish and slightly more pleasant one.

Mike

[Tsaraslondon]

Hilde Mack in Henze's Elegy For Young Lovers is designated coloratura soprano.

[jochanaan]

Stravinsky: Le Rossignol.  Avant-garde and very coloratura, going up to a high F!

[pjme]

Henze:



Cantata della Fiaba estrema - very beautiful, extreme tessitura. The young Edda Moser copes wonderfully.


Betsy Jolas: Stringquartet nr 2 ( stringtrio + soprano) - 1964


The original LP.

An incredible piece - a vehicle for Mady Mesplé's stratospheric art!
It is on this double Cd ( with plenty of French operetta & other bonbons) - propably difficult to find.
I find it indeed very beautiful - the human voice becomes a cross between violin and ondes Martenot.  Jolas' style is "lyrical avant garde".

P.